The National tribune., 1883-01-25
W0MbWS WORK.
Aunt Helen's Home Talks---COlOr in
DreSS---HOuSehOld Hints.
Continued

and bubblng over with kindness as q be-
throthed girl of eighteen, i'll buoyant health,
and with a fair share of earthly goods would be
likely to be. The very skies seemed to have
pleasure in her coming, and in token had sent
down regal autumn day, full of Crispness and
SPARKLING sunshine Within the Anterior
home each inmate seemed to vie with the other
in graceful COurteseS towards the youthful
guest; even the fires seemed to snap and crackle
as seldom before and the birds chirped and
Warbcd unweariedly.
In the evening when the family had assem-
bled, as was their wont, in the library, Ethel
drew "A hassock to Aunt Heens side, and, seat
ing herself said, Iaughingly: "When l was
child | often used to draw pictures of the Greek
sagcs with some young disciple sitting at their
feet 1t must have been prophetic pastime;
for now see what | realize III flesh and blood"
and as she said this she pointed to a mirror
which lined niche in the wall opposite, and
in which the two figures were clearly reflected.
SO serene was the face of Aunt Helen, so fresh
and alert with The Joy of mere existence was
the face of the girl at her side, and so unCOn-
sCous and natural were the attitudes, that the
groupmight, indeed, have belonged to a classical
time.
II do not yet know Aunt Helen, whether or
not you intend to have me rs disciple this
winter" Ethel said, speaking more gravely.
yes" replied Aunt Helen, stroking the
brown hair of the girl, Il have taken you for
veal or for woe, and as proof of my readiness
to give You such help as lies in my power l
have prepared little paper for your first even
ing. The field through which we are to go is,
as yOu wrote, a wide one, and we have all too
little time"
"You are kinder than I could have hoped"
exclaimed Ethel, something very like tears
gIstenng in her bright eyes. And what is
your paper about?'
About the home life of Germany in con-
trast with that of America" answered Aunt
Helen.
- am afraid that You are growing to be less
and less true Americana said Ethel. There
seem to be many points in American life with
which you are not i'll sympathy
L am in sympathy with America, but not
with American life" replied Aunt Helen. "TO
me, America seems to be full of rich possibilities
but American life is only term for some
thing which cXhausts my best energies and
gives me almost nothing in return. Every
where lato hours, CapriciOus and expensive
fashions, OstcntatiOns III our homes, rivalrics
among our neighboTs, and grotcsque displays
in our churches. Nowhere DO we find sim
plicity or repose. Art has not yet mellowed
us, nor has religion baptized Us, and even our
homes offer us no refuge from the fluctuations
of fashion, politics and traffic"
But is not this general aspeCt?" asked
Ethel, feeling about for solid ground. "Surcly
exceptions are somewhere to be fOund?"
Yes" answered Aunt Helen, among per-
sons, very admirable exceptions, one Of which
we need not go far TO seek, and then opening
roll of manuscript she read to the little circle
her
"HoMEs OF GERMANY.
"The Germans have q -Gemmhlich-
which corresponds to our word comfortable, but
differing from the latter in this: that it always
implies some degree of feeling. The word is
one of those in most frequent use in German
intercourse, and really represents one of the
fundamental elements in German life, whether
the latter be considered under q political, social
or business aspect. Nowhere, however, is the
fitness Of this word so beautifully realized as
III the home of the German. 10 Englishmen
and Americans, accustomed as these are to at
t9Ch more importance 10 the exterior than to
the interior of their homes, prone 10 ask how
the structure will appear 10 the outside world,
rather than to inquire into its fitness to the
needs and development of its inmates, Ger
man house will generally appear to be a cold
and repcllant object. Grim and formidable the
buildings stand, nearly devoid Of architectural
adornment, with long rows of narrow, mean
ingless windows yawning along the sides, huge
front dOorways and gloomy front courts.
Within these sombre buildings, story rises
above story, each one occupied by a distinct
family, while the lower hall is usually used as
carriage house, wine-store, or for some other
economic purpose. But once having gotten
above the damp and gloomy grouud-hall, and
having crossed the g0rpidt-, or inner vestibule,
which guards the entrance into the private
rooms of each story in a German house, the Wis
itOr finds himself in such a nest of comfort, Of
simple homemade beauty, that he caa scarcely
rcpress an exclamation of delight. If he enter
the paTlor, there is the pretty mosaic or WaXed
floor, the warm rugs, the easy sCfa-the sofa is
Tie seat of honor III a German hOuSe-thC gen
erOus sized table, around which family and
guests are wont to gather in the G eningS, with
knitting, sewing or embroidery, while music
q reading from some appointed member OF the
circle, or pleasant talk among all, rob the hours
of even the sembance of toll. OF music there
is always sure to he good share in these Ger
man homes. Music from the old masters; folk
melodies OF rhythm to suit every mood; spark
ling dancc-muSic and grand old church hymns
Books and cngrvings are there, as If to estab-
lish kinship between the family and the new
conner, and all about the room are quaint and
beautiful things wrought by the dctt fingers of
some friend or member of the family. If the
visitor pass into the sitting ROOM or dining
room, family pictures often with beautiful
faces, always in quaint costumes, look down
from the wall upon him; dainty articles of
incarceration, and the same simple, homCly
arrangement Of things greet MIN here as in the
parlor and should he pass into the kitchen, he
would behold n shining floor, spotlesS dresser,
rows of gliStcning pans and Oddiy-shaped crock
ery-Warc primly ranged on shelves and cup
board. Wherever space admits the German
house has, opening from the dining a lit
tie balcony where the family drink coffee, and
spend the leisure hours of the day. Where it
Is also possible, there is q pretty court
screened from the street, gay with plants
and blooming flowers, and furnished with
seats and tables, and here in all pleasant
weather the family have their coffee drink
ingS, and often take their meals. Indeed
in many instances where the balcony or
court has been impracticablc, the German
householder has fashioned the roof Of his high
house into portico. The coffee is served here
AS the twilight approaches lighted lamps are
brought up, and the family, unless they go out
On plcasure-wak, spend here the long sum-
mer evenings III conversation, singing, or read
ing. The whole aim Of the Germans seems 10
be 20 beautify and simplify existence. They
Conversation constitutes their chief home
pleasure. In all gatherings. at all tabie-rcpaStS,
this IS the thing To be made sure. The Ger
ma'ls rs nation are poor but their means are
adequate, because their joys are simple and
because they have mastered the secret of max
ing very little money 20 great way in pro-
ducng comfort and beauty. They make money
slowly, and spend it deliberately. They econ
OmiZc openly and without embarrassment. 4
German retlreS on q fortune of thirty thousand
dollars. and to him fifty thousand seems IL vast
sum Perhaps no feature of German domestic
life is more beautiful than the custom of Observ-
ing family tete-daYs. These days mark the