Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1878-10-16
LIFE in GERMANY.
1evu e Inn 80
Training Children Getting Married.

l3g oi toa,fl s alaar a
Phnadelphia Bullctiu.l m soi g
The German mother entrusts
her children almost entirely to the !
nurses arms. They spend the
greater part Of the timein the open !
air, the great place of resort here
being the "Promenade," where from
early morning until evening may be
seen little children, ranging in age
from those in "swaddling clothes"
to those of six and seven years.
1 They are encouraged aud made to
1 walk much earlier than American
children, and it is, perhaps, owing
to this that so many have crooked |
4 limbs, for in the short space of
time Ihave been in the country !
i have seen more bow.legged men and
crooked women than | ever saw in
4 JAmerica. The servants in charge
A are oftentimes more interested in
= the soldiers passing by than in the
little ones entrusted to their care.
/, AT an early age they are placed |
in "Kindergarten" school, and
later, if the child should be of the |
: gentler sex and of well-to.do |
parents, she is sent to young
ladies' seminary. Here she is in
Q structed not only in her own Ian
; guage, but also in French, English
d and perhaps Italian; music, draw
e ing and painting are not forgotten;
:, great pains are taken to instruct
, her in English and German liter
u ature, while mathematics aud the
|. sciences are neglected or soon
.yIdropped. Between the ages of tif-
Il teen and eighteen she is expected
: ito be confirmed, and of course
= must, in some measure, prepare
ID herself by studying the catechism,
ne and purchasing a new white dress
m for the occasion. At thistime they
= also receive presents from parents
and friends; the former gift being
10 generally watch; this perhaps is
IN an incentive to encourage them to
G. be confirmed at an earlier period
". chan they otherwise would have
Nd been; as ortentimes they never at,
tend religious worship except on
'eI special occasions. During the sea
OF son Of confirmation it is customary
nd to see young girls, bareheaded, ar
nv rayed in their white dresses, prone
.ey nading the streets.
~ AS time passes on the young lady
'uI leaves school and enters society
pc, with her mother. 1t would bt
or deemed improper for young lad!
az. or even two, to attend any enter
,a+ tainment or place of amusemen
rI without being accompanied by
ne parent or an elderly person, and a
IAN for travelling alone, that is entirel
ley out Of the question. l hardly thin
er. they admire the independence o
N the American girls; especially thos
- who venture to cross the wide AT
'p- lantic without a care-taker. If
M gentleman should think Of choci
use Ing a German girl as a help-mat
he through life, he does not mentio
ion the subject to her, but must go t
io paterfamilias or some married lrien
em- and make them the nlediators
all is satisfactory, he makes her
present Of plain gold ring, an
Git places one of the same kind on hi
d it own finger. When all is arrange
d. they proceed to the mayors ottiC
~ ~ and inform him ofthe engagement
''n when tits registered and announce
erS, in the city papers. Printed notice
ers, are also sent to friends, aud th
&C. happy couple appear arm in arm G
az. the streets. After the engagemel
. he can see the young lady alot
leS. andtake her occasionally to the the
the ter or other place of smusemen
cir but before this joyful event he mu
,nce invite also the mother or the afor
onoo @ said married friend. If Christian
the marriage takes place in Il
n9l church, always on a Sunday.
Ives know Of one instance where Il
our lady was a Christian and the gen
YOU tleman d Jew, where they we
M married no less than three times {
V the same day by diifrent ceremonie
sseS in order to have the knot legal
tiers tied. After marriage each lives
hey great measure independent of Il
Won other. The wife manages to ha
,,o,, o,, "coffee clatch" about every wee
JI1 to which she invites all her lat
'ne friends, they bring their needl
you work, and, sitting around the te
and table from 4 until 7;30 pm,
do dulge in a social cup Of coffee al
PIX aho lin pleasant conversation. Duril
pay this period the husband does net We
ture to put his head inside the do
He takes his tea at a late hour, al
81 a' then adjourns to his favorite resc
40 in town, where be is detained
and the fascinations of billiar1s and be
|. on until the "wee small hours' wa
ocbe him to return. lie is really wedd
,Lo to his billiards and beer, and VIII
'n' at last the other bier comes to &C
ap- yey one of them to the final resti
en- place, carly in the morning may
him seen a processionof Of empty carriag
nm headed by q few servant girls ca