Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1886-12-15
POVERTY IN BERLIN.
Sufferings Of the Poor In the Brilliant
German Oapital-Their Appeal TO the
Rich-Uases of AFFECT Destitution.

G0rm&n OapfCaI-The1r Appear the
Rich-Uases of AFFECT Destitution.
From Berlin Special
/ was asked the other day if there
was much suffering among the poor O
our capital. The question reminded
me of what had heard New York
lady say recently: 81 have been par
ticularly struck by one thing" she re-
marked, "during my six months
sojourn in your great city / dc
not see even on the street
those ragged, hollow-cheeked figures
that attract so many pityine
glances in London, Paris, Rome and
the large American centers. So / con
-clude that there is but little poverty
here" FASTENED to inform my good
friend that she was mistaken. Since
Berlin has become g. grand metropolis
and new trades and industries have
grown up until they are the most
fourishing in Germany, its indigency
has increased at the same rate as it's
wealth. And what this wealth is be-
coming may be judged by the fact that
there are 12S families IN Berlin with
an annual income of from $25, 900 to
$135, OOO-large sums in Europe, how
Thousands of families and single in
dividuals come to Berlin annually
from the country, hoping to find here
better wages and lighter work; but un-
less favored by circumstances, the
greater part of these deluded people
fail to get on, and thus increase every
year the quantum of our pauperism.
That g. stranger living in O. hotel on
the West Side of the ciGy does not
meet with beggars or misery is very
natural, for that is the aristocratic
quarter. Then, again, our police
regulations are very strict. Mendic1ty
is prohibited, and anybody found
asking aims is promptly arrested.
If the unfortunate wretch can
give neither an address of his own nor
that of an employer, he is promptly
committed to the worknouse as
tramp. You are not apt to be
troubled by beggars at your front
door bell, for the s'hat" system pre-
walls in Berlin, and the porter st the
main entrance is as watchful as Ger
berus; yet, should g. cunning mumper
succeed in gaining the staircase, he
would find himself confronted at
every door with notice reading as
follows: Member of the Society for
the Suppression of Mendicity."
This means that the family with
in does not intend to give aims with
out first consulting the society and
finding out whether this be q worthy
case. This admirable organization,
supported by the weather. portion Of
the inhabitants of Berlin, is, of course,
unable to help all the needy who ap
ply, but it does considerable good,
and at least protects it's own members
against impostors of both sexes. The
society has officers scattered about
the city, and requests for help are
carefully examined into before being
granted. Similar societies exist IN
almost all the large German cities.
How, then, does the voice of the
poor reach the ear of the rich /? By
means of written appeal, which is
an advantage to both parties, for the
mendicant can furnish complete and
truthful account OF his wants, while
the aims giver can satisfy himself that
his money is not being wasted on
-drunkards or vagabonds. l have re-
'ceived during the past week $50
appeals OF this kind. What ac-
counts of suffering and wretchcd-
ness they give! Some of these
descriptions are doubtless exagger-
ated. Many, | can see by the writ
ing, are the works of the same hand
some scrivenes who ekes out his ex-
istence by inditing begging letters for
Others. However, most Of these sad
stories are found to be only too true
on investigation, and you sometimes
meet with cases where the misery is so
great that the pen cannot do them
Justice; and all this in spite of our adj
mire5le city poor houses, our hun
dreds of charitable institutions and
very generous individual almsgiving.
/ maize it q rule never to give with
OUT at first inouiring into the case and
as was beginning my regular round
of inspection the other day, | invited
the New York lady already mentioned
to 60 with me. Now, nothing is more
difficult in large city than to find out
who are poor and who are not. Many
g. family supposed to be wealthy Is
diving under the shadow of the poor
house, but I have to do now only with
those who are dependent upon charity
for their existence. Official statistics
show that 196,679 inhabitants OF
Berlin, whose population is now
about 1,5O0, 600, were relieved
from taxation in 1885, be-
cause their annual earnings did not
reach $105, while 148,128 persons
earned $1O5, which gave them about
-3O.eents day for all their expenses.
Besides this mass of starving people
who dive from hand to mouth and are
never able to lay aside a penny for a
rainy day. As, 581 still more unfortu-
nate beings received aid from the poor
fund, some for a season only, and
others throughout the whole year.
Again, II ,394 families were exempted
from the payment of their house rent
because of poverty, while 1880 more
familiee who tried to meet the demand
of their landlord failed to do 30.
! might go on aud lift still more the
veil that partly conceals this abjec'
destitution. j might show you tbs