Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1874-10-10

! = i'S lSNtS upon Gu6 06duS
OF. American parents, who have been
carelessly-yes, wickedly-derelict
IN the performance of their duty to
sons in this regard.
If the Grangers are really anxious
to reform the exi sting low standard
of public morals in America, there
is no way by which they can con-
tribute so effectually as by keeping
their sons at home on the parental
farm, or binding them out to useful
trades. They must stop sending an
nually, tens of thousands of half ed
1cated, unsophisticated, susceptible
boys to the cities, in search of that
alluring curse of the rising genera
ton, ''genteel employment" for it is
the road to perdition for the major
lty of them. The German pioneers
have avoided the dangerous rock on
which American farmers have per-
mltted so many of their sons to
make shipwreck of their own future
lives; and the good effects thereof
are seen IN the absence of mercan-
tile failures, official dereliction of du-
ty, public dishonesty, and general
decentralization.
In nothing perhaps, is the contrast
-of German with American social
life and manners more marked than
i'll their respective.
APPEARANCE AND BEHAVIOR AT THEIR
wATERING-PLACEs.
When the "season" arrives-say the
the middle of June-all Germans
who can afford it, or whose healths
require 1t, begin to move towards
one or the other of their numerous
mineral springs, such as Weisbaden,
Hamburg, Ems, Baden-Baden, Kis-
singer, Willsbad, Schlangenbad and
scores of others-chiefy along the
foot of the Taunus Mountain range,
in the vicinity Fof rankfort, or fur
ther up the Rhine, in the "Black
Forest" country of Baden. Instead
of flocking to those watering-places
for grand carousal and seasons
dissipa ion, display of diamonds and
silks, and exaggerations of Paris
fashions, they come to spend few
weeks of restful quiet, retirement
from care and work, and rational
enjoyment. Those who have all
ments keep the restoration of their
health constantly in view, by bath
ing and drinking the waters, taking
moderate exercise and amusement,
and freeing their minds from busi-
ness thoughts. Over the doors of
some of the cursaals-cure-halls-
will be found a Latin inscription,
taken from the Roman baths of
Antonlus, which may be rendered as
follows: ''Thou shouldst come
hither free from care, if thou
wouldst depart healed of disease,
for here the careless alone are cur
ed" On this maxim or hint they
act. No German lady, whether
young, middle-aged, or old, goes TO
waterlng-place with four horse
wagon load of huge trunks, stuffed
with a wardrobe of costly silks and
satins, feathers and flowers, laces
and iewelry, whereby she may fiirt,
and faunt, and create an envious
sensation among other foolish female
bipeds. Such ostentatious displays
of toilet variety as are seen at Sara
toga, Long Branch, and other
American watering places,
ARE NEVER WITNESSED
at the German springs. The hus-
bands and parents would not toler-
ate, nor the ladies think of indulging
in, such extravagant "dry-goods"
displays Hence the few bankrupt
cies heard of in Germany, and the
almost total absence of reports in
their papers of irregularities" en-
bezzlements, defalcations, swindles,
corner operations, and desperate
speculative ventures. with which
American journals are continually
filled.
The contrast between the German
and American gentlemen at the wa
tering-places of the respective coun-
tries is as great as in the case of the
ladies. The quiet, orderly, regular,
rational conduct of the Germans
would be considered very "slow
living" by American frequenters of
fashionable watering-places; but the
Germans do not go to the springs
to squander their money; to bet at
horse races, or gambling with cards;
to madden their brain with strong
drinks, and ruin their stomachs with
champagne-suppers; nor to get up
liaisons with other mems flirting
wives, to furnish employment for
divorce-lawyers or sensation for the
newspapers. In all these things the
simple s'slow" life of the German at
his watering-place bears little re-
semblance to the ''fast" life of the
American pleasure-and leisure seek
er at his watering-place. The for
mer burns the candle of life only at
one end-the latter at both ends.
THE COST OF LIVING
at German watering-places is much
less than in the hotels of the chief
cities. The aim of landlords is to at
tract as many guests as will fill THEN
hostelries, and to induce them to re-
main as long as possible, and return
the next season as to an agreeable
home. They do not deem it to their
interest "to make hay while the sun
shines" by fleeing their guests IN
every possible way, and encouraging
their servants to require tips Tor
everything they do. The conSe-
quence is, that German Wheh ne
goes to the springs, brings his wife
and children along with him, and
settles down for one or two months
Of oniet life and freedom from busi-
Oosi NJ cares. If they tire of one spring
in ' y month, they pack up their mod
rate wardrobe, and take the cars to
another; and, when the season is fin
ished, they return to their home,
healed of ailments, or recuperated in
body and refreshed in mind, after an
expenditure of money but little
greater than if they had remained |
at home. Such is the mode of life
of the vast majority of the German