The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-03-12
SOCIETY IN BERLIN.
THE CITY ON THE SPREE IS STILL
IN A TRANSITION STATE.

thinS-Great Wealth Is Not Seen in
Anv Part of the Big Town-The Wom-
en- Oversee Their Domestic Affairs.
Il has been said with much truth that
Berlin is still in its Flesel-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 fiedged even yet, in
spite of the gigantic strides to maturity II
has taken since 1871.
However, it refuses obstinately to con-
slider itself otherwise than grown up;
hence a sort of hesitation, an uncertainty,
diffidence perceptible TO the outsider, the
unacknowledged consciousness OF which is
thiniy yelled under ostentatious assurance,
and engenders q 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
eign visitor pays visit he is liable TO fall
Il,
time between and T. All the bourgeoisie
does not dine at ,, all the aristocracy does
not dine at the later hour; the former
strives to postpone its 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 refinements OF life
that springs from superior intellectual ed
ueation, the Berlinese are by nature and
tradition race of simple and primitive
tastes. Large fortunes-saye among the
Israelites-are the exception, not the rule;
the wealth OF the Christians Is chiefly ter
ritorisl, and the rich land owners, whose
extensive domains are often situated N
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 assls
| them, and train them to be proficient IL
| their turn in all the branches OF houst
| rule.
impossible as they think it is to ac
otherwise. this adherence to old teaching
| creates, a certain distrust and shyneSS o
strangers, and fear of possible ridicuie
| which is the real reason Of difficulty eX
| perienced by foreigners in penetrating int
the inner life of the Germans. The dlplo
matte corps especially is viewed as dan
gerous competitor and critic. 1t is looke
| upon as generally worldly, subverslve, eS
trayagant and supercilious; to be courte
vithal. sometimes fiattered, often envleo
but always and prudently kept at SAT
distance.
THE MILITARY.
Setting aside the court and the lmperla
family, who are extremely hospltabie, IN
chief social functions devolve upon the EN-
bassys and legations. These entertainment
retain certain official character whic
in itself has a charm for native society," til
Prussian houses at which receptions on
large and cosmopolitan scale are given al
very few, and for many years have alway
been the same. Conspicuous among thes
are the houses of the Radzywills, not mer
" those of the heads of the family, but {
the Younger and allied branches.
The universally, it may almost be sal
the excess, of the military element prev
lent in Germany, is no doubt responsib
for many social restrictions. There is vi
tually no other profession than the arm
ofr h9,-th emf
at a very early age, having been prepare
for it from childhood; they frequent
marry Young their epaulets are in ii
, minds of even prudent parents sufhcIel
| guarantee of their fitness to assume Il
[ care of wife and family.
Except in the Guards, " where some
} the officers have private fortunes, initial
r men are content to depend and 1--we
, their pay, and their existence Is necessarl
) very unpretentious, although their Ill
| form precludes them from practiclng son
| of the small economics that clerk IN
, government Office may indulge in witho
g losing caste.
e Each officer is allowed to take priva
5 from the ranks as his own servant. I'll
I chosen soldier goes by the generic name
a "Bursch" and is literally jack OF
, | trades He is valet, housemaid, butlt
Y cook, goes TO market, tends the childre
waits at table, runs errands, and would
without a murmur for his master II
death could afford that master the silghte
3 qualification. Many instances of this dc
like ,Sdelity and devotion were record
e during the Franco-German war; not me
admirable, however, than the humbl
o round OF daily service these soldiers
cheerfuily perform
SMALL PAY FOB oFYICERs
An officers pay Is ridicrousiy sms
: many dashing young lieutenant deel
|. himself in luck if az the end OF the day
has thirty pfennigs three pence left
= his supper; vet if he is garrisoned in b
- lin his condition is brilliant compared vi
: that Of mis- comrades stationed on the fro
d tiers There are a great number of the
ter: their barracks are wretchedly incf
yenient and uncomfortable, eld possess
% accommodation for married officers, "
. are compelled TO leave their wives behlp'
% But whatever their hardshIps, u
- never Crumble Woe betide them If tt
% felt inclined 10 do so: they would
y bracketted Immediately as unworthy
% their cloth Dissatisfaction IS very II
- occurrence; German officers live exclusi
. " for their profession, supported OF
= ardent, innate, blind. hereditary militia
= instincts OF their race.
- The external poli:eness OF officers caDI
be exaggerated 1t constitutes one OF
y. features OF Berlin society. where they rel
= supreme Until quite lately high play ?
~ carried on IL clubs and casinos. but
% Young emperor has expressed himself
= strongly and repeatedly against this p
% rice that excessive gambling has been {
~ coun.enanced II not actually prohiblt
and has almost disappeared among
corps Of officers.
a The mperpr has great prestige, VIII
,e- ;f ,o- r,,tts eo-1aI "a the worship fuSrl,