Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1891-04-05
SOCIETY IN BERLIN.
THE CITY ON THE SPREE IS STILL
IN p TRANSITION STATE.

1t has been said with much truth JhaC
Berlin is still in its Flegel-jahre, the Ger
man name for that period of transition
when the child develops into the young
man or woman. AS a capital of first rank
Berlin is not fully hedged even yet, in
snite of the gigantic strides to maturity it
has taken since 1871.
However it refuses obstinately to con
slider itself otherwise than grown up;
hence a sort of hesitation, an uncertainty,
a difIidence perceptible to the outsider, the
upacknowledged consciousness of which is
tbinlv yelled under ostentatious assurance,
and engenders a watchful jealousy in so
cial relations that has often been attrib-
uted to other motives
Sometimes this feeling has created diff
culties. In the simple and perfunctory
matter of calls, for instance, no definite
rules are possible. At whatever hour for
eipn visitor pays visit he is liable to fall
on the dinner hour, which may be at any
time between and Z. All the bourgeoisie
does not dine at ?, all the aristocracy does
not dine at the later hour; the former
strives to postpone it's meal, the latter en-
deavors to forget how very lately 1t has
adopted the more fashionable time
ECONOMY IN HIGH LIFE.
These crudities are apparent in other
things With very fine houses, elegant
and really artistic furniture, good pictures
and choice flowers in abundance, with the
comprehension Of the rehnements Of life
that springs from superior intellectual ed
ucation, the Berlinese are by nature and
tradition race of simple and primitive
tastes. Large fortunes-save among the
Israelites-are the exception, not the rule;
the wealth of the Christians is chiefly ter
ritorial and the rich land owners, whose
extensive domains are often situated in
distant provinces not easy Of access, do not
think themselves justified in spending the
revenues Of their property in the capital
only.
Thrift and domestic economy are prac-
ticed and viewed in the light Of hereditary
virtues sinful to neglect. Even women Of
title consider themselves bound to super
wise their household, not by deputy
housekeeper, but in person. They are act
i've and Intelligent, share in the manage
ment. expect their daughters to assist
them, and train them to be proficient in
/ their turn in all the branches Of house
rule.
/ Impossible a. they think it is to act
/ otherwise this adherence to old teachings
| creates "a certain dstrust and shyness Of
/ strangers and fear Of possible ridicule,
/ which is the real reason Of difficulty eX-
/ pericuced by foreigners in penetrating into
/ the inner life Of the Germans. The diplo-
matte corps ESPECIALLY is viewed as dan
/ geruus competitor and critic. IL is looked
upon as generally worldly, subversive, ex-
/ trayagaut and ,Ipcrc.lious; to he courted
/ withal, sometimes battered, often envied,
/ bat always and prudently kept at a safe
/ distance.
THE MILITARY.
/ Setting aside the court and the imperial
/ family. who are extremely hospitable, the
. chief social functions devolve upon the en-
I bassys and LEGATIONS. These entertainments
retain certain official character which
/ in itself has "A charm for native society; the
/ Prussiau houses at which receptions on a
large and cosmopolitan scale are given are
/ very few. and for many years have always
/ been the same. Conspicuous among these
are the hu.,y, Of the Radzywiils, not mere
/ ly those Of the heads Of the family, but of
. the younger and allied branches.
The universally, il may almost be said
/ the excess, of the military element preya-
lent in Germany, is no doubt responsible
/ for many social restrictions. There is vir-
/ tually no other profession than the army
/ for young men of good birth; they enter 1t
az very early 8ge, having been prepared
for il from childhood: they frequently
marry young. their epaulets are in the
minds Of even prudent parents sufficient
. guarantee Of their fitness TO assume the
care Of wife and family.
Except in the Guards, where some Of
the officers have private fortunes, military
. men are content TO depend and live on
their pay, and their existence is necessarily
very unprctenyious, although their uni
form preciudes them from practiciug some
. Of the small economics that clerk in a
. government Office may indulge in without
/ losing caste.
Each officer Is allowed to take private
from the ranks as his own servant. This
chosen soldier goes 10y the generic name Of
"Bursch' and is literally a jack OF all
trades. He il valet, houeemaid, butler
cook, goes To market, tends the children,
waits at table. runs errauds, and would die
without a murmur for his master If his
death could afford that master the slightest
. eradication. Many instances OF this dog
like fidelity and devotion were recorded
, during the Franco German war; not more
, admirable, however, than the humber
round Of daily service these soldiers so
oheerfully perform.
SMALL PAY FOR OFFICERS.
An officers pay is ridicuously small;
many a dashing young lieutenant deems
himself in luck il at the end II the day he
has thirty pfennigs three pence) left for
his supper; yet il he is gstrrisoned in Der
lin his condition is brilliant compared with
that Of his comrades stationed on the from
tiers. There are great number Of the lat
ter; their barracks are wretchedly inoon-
venient aud uncomfortable, and possess no
accommodation for married officers, who
arr compo.2c'i to leave their wives bchiDd
But whatever their hardships, they
never grumble. Woe betide them II they
felt inclined to do so; they would be
bracketJed Immediately as unworthy OF
their cloth. Dissatisfaction is a very rare
occurrence; German officers live exclusive
ly for their profession, supported 10y the
ardent, innate, blind, hereditary military
instincts Of their race.
The external poliieneSs OF 90 ccrs cannot
Il. L