The San Antonio light. (San Antonio, Tex.) 1883-1886, 1883-10-08
Or. HADRA'S GRAFTON.
The Translation Of the Doctors Volksfest
Grafton Fully Completed.

IN thc LlehI OF oaluIuaJ inc ntst pait VI
the translation Of DR.. Hadras Volksfest ora
ton was printed The remainder OF the
translation is now presented:
These are, however, only petty reasons why
we are not exactly loved by the English
American and by our own American country
men. One Of the most important causes is
the simple, plain, seemingly less civilized APP
pearance Of our way Of life. We come from
country that has the poorest tillage in nature,
the area Of this being no larger than the State
Of Texas, with about $4,000, 600 inhabitants.
Therefore our device could only be: keep
house, economic, make ends meet, and get
along with only the most necessary. Though
may the small number Of the rich, in proper
ton to the poor, be allowed some luxury, as
far as this is at all possible, the large number
is, as compared with France, England and
especially America, materially restricted to
the narrowest limits. There is no carpet, no
article Of luxury in the'house, and there they
are, on an average, glad II wooden chairs
and clean floors welcome them. lie
who has to battle with the cares and trials
Of daily existence, cares little for his outer APP
pearance for unnecessary fnery and gew-
gaws. Everywhere work is stamped in its
severest and hardest forms, the hands become
coarser, the clothes arc less bouhant, men
smoke bad tobacco and wear linen suits-in
short everything appears unpublished, less Gull
tvated. Women, and this is a long, difficult
chapter, which | cannot exhaust on this
occasion, work with the men, they must and
therefore they do it be it said in praise to
them, with pleasure, iii does not become too
much. The travelling journalist who SUR
prise America with letters Of Germany are
indignant at the hard work the German
women perform much, however, is eHagger-
ated. admit that too much is done in this
But who can find fault and what shall be
done il bitter necessity demands iH The
wife is compelled to work since her husband
cannot earn enough. Under such conditions
II seems fortunate that the German woman is
strong and healthy, and naturally industrious
and unassuming. What | have just said
applies self-evidently only TO the working
class. Although even in the middle
classes the German woman is more
used to work than in the same classes Of the
English-American. The immigrated continue
in their accustomed habits although their
2 circumstance may not now compel them to do
so, and this makes them appear less lady-like
in the eyes Of their American sisters.
They may do, too, much good in this, still
the household of the German becomes through
this steadier and safer and the women in gen
an American remark that it struck him to the
very heart to see an American girl wait on the
table in restaurants, etc. lie expected this of
German, Italian, French, English or OF col
ored girls, but not OF an American. This is
Characteristic, at least for Southern conditions.
Almost all the working and serving classes
are here filled by non-Americans. These are
the consequences the former aristocratic form
OF society. But not every nation is so ioru-
nate as to have strangers work for It in the
subordinate occupations. The English, French
and German must furnish their part OF work
ing and serving people themselves-must fur
nish their own so called trash.
Since an proportional large number OF inn
migrants are Of the working class, the Ameri-
can is easily inclined to believe that the whole
nation is only for seryitude and for hard
hands work. But woe unto the hightoned
American II it were not for these hardworking
supplies. No land would be plowed and
sowed, no house would be built and no ham,
mer swung. In vain would the American
railroad enteipriser build railroads, in vain
the merchant pile his wares, in vain the aris-
tocratic lawyer wait for his paying customers,
and in vain the lady ask her consort for silk
robes. II the workman did not come from
! the old country-not alone OF Germany-the
glory OF Americans would soon be at an end !
/ The ma jority Of German immigrants belong
to the country and city working classes. He
forms a necessary element of society and
should not be looked upon as something in
ierior because he has not been brought up as
an American gentleman, il this quality is
sought in dispising manual and physical labor.
The hard working workingmen aud their
wives are not au fait in elegant circles, but
they are quite well-to-do and their daughters
may also some day become ladies, and let us
hope with certain amount of respect for
the hard work Of their parents. Let us con-
tinue TO examine what the American objects to
in the German. 1t is the littleness
Of the German that does not please him.
Although it is only the natural consequence Of
the close, oppressive condition in the old
country, still it deserves reproach. The Ger
man is somewhat illiberal-narrow hearted
he has not the extensive comprehension fol
things in general as the average American; he
is envious and penurious little inclined &c
benefcence. These are all consequences o.
the old-home circumstances. He earns slow
ly through hard work and economy, therefor,
gives slowly, and has no sympathy with hin
who has not as much, because he thinks tn,
other would have more had he, too, worked
and saved. Those are not pleasant traits, bu
by and by this will grow better. The children
already in this respect do not stand back t
the Americana sure evidence that ii is onl]
the result Of circumstances and not a natura
trait with them.
We come now to very important poin
that harms us great deal in the eyes Of tn,
American. This serious point is beer, and al
that surrounds it. Ladies and gentlemen
this disastrous thing is designated, if not
everything deceives US, to bring forth terri
bic storm in our country in the near future
Everywhere crowds are gathering arount
their banners and an earnest strife will ensue
though simple the affair may now seem. Ii
. the absence Of great political issues, thi
question might, by shrewd politicians, be ar
r tifcially put under the name OF prohibition
seemingly under promising auspices for al
the know.nothingism concentrates practicall
4 under this sign. We must admit that it wer
better il we drank less, went less into tn
beer saloons, and cared less for beer. It
certainly a national vice OF the German tina
he loves to drink, but excluding the Italia
S and Frenchman we are not alone in our short
coming. The statistics prove that our goo,
: cousins over in England and her
I - Il