Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1888-05-31

They D1dn't Like ssThe Custom of the
Country, at Berlin.
EFrom Paris Lettex,l
Several American ladies have arrived here
from Berlin, says Paris letter. They had
intended to live for some time in the German
capital, but having. been arrested by the
police and scared half out of their wits they
packed up abruptly and hastened here, vow-
ing that nothing could induce them 70 set
foot in Berlin again. All the trouble arose
| from their not understanding, and therefore
| not complying with, the police registration
laws. This registration system is, in fact,
| a most excellent one, and is to be credited
| with making Berlin the most orderly large
| city in the world. There is not in the course
| of given time nearly twice as many crimes
| committed in il as Berlin, in proportion,
/ of course, to its size. Some of the credit
| Is due to the faithfulness of the police as in
dividuals.
They are the best police in Europe. But
the chief praise, as I have said, must be
| given to the system of registration. What
l is this system! I will explain it briefly.
Every visitor arriving in Berlin must Swithin
1 4S hours announce his presence to the police,
| together with his full name and address, his
age, where he was born, his fathenls name
| and occupation; what he has come to the
city for, how long he expects to stay, and
| various other details of biographical nature.
If there be anything suspicious about him
| the case is at once investigated. If he has
come from any place in Germany, a detec-
tive is sent thither to look up his record. If
he has come from any other country he is
arrested and taken before apolice magistrate,
where he must prove his identity. So it
came to pass that these American ladies
came thither and established themselves at
I foch hoo
and never thought of registering them
selves. Indeed, they did not know it was
necessary.
Early in the morning of the third day,
while they were dressing for breakfast,
they were startled by peremptory knocks
at the doors of their rooms. Opening
them, they found themselves confronted by
uniformed police officers, who ordered them
to accompany them instantly to the station
house.
"What fora"
'No matter You are wanted; that is
ALL"
Some of the ladies went almost into hys-
terics with fright. They literally fell on
their knees and begged to be let alone. They
made desperate appeals to the landlady for
protection, but all was in vain.
| cat least" they cried, ''let US wait until
| after breakfast, when we will come of our own
accord"
"Our orders are to fetch you now"
"But at least go away until we can dress
| ourselves fit to be seen on the street."
"You may dress as you please, but do it
! quickly and in our presence You are our
, prisoners, and the law requires us to keep you
/ under strict guard"
So the ladies, half dead with terror, put on
| their wraps and cloaks over their loose morn
ing wrappers drew heavy wells over their
faces, and were marched to the police station,
each with stalwart officer by her side.
There they were arraigned before magistrate.
, "Who are you?" he asked.
They gave their names and American ad-
dresses.
"What have you come to Berlin fora"
"Why, to spend the winter, and study mu.
sic and art and German, and see places of in
terest and have a good time"
'tHumph Can you prove that all this is
truea"
"Prove it, Why-why-how could we do
it, except to tell you that it is soi If you don't
believe US you can write to anyone at our
homes and ask them about it."
"Well, ladies, am inclined to believe you.
But why did you not comply with the registry
law on your arriyal?'
Registry lawa Why, we never knew there
was any!"
So the end. of it was that blank registry
forms were handed to the ladies, and they
were directed to fill them out at once, after
which carriages would be ready to convey
them back to their home. They filled the
blanks out, but when they came to the ques-
ton, CHOW long do you expect to remain in
Berlina' they all answered: mo longer than
it will take US to pack up and get out of the
horrid old placel'