The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1876-01-13
FOREIGN LETTER.
German Domestic Life-Isai1rUads
the best and the WOrst-Status of
Train ConductOrs-The EniperOr's
Summer Residence, &c., &c.


Train ConductOrs-The EniperOr's
Summer Residence, &c., &c.
Correspondence Of the Star.
HAMBURG, Dec. 20, 1875.
Since writing to you from Vienna l
have changed my base and have got on
this far in the "swing around the circle"
The weather has changed from mild
autumn to that of dry and cold, and deep
snow and cold winter weather have
changed the aspect of the country, and
In some localities have added an addi-
tional charm to some of the fine views
and scenery.
There has not been as deep q snow
since the winter of of'7Oand'71. Travelling
through this country in the winter time
brings forth many @ sight thatI did not
enjoy the pleasure OF seeing at better
advantage and at a season when all ma
ture is arrayod In the verdure OF its per-
lection. But while l am swinging
around in the winter 1 see and enjoy
many things that the summer tourist did
not. Theaters and concerts halls are In
full blast everywhere, from little one
for few kruetzers and hand organ LOT
an orchestra, up to,a first-class opera;
and in the next place can see German
life in the winter, and see to what ex-
tent they enjoy themselves and how they
live, &c.
In the first place they are not flush
with money, and in the next they are
under ban and restI aint everywhere;
very little social equality anywhere.
Any one that is reputed rich becomes
I,.f a 30 aris
while the officials OF whatever grade or
station become an object OF fear, yenera-
tion and much hat-tippIng.
The Germans, since the formation OF
the Empire, have taken largely of the
windy idea that they are the greatest
people ON the lace Of the globe, and have
become arrogant and conceited to such
an extent as to greatly overestimate
| themselves and Overreach the bounds OF
propriety and power, which is already
foreshadowed by some of the arbitrary
measures Of its law-makers.
In regard to travelling on German rail.
roads and the regulations governing
them, they are, in short, the best and
the worst ever saw. The roadways and
bridges are models OF engineering
| in large cities and towns are built on a
scale of magniflcence and grandeur that
goes ahead Of anything in our country,
both in convenience or durability; aud
| all the modern appliances of signals by
telegraph and wire cables from one sta.
| ton to another, with man or two al
each crossing with gate, bars or chains,
| il not crossed with o. bridge. Amy one
can get aboard OF train of German cars
with as little fear and presentiment oil
being smashed to death and becoming
| a subject for a surgeon or Coroner's
| inquest, as getting aboard fan OK
cart, but where the worst comes in il
with the rolling stock, those internally
| locked and boxed compartments, only
half warmed and lighted, oftener NOT
warmed at all, and scores OF other petty
annoyances that each railroad official
will fnffIct on you if'you will allow them
to-; but little plain knowing talk or q
groschen or two will make you all right,
Inc difference between q conductor In
| this country and ours is that here he il
everybody's slave as well as the roads
lackey.
After leaving Vienna I stopped al
Prague, the beautiful and interesting
Capital of Bohemia, Dresden, LeipsiG
and Berlin, the Capital or the German
Empire. Iishould like to be able to- give
you something Of detailed account O.
some of the foregoing places, but space
and time will not permit. Berlin fills
the bill Of a Capital better than any
place l have seen, with many hand
some public. buildings ,.and squares
the beautiful Linden and the Ilnpe
TRIAL Palace and statue of Frederick the
Great, and o great Inany. other Ereder
icks and rulers down to WIthoinn ana
bismarck. Potsdan, the summer resi-
dence OF the Emperor, is one Of the mos
beautiful spots IN Germany; extensive
grounds, fine palaces and statuary, witt
lovely gardens and fountains ;aslso, some
| handsome churches--the Garrison
church, which contains the vault and re.
mains Of Frederick the Great and thai
of his father, Frederick William thu
First. Hamburg, from where / shal
mail thisletteryls acity of 0fconsiderable
commercial Importance, containing 9
population OF 100000 Inhabitants. Ii ii
i the second largest in the empire, and a.
this time looks more like Christmas
|toy shop than anything else. Every
place Is In holiday trim.ssr
Vheaters, concerts and sailors dance
houses are all in tull blast on Sundays
and all otnertimes. And these quaint
Hooking SsProtestant : churches her,
1 through Northern Germany, that are
cross between a theater and a Catholi,
church, affords n strange. lesson o
4 Christian morals on Sundays, with ,
congregation, n,worshiping inside, and OF
| the outside commerce. In Christmas
trees and toys.
i Nothing would have Afforded me great
Ia.ly