Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1879-12-09
Correspondence Of the Belfast Journal
AN AMERICANS IMPRESSIONS Or
GERMANY.
By Sxv. DAVID FOSTER EsrEs.

.
England are so readily noticeable that !
can give an account Of them at least.
First. | must say that | have not care
fully studied the German system OF land
ownership and tenure. but | have learned
enough Of it TO know that it is far from
being as uniform as among US, and that
our system prevails but little BY our
system mean. that according 10 which a
farmer owns piece Of land more or less
extensive which he manages and Guilt
Yates himself This, as | understand
the matter. Is the custom to certain eN-
tent There is also land which Is held IN
common by the people OF a village OF city.
For example, the city Of Gottlngen,
city of about l. 900 inhabitants, has or
had till lately common land, which was
10 certain intervals distributed among
those property owners, who had rights IN
II This land has lately nearly or quite
passed into the possession OF wealthy
citizen who has devoted himself TO buy
inc up rights, though the process has not
vet been fully explained There also
prevails 20 a very large extent the system
If renting farms. The ownership ana
the cultivation of the land are thus sepa-
rated. The one hiring, stocks the farm
and manages it according to fixed condl-
lions. paving therefor a certain yearly
sum of money. This lease usually ca
tends over a number Of years and Is gen
crallv not only renewable but renewed.
. This Is the case with small farms, and al
So with large estates. These large g.
,ates. Gut" Is the German name 10.
them are the characteristic element III
the land tenure Of the country Although
their number Is not very great, have
seen the list OF the number IN every pan;
Of the Empire. but cannot recolcct the eN-
act figures. 1t Is but few thousand IL
an Prussia. vet each Is 50 extensive ami
the managers are necessarily 50 wealth!
and influential, tina, they form a dis'm,;
class both practically and socially
These estates are usually immense cs-
adjustments, not 50 mnch IN the super
fetal extent as in the results obtained,
and the capital invested is corresponding
Is large. At first sight It seems siranEe
10 ind a man worth, perhaps, ms hun
dreds of thousands, with the largest share
invested in the estate he manages, con
trolling brewery and perhaps three or
four other little manufacturing esta olINh-
men,s. al on the same piece OF ground.
and Vet with no more absolute title TO tie
land than a stranger. Ie, such are the
economic conditions and the stability OF
lite that. 70 the mutual advantage OF
both parties. the owner viii continue 20
rent il 20 the tenant for generations, ana
the tenant proceeds, on ms long .ea>, aad
safe expectations OF the future. as a-'-A-
tascously as if he owned the property.
7 The ,itle i;scl; is quite likely royal. or
vested in some noble or other, whose
family lives IN luxurious ease Oh the l1-
come OF the land, which furnishes a Sec
ord large income 70 the man who hires,
stocks and manages i.
Land Ia Germany, however owned and
managed. is worked toy peasants. fancy
that This class of Sac.ety j, about a, ua-
;,-e,,iEble 20 q New Englauder, WHO Ha,
not been among them. - ;hc uoa-cNis-
tcncc OF this class is 20 Germans. Il1;
man should work with his own hands
IN ,he field and vet be wha; the i4rme.
reader, OF the journal are, and be looked
on as they aye in polite, aud society, e-n
mo-. be- understood IN Germany. IN iac'.
f they cauuo; e; hold Of the conditions a.
the problem. The peasant, the b4-e.
as he Is called. constitutes az especial abb
practically dispised elemeu; OF German
f ite He Is no; necessarily poor, Tor there
are peasants possessed OF considerable
I wealth. He is no; utterly Ignorant, Tor
some schooling IS everywhere compulsory.
and many are sharp business men IN
their sphere. He is no, hindered by laws
from rising 20 any position. The Uni
yersities are open 70 him as they were
20 Luther, who was peasant bonn. and
after the University any career stand, i-
fom a, least, open TO him. lean no, de-
/ 6ne what makes . Bauer ], is not
mere prejudice. There IS such q class,
and there | must leave the matter, only
hoping that the day Is far distant, # il;
ever comes. when We shall have peasants
in America. Indeed think i; impoS,i-
/ Die. L needs the historical basis Of cen
turies Of "serfdom' 70 found the social
class Of peasants.
As an American travels in Germany.
perhaps the frst thing he notices is tina,
| all the land Is cultivated There are no
stretches of wild land, as one will see IN
the United States, even close TO large
cities. The land inhabited for centuries,
indeed long over populated has been
thoroughly subdued This Is uniform
throughout the whole country with very
few exceptions Not only does the Rail
road train whirl the passenger through q
constant succession of fields, but back
miles from the the track the land Is as thor
oughly cared for. The exceptions are
only the worthless lands, Ike the heath
plains in some parts of North Germany.
Not only is every part Of the country
taken possession of, but it Is all, every
I rod Of It, put to the best possible use.
There are no fences between fields. 10
hedges. The land stretches off for miles
unb1okeu, but by roads and rivers. The
railroad itself is quite as often as no.,
. -,-