Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1886-10-19
LIFE In GERMANY.
PEOPLE WHO DELIGHT IN AN OUT
OF-OOORS EXISTENCE.

A Land of Much Military Dispisy-Msid
servants-How the Mothers Manage to
Keep Their Family secret.-Life Within
the Flats.
The ground here seems fabulous in
value. yet everywhere one comes uneI-
pectedly upon inclosed spaces planted
with shade trees and made deligh fully
attractive by scattered hints Of forest Sc
clusion, with rustic benches, plashing
fountains and the odor of flowers. Here
in the morning the mother sits with the
little ones, looking up from knitting or
embroidery to watch them at play, the
nurse at hand to do their bidding. On
leaving each member Of the party bows
courteously TO the stranger sitting near
by, and the youngest child stops TO make
demure courtesy which recalls the
grave fashion of the minuet. Thus early
in life is she impressed with the impor-
tance Of social deoorum. Even the strange
babe in the nurses arms extends the
hand as we pass each other on the stair
way Everywhere the children are re-
mem bereG. Those who do not leave the
city for the summer come from their
homes to live in the garden and parks, AL
Of which have commodious spaces for
their play grounds.
LOVE OF FOREST LIFE.
This love OF trees and forest III. is q
survival of the taste which Tacitus as
doors, one catches glimpses OF thoroughly
German life. The tiniest child has her
knitting, her butterfly net, her roll for
he h,y he, fhafr
tic exercises and games. Such life Is an
elysium for the nurses.
There is much military display in the
city. Everywhere there are bright uni
forms, and the flashing Of guns and
sword-hilts enlivens the city's streets with
that sort Of glamour which Is always fas-
cinating to childish eyes. A German maid
is ready at any moment TO do an errand,
even II she be in the act of turning an
omelette. 1t is the old story of the fasci-
nation Of gilt buttons and epaulets. You
see them lingering at the fountains,
where the pitchers are flied, for a chat
with some soldier-snd soldier are ubiS III
tous here. II suddenly house should be
unroofed without the knowledge of its oc-
cupants, and one could see its inmost life
revealed, these flats of five or six stories,
so reticent as we gaze upon them III pass
ing by, a whole city full Of them. so that
one estimates its area perpendicular!y
instead Of horizontally-who has their
secrets
The maid servants all have their rooms
In the mansard attic, under the roof rs
they say here, and at night with twelve
or more maids in conclave Oae sso~s
there must be much gossip The 20 asn
comes five times daily; 1t is know sno
has received letters and what the po, sihls
contents are; who has q new bail q sss:
who has redrsped an old one. These rev.
Citations under the caves, how varied n
theme! How lively in recital! How provo
cative of differences! The romance Of th9
young people, the daily menu, the prob
able bank account, all this passes in
nightly review. Matrons complain, bur
find no remedy. Then the older members
discuss affairs not meant for the ears Of
servants or little ones. They speak in
French, and children demurely say: Il
shall be glad when my French lessons be-
gin, then |, too, can hear the family Sc
crets"