The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1879-03-19
WEDDINGS In GERMANY.
How Quickly and Curiously Engage
mentS are Made.
The Parents of the Bride Do the Match
Making-Milftary Life in Which
the Rich and Poor Alike
Take an Active Part.
Correspondence Albany August

friend here, when she surprised me by say
ing: "But. my dear, that could not be done
here, such a display and such publicity
scarcely belong to royalty" People here
have to be very careful to avoid any extrava-
gance or luxury on account of thes Socialists.
A gentleman who is very wealthy, and has
large factories and property, gave up his
horses short time since to quiet the feeling
of hatred toward him by the very men
he employed-when he gives entertain
ments the windows are tightly closed, and
his wife and daughters dress very plainly on
the street. This fear is really felt by all
those who are wealthy, and it is really I'M
safe to show ones luxuries to the eyes of the
people. A richly dressed lady in Berlin not
long since was jostled against roughly by
two men, one of whom said. ''Spoil her fine
clothes; we need bread" viii Bismarck
subdue or aggravate this communistic feel
ing? That one is under military rule is
plainly felt here but whether this system of
suppression will better affairs remains to be
seen.
THE MILITARY AND ITS INFLUENCE.
Everything regulates itself here in Prussia
by the army, except the sun, moon and
weather. Take glimpse at the school sys-
tenn. Every one must be educated by the
army standard, be he prince or peasant. II
children are not sent to school the parents
are liable to imprisonment. When the
course Is finished the sons must serve three
years as common soldiers; this is for the
poorer class. though not free schools. For
the higher classes there are higher
education is very thorough. The
student must pass a military examination
and De proficient in two OF the four lam
guages. French. English, Latin and Greek,
graphy. I'VE want no ignorant soldiers
says Prussia. "the trouble with the French
was that her soldiers did not know this
country, while ours knew every bridge from
Berlin to Paris and now the Prussan sys-
tenn OF school and army has been adopted in
ination they must serve one year in the
army and, besides, pay the Government for
that honor.
THEY ARE ALL TREATED ALIKE.
No partiality is shown and
the sons of the crown prince
are subject to the same discipline. By
the way, they were at school in Frank
fort and boarding with their teacher. The
crown prince surprised them one day, and
found them eating bread with caviare.
''What is this said he, this is luxury
they can not have, take it away and never
let Lneu nave II again, IOrDlu ytQ1nG Oh
the kind" The son OF rich banker here
thought he would chose for his one years
service, cavalry; bought his horse and imag-
ined that he would have On easy time. To
his horror, he found that he was ordered up
at o'clock IN the morning to groom il. His
expenses for the year were nearly 81, 600, for
these 'freiwilliger" must pay their own
expenses. So much for military rule.
THE SERVANTS AND THE POLICE
The servants are under the surveillance of
the police, they are registered, have book,
that must be seen by the police when they
go to place and If any one gives them a
better recommendation than they deserve
he is liable to arrest. Bismarck says, mo
converts, no bishops, no Independent church
government, not teacher or priest shall
teach. though he came from Rome, unless
the Government judge him competent. No
doctor or colonel from the land of the
free can use his rItle unless he can show a
certificate that he really is snch. The
officers here are fine looking men, mostl ?
belonging to the nobility, splendidly
educated and strict dIsclipIlnarlans. An
officer seen drunk in the street is dismissed
from the service also for debts.
SAD AFFAIR WHICH OCCURRED IN BERLIN RE-
GENTLY.
An officer, no matter under what cIrcum-
stances, must never part with his sword; it
Is an irreparable disgrace. A young officer
coming home late and rather intoxicated
got into some quarrel on the street, and his
sword was taken from HIM. The next day
he shot himself. No officer can marry with
out first depositing $4,000 with his regi-
ment, so that in no case is the army liable
for bis support The interest of this he re.
ceiyes while living, and at his death it goes
to his heirs.
MARRIAGES IN GERMANY.
Speaking of marriages I must tell you
about engagements; they are so entirely bus
70 hat
For instance, young gentleman looks
around among the young ladies until he
finds one whom he knows will have good
dot He goes to the father and asks him for
his daughter. If the parti is considered 9
good one, he is accepted; then the daughter
Is called in, and told that she is to marry
this gentleman. Say the engagement
takes place at o'ciock-the seryan
is sent out Immediately to acquaint the
family with the news-and this is the way
he announces the fact. MIR. and Mrs. -
compliments and they wish to inform you
that their daughter Eisa-was engaged Il
Herr August at 2o'clock this afternoon
Then the relatives and intimate friends g
Immediately to the house and congratulate
the young brautpaar who stand IN the cen
ter of the salon arm in arm. l asked
young lady recently engaged If she was yer.
happy and if she didn't feel as If her fianct
was a stranger to her. s'Oh, no." she said
papa knew him long time, AM
saw him once at ball, but l neve
spoke to him until yesterday. Oh, yes
am very happy, but it was a great SUI
prise to mel did not think should be en-
gagged SO young" And now she can go on
to the theater, and walking with him, an
they are feted and invited to parties an
dinners. to the envy of younger sister:
who long for like emancipation. For
gentleman to walk in the street here with
young lady unless they were engaged woul
be almost crime. talk against the systeI
of these business engagements and am me-
with the reply: Where do you find hal
pier and more devoted marriages than
Germany; we don't have the divorces tn,
America is celebrated for, and why shouldn
aparent know better than the child what
for its good9p 1 am mute, for the facts a
all true, and yet, when one is convince
WILL ha keapa his thou