The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1874-08-29

I
Hauslichkeit" Now, there Is no other
quality that German men Of the middle
class prize In their wives as Hauslicl
keit or domesticity. Look through tho
popular literature Of the country, romance
and poetry, aud il win appear that this Is
the sum Of wifely virtues. The young
girls are very carefully trained in this re-
speet BY their mothers, and at the age at
which they marry they are nearly always
equal to the domestic duties Of their posi-
ton, They know how 70 knit men's hose
and to deal out rations to the servants.
In the little parties at the beer-houss or
garden, the young lady is expected to
make the necessary display Of her domss-
tic accomplishments, aided, Of course, BY
judicious hints from her mother. If the
objective man be an industrious artisan or
thrifty tradesman, the maiden drinks spar
ingly of beer, eats piece Of ham or sau-
sage instead Of q beefsteak, and knits on
some useful and substantial garment. If
he be bankers son, belonging, say one
grade higher socially, but attracted by
pretty face. the tactics are different. The
girl Is permitted to be little more for
ward. Instead Of knitting, she works at
some light embroidery; she takes not only
beefateak, ,but beefsteak aur cham
pignons; she ehatters good deal about
the opera, and even about Renz's Circus;
and, in short, her whole manner Is lighter
and freer. If the first class Of candidates
are to DO captured by the steady, persis-
tent work Of infantry, the movement for
the rich catches" is more like cavalry
charge.
An observant young man can generlly
tell by the second evening at the beer-gar-
den if he is agreeable to the mother II
on his appearance the second evening at
the rendezvous she innocently offers him
place beside the daughter, or accident
ally makes place for him, asst were, ia
the confusion Of the moment, he knows ut
once that one formidable outpost is carried;
and, worse than that, IL he be himself in
different, he knows that a sharp matron Is
filing his path with traps and pitfalls.
Perhaps the most interesting scene Is
mother who, at public place like that, has
three or four daughters to adjust among
as many ardent or reluctant suffers.
compare it to nothing but cook watching
half dozen beefsteaks in different de-
grees Of preparation. From the pair who
are most advanced in their wooing and
may be left pretty much to themselves,
to the pair who least harmonize, and con
seqnently, need the most diseree. attention
and encouragement--from the one Of these
extremes to the other, along the interme-
diate grades of connubial readiness, the
care Of this watchful mother ranges and
operates. The young ladies play their
| parts demurely, but with good deal Of
skill.
| In default Of a public announcement Of
q betrothal, people in the habit Of watch
| ing the actors from evening to evening
may tell by one infallible sign when the
happy climax is reached. As soon as the
swain begins TO pay the young lady reck-
oning in addition to his own, depend on
it they are engaged. Up to that time the
maiden's Gansebraten has been reckoued
at the close Of every evening with the ae-
count Of the family, and paid for by the
fond parent but now the burden has been
lightened. The future son-in-law meets
his sweetheart's expenses, but them alone
Even il there be nobody else with them
but the mother, she always pays her own
bill. Night after night one may see at
the same restaurant q young man pay for
himself and his sweetheart, while the wor-
thy matron just as regular Is left to the
resources Of her own purse. IL the three
visit the theatre he purchases stalls for two,
while the mother takes her place in the
queue and looks out for herself, and the
rule is scarcely ever broken. If 1t be
said on the one hand that the mother,
having shufaed of the responsibility Of her
| daughters entertainment, ought 90 be sat