Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1885-08-22
DOMESTIC LIFE
As Seen I'm Germany by "a Young
Lady Traveller.


mans is much simpler than ours, and in
many respects more economical and
practical. One truth is soon made ap-
parent to stranger, that's, that economy
| is necessity in Germany In a family
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 the baker comes, then
the man with milk and butter (the Ger
mans 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 z in the winter. This
done, in our family, the maid puts my
sitting-room in order, washing the floor,
busting the furniture and shaking the
rugs. At z we have coffee and by 7:30 l
am ready to begin my work. After the
rest of the family are served with coffee
and rolls, the sleeping and other rooms
are put in order, each being washed or
waxed and rugs thoroughly beaten then
the maid goes to the market to buv the
dinner. There are no supplies in larder
in Germany as at home. Ii cold boiled
ham or any cold meat is needed for sup
per, the maid goes to the butcher and
buys just enough for the meal.
A custom that struck me curiously was
that of having shops in the Easements of
even the handsomest houses on the most
fashionable streets-butchers, bakers,
shoemakers, notion stores, jewellers, all
who can be found within radius of
block from any given point. 1t is I'M
doubtedly convenient for the people, but
it mars the beauty of the streets very
much. My maid has gone to market l
believe, so by the time she has returned
and is preparing the second breakfast,
which is served at II, and consists of a
couple of eggs and 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 slice of brown
bread an inch and a half thick with
little cold meat. Occasionally cup of
chocolate varies the monotony.
Then comes the dinner at 2-soup,
meat and vegetables, and dessert, the
latter the children only are allowed to
have on Sundays. After the soup has
been served the lady of the house puts
what she intends for the maid in dish,
and on no account would servant be al
lowed 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, re-
turning in time for o'clock coffee, which
even the little 3-year-old boy of my land
lady drank every day. 1t was problem
to me how these children kept their
health, with coffee in the morning and
afternoon and at night. am sure
American children could not endure it.
At supper is eaten; cold meat, tea or
milk or beer and bread and butter COM
pose the meal. The laundry work is al
ways done out of the house. so that it
lessons the work of the one maid very
materially. All bread, cake, pies, and
even puddings, ARE bought ready-made, as
we say of clothes. The bread is much
better than ours, because it is always
done.
A good maid is not paid more than 500
a year, and in many families only $l2.
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
was in the quarrels were so frequent that
one policeman, at least, was there most
of the time.
German women are much interested in
their housekeeping they obey their hus-
bands religiously, because they have to,
and are very fond of fancy work and
gossip! They are very tenacious of their
titles, and if lady's husband is doctor
or professor, and you do not call her Frau
Doctor or Frau Professor, you offend her
MORALLY. l told my German teacher
that had some friends in Berlin whom
had met some years ago in Rome, and
asked how I should address the lady, as
was going there to dine. thought the
title was Justizirath; then
must call her Frau Justizirath. "But,"
said, che is also Geheimerath." "Oh,
then, that is still higher, and she must be
called Frau Geheimerath." Later on in
this conversation l mentioned that he
was also professor in the university. The |
look of amazement and surprise l got,
and the way in which she said, Chow
lucky that you told me; you must call
her Frau Pl ofessor," convinced me that
1 would have made a serious mistake if
had used either of the first mentioned
titles.