Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1886-10-03
LIFE IN
PEOPLE WHO DELIGHT IN AN OUT.
oF-DooRS EXISTENCE.

FGSELG WITH OCLi6Tl I'm AN OSiN
oF-DOoRS EXISTENCE.
A Land Of Much Military Display-Maid
servants-How the 1Iothe Manage to
Keep Their Family Secrets-Life within
the Flats.
The ground here seems fabulous in
value, yet everywhere n comes unex-
pectedly upon inclosed spaces planted
with shade trees and made delightfully."-
attractive by scattered hints of forest Sc
clusion, with rustic benches, FLASHING
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
a demure courtesy which recalls the
grave fashion of the minuet. Thus early
in life is she impressed with the impor-
lance of social decorum. 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-
membered. Those who do not leave the
city for the summer come from their
homes to live in the garden and parks, all
of which have commodious spaces for
their play grounds.
ovE OF FOREST LIFE.
This love of trees and forest life Is q
survival of the taste which Tacitus as
cribed to the old Teutons. Here, out Of
doors, n catches glimpses of thoroughly
German life. The tiniest child has her
knitting, her butterfly net, her roll for
lunch, while the boys have their gymnas-
tic exercises anu 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
s~word-hiltS enlivcn, 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 If she be iii 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 filled, for a chat
with some soldier-and soldier are ubiqui-
tous here. If suddenly a 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 in pass
ing by, n whole city full Of them, so that
one estimates its area perpendicularly
instead Of Observation-Disclosures has their
secrets.
The maid servants all have their rooms
in the mansard attic, under the roof" as
they say here, and ut night with twelve
or more maids in conclave one knows
there must be much gossip. The postman
comes five times daily; it is known who
has received letters and what the possible
contents are; who has a new ball dress;
who has redraped an old one. These rev.
Citations under the caves, how varied in
themel How lively in recital! How provo
cative of differences! The romance of the
young people, the daily menu, the prob
able bank account, all this passes in
nightly review. Matrons complain, but
find no remedy. Then the older members
discuss affairs not meant for the ears OF
servants or little oues. 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."
LIFE WITHIN THE FLATS.
This life within the flats is all novel and
invested with that air of romance which q
foreign atmosphere always gives. There
are no open fireplaces, tall, white porce-
lain stoves reaching to the ceiling. The
floors are waXed and Immediately neat.
AT the windows there are lace curtains,
behind these white shades, which are
drawn into cloud-like puffs. They are
technically known as Clouds" and one
sees them everywhere-particularly at all
the palace windows. Next the glass, there
hangs plain, undraped lace, the sO-called
"envy-curtains," whose function is to pre-
vent a sight of the interior. The window
stills are ~broad-the windows open within
the shape of q double door. with hinges.
Outside there are permanent venetian
blinds, either green or gray, convertible
into a slanting awning at a single touch.
Thus German windows, the eyes Of tho
house, as it were, are intricate in their
furnishing.
For comfort in looking out there are
broad, luxurious cushions, patiently en-
broidered in the tent-stitch. This en-
broidery repeats itself everywhere, on
every occasion, and enters largely into
the life of every fraulein. 1t is q matter
of sentiment that gifts should represent
the skill of the giver, and it is always
somebody's birthday, or the anniversary
OF some event. Even the birthday of the
strange visitor is not permitted to pass
unnoticed. Glance with me at the hand
embroidery in this room. Table cover,
sofa cushions, paper rack, writing mat,
coal box cover, the rug before the writing
desk, the slippers of the host, the Roman
apron Of the hostess, all represent weeks
of labor. No German lady sits with idle
hands, even when entertaining company.
Stuttgart Cor. Courier journal.