Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-07-16
Domestic Life in Germany.
New York Christian Advocate.


The domestic machinery of the Ger
mans Is much simpler than ours, and
IN many respects more economical
and practical. One truth is soon
made apparent to stranger, that is,
that economy is q necessity in Ger
MANY. In a fe mijy Of seven there is
usually but one servant. She rises at
5. makes the kitchen fire, washes the
floor and puts her own room IN order.
at 6 the baker comes, then the man
with milk and butter 0he Germans
never put salt in their butter, so they
buy it fresh every morning). The
children are awakened, and the maid
helps them to dress, then makes the
coffee and serves it, first to the older
children, who are obliged to be off for
school at $50 in summer and IN the
winter. This done, in our family, the
maid puts my sitting room in order,
washing the floor, busting the furni-
ture and shaking the rugs. At 8 we
have coffee and at 7:30 1 am ready to
begin nv work. After the rest of the
family are served with coffee and
rolls, thesleeping and other rooms are
put in order, each floor being washed
and waxed and rugs thoroughly beat
en-; then the maid goes to market to
buy the dinner. There are no sup
plies in the larder in Germany as at
home. IF cold boiled ham or any cold
goes to the butcher and buys just
enough for the meal.
A custom that struck me curiously
was that of having shops in the base
ments of even the handsomest houses
on the most fashionable Streets
butchers, bakers, shoemakers, notion
stores, jewellers, all who can be found
within q radius of block from any
given point. 1t is undoubtedly con-
venient for the people, but it mars the
beauty Of the streets very much. The
maid has gone to market, [ believe,
SO BY this time she has returned and
is preparing the second breakfast,
which is served at IL, and consists of
a couple of eggs and a slice of brown
bread, and, perhaps, glass of milk
for boarder; but for the children and
the rest of the family it IS usually only
a slice Of brown bread an inch and q
half thick with a little cold meat.
Occasionally a cup of chocolate varies
the monotony. Then comes the din
ner at 2-soup, meat and vegetables
and dessert, the latter the children only
are allowed to have on Sundays. At
ter the soup has been served the lady
of the house puts what she intends
for the maid in a dish, and on no ac>
count would servant be allowed to
take more than had been given her.
The same plan is followed with meat
and vegetables. After the dinner
dishes are washed, and the kitchen
put in order, the maid dresses and
takes the children out for a walk in
the park, returning in time for five
o'clock coffee, which even tue little
3-year-old boy of my landlady drank
every day. 1t was problem TO me
how these children kept their health
with coffee in the morning and after
noon and at night. lam sure Ameri-
can children could not endure it.
At supper is eaten; cold meats, tea
or milk or beer and bread and butter
compose the meal. The laundry
work is always done out of the house
so that lessons the work of the one
maid very materially. All bread,
cakes, pies, and even buildings, are
bought ready-made-a we of clothes.
The bread is much better than ours,
because it is always thoroughly done.
A good maid is not paid more than
$40 a year, and in many families
only $12. They are allowed one
Sunday evening out in two weeks,
and if they should come home later
than they have promised, they do
not go out again for a month. All
disputes between mistress and maid
are settled by the police. In one house
I was In the ouarreIs were SO frequent
that one policeman, at least, was
there most of the time.
German women are much interest
ed In their housekeeping; they obey
their husbands religiously, because
they have to, and are very fold of
fancy work and-gossip! They are
very tenacious of their titles, and if a
lady's husband is doctor or profess
or, and you do not call her Frau Doc
tor or Frau Professor, you offend her
MORALLY. told my German teacher
that | had some friends in Berlin
whom had met some years ago in
Rome, and asked how should ADJ
dress the lady, as was goiug there
to dine. I thought the gentleman's
title was Justizirath; then I must call
her Frau Justlzirath. But" I said,
''he is also Gekeimerath." "Oa, then
that is still higher, and she must be
called Frau Geheimerath." Later on
in this conversation I mentioned that
he was also professor in the university.
The look of amazement and surprise
I got, and the way IN which she said,
"HOw lucky that you told me; you
must call her Frau Professor" con-
WINGED me that | would have made a
serious mistake if had used either of
the first mentioned titles.
THE SILK-WORM.