The Northwestern standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1885-1886, 1886-01-09
DOMESTIC LIFE TN GERMANY:
Whist the Servant Does The Meals Wo-
mems Titles.

What the Servant Does The Meals Wo-
mems Titles
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 APP
parent to a stranger-that is, that
economy is necessity in Germany. In
a family Of seven there is usually but
one servant. She rises at five, washes
the foos and puts her own room IN or
der. At six the baker comes, then the
man with the milk and butter the
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 Old
er children, who are obliged to be Off to
school at half-past six in the summer
and seven in the winter. This done, in
our family, the maid puts my sitting
room in order, washes the floor, dust
ing the furniture and shaking the rugs,
at seven we have coffee, and by half
past seven I am ready to begin my
work. After the rest OF the family are
served with coffee and rolls the sleep
ing and other rooms are put in order,
each floor being washed or waxed and
the rugs thoroughly beaten; then the
maid goes to the market to buy the
dinner. There are no supplies in the
iarder in Germany as at home. Ii cold
boiled ham or any cold meat is needed
for supper 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 base
ments of even the handsomest houses
on the most fashionable streets butch
ers, bakers, shoemakers, notion stores
jewellers, all can be found within "a
dius of block from any given point
It is undoubtedly convenient for the
people, but it mars the beauty of the
streets very much. My maid has gont
to market, believe, SO by this time sht
has returned and is preparing the sec
ond breakfast, which is served a.
eleven, and consists Of a couple OF eggs
and a slice of brown bread, and, per:
ihaps. a glass Of milk for a boarder: but
for the children and the rest Of the
family it is usually only a slice o.
brown bread an inch and half THICK,
with little cold meat Occasionally q
cup of chocolate varies the monotony
Then comes the dinner at two-soup
meat and vegetables and dessert; the
latter the children are only allowed to
have Sundays. After the soup has
been served the lady of the house puts
what she intends for the maid in q
dish. and on no account would a ser.
want be allowed to take more than had
been given her. The same plan is fol-
lowed with meat and vegetables. After
the dinner dishes are washed and the
kitchen put III order the maid dresses;
takes the children out for walk in the
park, returning in time for five O'Clock
coffee, which even the little three year
old boy of my landlady drank every
day. 1t was a problem to me how
these children kept their health with
coffee in the morning and afternoon
and at night I atm sure American
children could not endure it.
at eight supper is eaten; cold meats
tea, or milk or beer, and bread and but.
ter compose the meal. The laundry
work is always done out Of the house
so that lessons the work of the ons
maid very materially. All bread
cakes, pies, and even puddings, arr
bought ready -made-as We say O
clothes. The bread is much better thar
ours, because it is always thorough,
done.
A good maid is not paid more thar
$50 year, and in many families onl.
ST. They are allowed one Sunda,
evening out in two weeks. and If the,
should come home later than they hav'
promised they do not 60 out again Tor
month. All disputes between mistress
and maid are settled by the police. II
one house was in the quarrels were 81
frequent that one policeman. at least
was there most of the time.
German women are much interested
| in their housekeeping; they obey tllei
husbands religiousiy, because the.
have TO, and are very fond Of fame.
work aud gossip They are very tena
c,ous Of their titles, and if a lady'5 hus
band is doctor or professor and you d
not call her frau doctor or frau pTofes
| sor you offend her mortally. / told ~.
German teacher that had some friend
! in Berlin whom I had met some year
ago in Rome, and asked how 1 shoul'
address the lady. as was going Their
10 dine. / thought the gentleman
| title was Justizirath; then ! might cal
| her Frau Justizirath. But. = 1 said
| she is also GaheimerattI- /. oh, then
/ that is still higher and she must b
called Frau Geheimerath. z Late
lon IN this conversation mentione'
/ that he was also Professor in the Uni
Iversity The look of amazement an
ssuYprise got and the way in wilic|
Ishe said How lucky that You told ne
! sou mist call her 8 Fran Professor,
convinced me that / would have inside
serious mistake If 4 had used aither Z
| tie iirst- nlentioned titles rom
,GsrIs letter u New Fork dyocetay