Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-10-05
GERMAN VOLKSFEST.
Preparations Complete for To-Mor-
rows Great Celebration.
CUSTOMS OF THE NATIVES.
Mrs Sarah A. Peple Pictures Home
Life in the fathehand
THE DAYS PROGRAMME IN FULL.
Young Mons Parade. Exercises Mt tho
Grounds, Torohiight Procession,
Sketches of Speakers. &c.
CUSTOMS OF THE NATIVES.
THE DAYS PROGRAMME IN FULL

Sketches OF Speakers, @o'
Az tomorrow Is 10 be n grand gala-day
Among our German citizens il may DO in
.eresting TO the Dispa'cl's readers TO take
A., little bird's-oye view Of the grand en-
MIRO which has furnished us so many intel
lrent. industrious, and useful citizens, 10
whom we are SO closely allied--in other
words. our Cousins German"
10 IL not an unusual occurrence TO meet
with persons holding very erroneous opin-
Cons as TO the Fatherand, who class every
thing that is odd and Outlandish under
tie sweeping title Of "Dutch." conden-
,ng this vast empire and setting IT over in
lie little kingdom OF Holland.
Tho German empire OF to-day is con-
federation Of twenty-five sovereign States,
four kingdoms. six Grand-ducbies, 1--WE
duchics. seven principalities, three free
cities. and Alsaco-Loraine which was
ccded 10 Germany by France at the peace
concluded in 1871.
Tho empire proper has an area OF 2OS0OO
English square miles, but there are other
territories inhabisod by Germans. such as
the German provinces Of the.Austrian en-
u,r.. the Demonstrating cantons OF
Switzerland. and Russian Germany, ETC.,
which would increase the area to $4,000
English square miles.
TIE nuEmAL GOvERNMrNT.
The imperial dignity IS hereditary IN the
line If UohonZOllcrn fthe royal house or
prusslal. The Emperor exercises the I'M
rorial power in tho name of tho coniede-
rated States. In his Office he IS assisted by
federal council or bundesrath.' which
teurcseuts the government OF the indl-
,,3ual States Of Germany. The members
Of this council, ffty-nine in number. are
Amounted for eacn session hy INC govern
r'rt of the individual States. The legs
'rtivr functions Of the empire are yestedl N
tle Emperor, the buudesrath, and tho
rcichstag, or diet. which corresponds with
our Congress. the members beng elected
for three wears bv universal suffrage.
The power of the Emperor IN many re-
srocts resembles that of tho President OF
tho United States with this. exception;
that the Emperor IS born 10 hls position
and holds IL through life, which doubtless
saves o world OF trouble.
THUR ARMY AND NAVY.
He commands both army and navy. BY
Tie Constitution Of April l6, 1871, every
German is liable 20 service, andno suhstltu.
ton ~ allowed. Every German capable OF
bearing arms has 30 serve m the standing
army for seven years-as rule, rom tne
eud of the twentieth 10 the commencement
al his twenty-eighth year. The strength OF
the army on peace footing was hxed III
the bill of 1874 at 401, $50 for term OF seven
venrs. All Young men who reach certain
6yed standard of higher school training,
however. are obliged To serve only Tor one
wear m the active army, and these are not
Included in the effective strength OF INC
nrny on a peace footing. by the articles
OF the Constitution the whole OF the land
forces Of the empire formed united army
in war and peAce. under the orders OF the
Imperor. The army on peace footing -
eIout half q million; on war footing j.
over q million and half. Inc Gerinan5
have ever been valiant and highly-lnteill-
pent soldiers. Their achievements on the
field Of honor have left for them glorious
record. ,.,-t..
us hasat times beenunitcd, then torn asun-
der. but finally reunited as u is to-day, pas
risen 10 be a nation of tho first rank. n
powerful factor in all decisions regarding
the destiny of civilized humanity. mere
is no nation which has retained its indlyld-
uality aud.nstiouality under greater dill
culhes.
SECTIONAL CHARACTERISTICS.
The very vastness OF their country gives
70 the north aud south Germans charac-
tcristics az varied rs those we nnu among
our own people of different sections. those
of tho north are calm. thrifty, hardy, re-
served people. somewhat like their rela-
tives. the English, across the channel
while those of the south, as Is the case IN
al southern countries, are more lmagihh-
tive. vivacious, generous, and easy gong.
Thouch many OF tho inhabitants OF the
borders assimilate with their nelghbors,
vet their strong type Of nationality remains
intact. their love for the tathecland pass
inc away only with their uylhs
breath In spite of all these YaTla-
tions of climate and environment, there
are certain national characteristics when
are ipdeibly stamped upon them. Truth
fuluess. reliability. and a patient, pioddlng
industry are few of their good quantities.
while intense concentration OF thousnV
aud steady application stamp them as a
nation of specialists. Nhlls hchlhs tue
easy. graceful versatility with which some
people are able 10 skip from subject TO
subject. giving a touch here and flourish
there. there is nothing OF which German
has such holy horror rs 10 be Jack az
all trades and good at none" Destined
from their cradles 10 pursue certaln
course. their education and training all
tend i'm that direction. If a man is 10 be
"A matchmaker he makes watches with his
whole heart aud soul, and his watches are
very apt TO be good.
THEY ALL FAVE ENTHUsIAsM.
Tntbuslasm u the Germans forte. As
soon "a a subject seiZes hold upon hum ne
pursues II for sheer love OF 1t. No dlih'
Guilty is too great, no trouble too heavy 10
he endured, and vet II often occurs that a
German savaut gives TO the world great
scientific truth rs the result OF his learned
research. while some practical, quick'
vitted individual applies II and reaps the
fruit of anOtber's labor.
Among the Germans in all departments
Of art-in music. literature, painting, and
Fculpturc-their aim IS classical PERFECTION
Their universities and other institutions OF
learning are shining lights in the world
Their literature embraces all branches OF
science. art, and belle-lettrcs. Modern sta
tIsucs have established the TACT that NOR
books have been and are being written 10y
the Germans than hy any other nation
Their poetrv il considered the lOttiest, the
most purely ideal. touching tho deepest
and tenderest chords of the human heart
Tven among the lower classes an innate
love of good music is generally found.
AID THEY ABE RELIGIOUS.
A Great Injustice has been done TO oul
German ueighbors with regard 20 their re-
hrion. a German. tree-thinker. an inh
dol. and an atheist being commonly re
gaFNp4 "a SknOnOiNONS. Az AhtNl &c
Ia, thaf when AT the time Of the fall of Tn
Roman Empire Christianity was languish
ing and threatened with extinction tn,
cross Of our modern Christian civliiizatlol
wa. npheld and borne by the Teutomc race
Later with the German Reformation head
ell by Luther great and shining high
swept over the then known world.
In our own day the great Bismarck pro
tested against the popular belief IN the II
religion Of the Germans by asserting tina
de'p current Of religion underNe thel
thoughts and actions.
The Official census of 1875 mades the To-
lowing report:
ffutcAtAfitas ...ss..'f' ''''''
Roman Catholics. ~ a.
nisseniers ........s........s.s.s''' 100
SrNr. $1,000 81,
Olhor creeds, religion not staied..'''' 'o'H
Total. ...,...........s.....ss.s .'.''''N-''-'''
The number Of persons styling tnen
selves Of no religion or refusing 10 s'"'
their religion Is very small.