, 1877-01-13
The Fifth Volume Of the New En-
oyolopmdia Britannica
('erome, the Palnter.'-Ths Question Of Dress
-Babylonian Relits-"Sicbuhr.
"Educated" "Fleas..A Remarkable
Woman-.The Wood.Tick.
LITERATURE.
GERMAN LIFE,

Tho essays embraced In this volume vcrc
published 4 year or 10 ago In Ffdstr's Magazine,
xhcrc they attracted good deal Of comment
from their very sprightly tone, their superior
rteyerness, and their surprising disclosure Of the
phases Of life hidden In German Interiors
They we're written by lady who had dwelt fot
years among the people described who was In.
tl,natclv connected with them by tics Of reaa-
tlonsh!p, and who had associated famfltarly with
tho society Of wldclY-scparatcl districts. There
vas IN air Of perfect honesty tcmpcrlng her
frankness, OF kindiness boftcu1nE her scverest
criticisms, and OF sound sense pcrvading her re.
lcctione, which gavs weight to her words. and
constrained assent to tl,cJr tsustwurtllInese.
The papers hare hecn reprinted In buuk:forIn,
and sccoul edition was SOON called fur, Which
Is HOW given tu tile American public.
The book Is impressive for more reasons than
one. II is the work of a brtght.1uinlrd, kcca-
eyed observer; md Il opens 10 tho daylight the
private history Of an interesting ra.e. In sep
arato chapters It treats OF 0esnlan Servants,
Furniture, Food, Manners anl Customs,
Language, Dress, Anusemcnts, Women, Men,
Marriage aud Children. Religion and the
Caurch. Under these heads, thr traits and
habits Of the people belonging In rank pAr-
ailel with that of the middle classes In England
arc freely discussed. The impression lcfs on
the mind Is bleak and drcusy. And yet II must
1e understood that the lie lelintated Is limited
10 military and official society. Tiers Is no se-
count Ut commercial and university circles, the
luthor expressly stating that sh- has depicted
only those circumstances Of which she had per-
,onal knowledge, and TINT the privilege Of in.
tcreourso with tho cultured society having It's
nucleus in the German universities waa not cn-
toycd by her. In justice to the natIou, another
book is needed as candid as this, postraying the
brighter sido Of domestic Germany, md gath
can be lcgltimately dlstillcd from thu haLttual
asl,ctls Vi the experience related.
In tho chapter On Furniture. tho writer gtycs
a.ninutc picture Of thS he, hoa'ss h 81 ct ordinary
In ten titurs ttty, II you have Visited them;
. . Of tho households Of military men,
Generals. Coloncls, Majora; OK those Of tho
t<fite ttobRtsse; u the higher civil employee
following Is tue Yvr presented Of the drawing
room:
A.. ru,s, thi' will no. b ea'reted, bu. the floor
mill ees. esrpss % .edon s III he sss p.tern M
rl1csd In different corners Of tho room. :.
r. H. rs. t. ss.es q e. Mesa
4 ] & G1a % 2s e ss s;ns 4
ihsra viii b Gay-eoiossd cloth. and. pathaps.
aa'nask napkin plaeed alaa'saas swt.e In snsIcipa.
'bouks o. work upon IL mo photographs. Or muga.
zines, or newspapers, or sGutch books AfN,ut ihe
viii Be abie 10 draw 10 infsreuces or conciuslons
= % she eaaraeteristlcs Of Ila fair oecupant. It
viii have 70 !s,snss H. hy.lssnp,my q i. ow'
work. u covered win - arc6, over which svy has
telling of want Of sun and air. that 1t will ralhsr
hsvc depressing than An ens!yenine effect on tho
hs twa .as sss s m
erss4n.er, T. pots; but tot gorgeous geraniams:
nfshi 1s mi 1.sst os '''eeaa' brilliant
This dlnng.room IL atill mora barren Of cheer.
fulnets; for hcrc-
you will seldom ind water. color sketches or oil.
palnt1nSs adoFnng tho walls. II will he
traction: Will do 10 feed In. ~ sha chs1s will do
to III on, and that IL all. 4 common table with.
ssa sxsh S9 sy saa III" ,. rsdSn;
.sedid: p. nass foot.cs sonns nj suinx nj .os o
your boeotn you think VI III .he Turkey Carpets
o'sE which you have passed With Indifference dur
Ing earlier portions ol your pligfinlage.
After taking you With her, IN thfs fashion,
through the cnttlc suite Of apartments cotnpus.
sng German - nat," tic autlIur makes these
e1ninrntiy-seaslbln rsmarks upon the truv in-
tcrpresat!on Of the language Ut furniture:
Without lelishliux to tables or ehairs. or IN N,
We muxt all admit tho value and tntrreSt Of mr."
ples ~ 20 iar ~ they are expresrtvo
Che Isn't Of Pauls mind III not spteudor or out.
ths " uasiaas aads tSs as. ,s.a:;
character which our frIenda surroundings ought IL
:ssss; H. eGs1 sw.9 a.t re sf:' I'll
speak 10 Us III ''lltt!s Language Ut their own,-
10 thn phrsssology " Intimacy. VIC luok for son.c
lself fFls VIC feel ~ thGuEh ~ apntAftuct of hg.
pit!tJ wert cheating us of our due we admitted
tst os mbs'ss1 1bs sn'e .s Wa ~ 'ps ls s aud rs
:toys-o9t yet ms a!e chilled. sad hungry. a.lA
n,4, sslt5 tns ,R.aa! y asn!sd + ". ~ hs o,a
weaknesses. aud tho enthasta.u.s, mud tbs fo!ea,
ste rIt awsyi We gsze aTound seeking what man.
1ped lbs es.a "ssd. mi 1s se oiss
:>:, Is not Tho intellect that u starved, II il
ss'ts;s ssk y ss e; es nsts @
touches Of tenderness, . pressure OF tho hantt a
:wh!sps,ed word; glance that bnt swept you viii
Ie.ntnIsf. which w'!' keep your heart wstu,. Ionx
sttss Soa haze g.o.aea out your ea"tfa. taHiiatas
.lds Of won,sn's ehsfaeler il not rssesied III
German drawins.roou. It!s not that poverty ior.
t!ds, bat that la1sIaany denlse.
Over these German homcs which are thus
shown up. the writer declares thai
the husband is llss king, The wife merely The prime,
mlnirtsi, iIe sItt III his asns.sha!r smoking pei.
s1nai pipes, aud auditing with all tho .esrfly Of
counts. lie knows all ahout tbs butter and drip.
p!aE, swesrs u r1eeties in soap md ssuekraut,is
sed-hernngs. md terrible On ssss and bason. 4
xoa.4n u no notc ml.tfess q heF own house
y. m..,,. h'o you *s hs ts,
q sis' sss TX sss is iss
satts :ssis e stt rs j. :sss t: s
r. ''ths maid that loes the n,ssness ehsEs." -.
16o ee 10y In e:sk six t1s.'y = apps. .sssnt