Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1891-04-24
somsthiug OF Germany and Its Ausi.
cal Life.
BERLIN, April 2, 81

/ SIG IS naILfE W -ASiAoot Akt.
ecmsthing OF Germany and Its Ausi-
cal Life.
BERLIN, April 2, 81.
The weather always An interesting topic
| Of Conversation has been through March,
and promises to continue through April,
intensely disagreeabie. Rain and snow
| intermingled with now and then . tantaliz
| ing ray Of sunlight.
Last Sunday WAS most dubious Easter,
| the rain making it decidedly uncomfortable
for outgoers, especially for pedestrians I;
all in all, day admirably suited for
| appearing out" in rubber boots. Easter
tide seems to be the only time when the
| Germans. en- masse, are manifestly devo-
| tional. The day Sc. apart for rest and
| church-going being passed by the majority
here, in theatre and opera going, and indulg-
| ing generally, in amusements. The first
few weeks of my life here it seemed very
odd to see the people busily working on
the Sabbath, the ladies accomplishing much,
| ia the way of sewing and embroidery.
| am very glad to be able to answer in
| the negative such question as the follow
ing, which is frequently asked: "You
Americans never do any work on Sunday,
| do your"
Notwithstanding this failing. the Ger
mans have many sterling qualities. They
are, as 8 rule. very obliging. courteous and
not disposed to make fun of, or joke over,
| the many blunders that of course all for
eigners are apt to make; also, the reports
| of their taking so much advantage in fnan-
| cial matters, seem to be greatly exAggef-
ated.
Of course in music. Germans take the
lead; not only can they claim the greatest
of composers and musicians a. their own,
but the gift Of appreciation that every Ger
man seems to be endowed with il some
thing marvellous. The poorer class thor
oushly appreciate and enjoy q symphony
| Of Beethoven or Schumann or any of the
classics, as much as the richer. The very
best music is instilled in their minds from
childhood, and the prices for concerts and
operas are so low that musical feast is
within limit Of nearly everyone's purse.
| The popular concerts given in the i'm
mense Philharmonic Concert Hail. three
evenings in each week by the Philharmo-
mic orchestra, which numbers one hundred
and sixty-fve musicians, is q rare treat for
any lover of music. There is very often
some soloist. These concerts last three
hours. beginning at seven % o'clock. so
early in fact that the greater number of
Germans who attend, eat their supper or
| Abend-brod there.
| The audience sits around little tables,
there being room for six at each, and it is
of no small interest to watch the walters
running about with huge mugs Of beer,
which the German takes IS q relish with
the music. Above there is . spacious and
pleasant promenade room, where during
the intervals one has chance to rest
from sitting On Tuesday evenings,
or as it is termed the American evening,
one might imagine ones self in America,
and during intermission it seems like some
"socisble" or like gathering.
The Bulow concerts which are without
doubt the finest Of the kind in Berlin, are
beyond description. To watch him, the
wonderful director, IS he makes his charac-
teristic jumps and motion in the air
to note with what readiness his men respond
as If by magic is intensely exciting. Not
only does he have his orchestra under per
feet control but holds the audience spell
bound who seem to breathe in accordance
with the accent of the measures. Won
BuIow has for each concert some soloist,
| CarYeno. Lehmen, Caeser Thompson,
Hair, d. Albert and Paderewski being
some Of them this season. 1t has been my
happy fate to hear most of the great artists
who have favored Berlin this winter.
Patti, always queen of song and loved
wherever she appears, being one OF the
number. In response to two encores she
sang Home Sweet Home" and List Rose
slways beautiful old Songs. Her rendering
| IS ab,,bo Ia- n All
1t would be impossible to find more en-
tbusisstic audiences than frequent the con-
certs here. In their applause they act more
like crazy people than rational beings
aud seem disposed to tear down the build
ing in their wild enthusiasm.
The opera here although very good, is
not the best that Germany affords. while
the SCENIC effects are fine, the singing is
not as perfect as it might be; however
there is not so much criticism to be made
Wsgner is msgnifcently rendered, and all
other operas seem somewhat trivial in COM
psrison with his.
1 must not omit to mention the manner in
which opera tickets are to be obtained.
There are three different methods, viz
One can send postal card the day previ-
Gus. stating what place he wishes il the
seat is not obtsinsble, which in nine cares
out Of ten it lie not. the card is returned
marked Taken" If be is lucky enough
to be the frst. he can the evening Of the
opera present the card and receive his
ticket.
The nextis still more awkward and ride
ulous than the first. This sale opens at
10 30 sad & long line Of people looking Ike
prisoners within the bar. march in, each
10 the order of his coming, after having
visited perhaps an hour or more. in the
cold, or rain, or Whatever the vesth'r msy
be.
The period OF waiting may be proftahly
spent in thinking over ones past transgres-
sions, snd present foilies.
The third and best way is to hire an
expressman to go early in the morning and
avoid The rush"
Last menth took opportunity which =
shert vacation afforded. to visit Dresden. q
very picturesque. quaint old town, three
hours by rail :rem Berlin, and situsted on
the besniful river Elbe. The scenery
sround ia very delightful. not SO much
frem its arsude ur as its seeming qaiesness
and simplicity. Although comparatively a