The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-12-25
GERMANYS CHRISTMAS.
THE CURSE or HARD TIMES PRE-
VAILs IN THE FATHERLAND.
Fewer Christmas Presents Bought Than
Ever Before-The Empress Fred
erick's Works of Charity.

10 make the week preceding thllS1ii19
usually characterized in a hustle in busi-
ness affairs about the dullest in the mem
ory Of the oldest resident. This was the
brightest day OF the week and there was
slight frost. The sunshine and bracinS
atmosphere brought out crowds of sight
seers. who thronged the streets gazing at
the displays in the shop windows but buy
ing little. According to the shop keepers
their holiday sales were never before so
small. The curse Of hard times prevailed
everywhere. The Weather class appear
to be affected by the depression, and
where heretofore they have spent money
freely in Christmas gifts, this year have
made only limited purchases. People OF
the middle classes. who are usually the
best customers during this generally
festive period, have bought only cheap
trihes, and the wOrkingmen with little or
no money are obliged TO limit their indul-
gence in Christmas cheer. 1t is often
suspected that the complaints of shop
keepers about the bad condition of trade is
not genuine. but this year such complaints
are known to be sadly true.
The outlook for Improvement in. any
branch Of trade is exceedingly gloomy.
Commercial and financial circles take
pessimistic view Of the situation, and
croakers who at one time would have re-
ceived scant attention, are now listened
to as though they were Oracles Opera
tors on the Bourse have lost their usual
daring, and now enter into speculatiOns
with a timidity that is foreign TO their
natures. The BOurse transactions are
overshadowed by fears of a political con-
vulsion in France and disturbed by the
condition Of home affairs, arising from
the army bill. The projects of taxation, es-
pecially the one regarding banking and
stock transactions, form another element
Of suspense. Some financiers hold that
the effort of these projects will be ruin
Gus, while others form milder estimdtes
of the result. There is nobody, however,
but who calculates that these projects
Will have an influence to prevent improve
ment I'm the business situation.
The Socialist papers seized upon the oc-
casion TO comment upon the misery that
is prevailing among the working classes
The Vorwcarts publishes Christmas ar
ticle. in which it eXpltiates upon the
frightful suiferlngs Of the poor through
out Germany. The paper says that while
there Is plenty of carefully-nourished
game in the forests and i'm the domains Of
the aristOcrats, workingmen are allowed
to die OF hunger Though the article is
written in the customary style OF Socialist
exaggcratiOn IL has a large basis Of fact.
While charity is abundant. it is badly cr-
ganized, and relief does not reach the
mass Of sufferers. Prominent among
those who are working to. alleviate the
misery Of the poor is Empress Frederick,
the mother Of Empero- WILLIAM. Every
H., . I, oh.
gagged in some work of kindness. Yester-
day she spent several hours at the Freid-
crischall Hospital She presided at the
distribution Of Christmas presents, Of
which she was a large contributor. In
the children's ward she went to every bed
and gave TO each occupant some plaything
or a Red Riding Hood cloak. most Of
which was sent through the legation by
American ladies.
To-day a splendid array Of Christmas
trees have been lighted at the palace at
Potsdam. but the young Princes will
not be allowed 10 touch the ornaments
or dainties, all OF which will be sent 10
cheer the children In the different hospi-
tails
The temperance Of choleca at Ham
burg has caused the authorities to order
renewal of the precautions heretofore
taken to prevent the spread Of the dis
ease. The Emperor has directed that
regular daily papers regarding the dis
ease be sent TO him. The recent mild
weather and the extraordinary low water
In the Elbe are believed TO have assisted
I'm the present outbreak. A discussion
held by the German Hygienic Society on
the subject Of cholera. ELECTED the con-
current opinion from experts that there
will be another outbreak Of the disease
in the spring Advices from ST. Peters
burg say that the Russian government
has summoned a congress Of three hun
dred doctors Of whom one hundred and
nfty-siX are from chOlera-infected dis
tricts The congress will sit for eight
days, and will prepare report on the
measures 10 be adopted TO meet the eX-
pected recurrence Of the epidemic in the
Russian dominions
The Friesinnige papers continue to be
honorably distinguished by their efforts
70 restrain the Judenhetze. Besides
Krupp's offer in 1868 t. supply Napoleon
with cannon, IL has been discovered that
Scherings chemical factory in Berlin sup
piled the French Government IN 1885 with
large quantities Of picric acid, which was
used in the manufacture OF melinete. Herr
Holz. a member Of the Reichstag, and
malck. that France was ordering picric
acid. whereupon Bismarck said: "Go on
and take all the money you possibly can
out of the French" Despite this knowl-
edge. however, the Conservative and
Catholic papers do not abate their in
citing the people against the Jews, basing
their articles almost entirely upon the
fact that Herr Leowe, who happens 10
be a Hebrew, admits that he offered
through General BOulanger, then Minister
of War Of France. to supply France with
the plant necessary 10 manufacture rebel
rifles.
The Reichsbote in one Of its articles m
favor OF Jew battling, cOngratulates the
nation upon the awakening sentiment that
Germany is for Germans, adding that
the country will never again close its
eyes 10 the dangers OF Jewish influence.
The Strasberger Zeitung, recalling the
saying Of the King Of Prussia in regard
10 AIeyerbeers opera, The Huguenots,
where Catholics ard Protestants cut each
others thrOats. while a Jew supplies the
music. adds that a war Is near in which
the people Of Europe will massacre each
other, the Jews supplying the arms. This
stuff 10 use an inelegant phrase, helps 10
keep popular prejudice inhamed.
Chancellor Won Capriyis organs re-
iterate that the Army bill must be passed
intact or the Reicnstag Will be dissolved.
This menace is the strongest weapon OF
the Government. Many members OF the
Reichstag are quaking at the prospect OF
a general election. through which the
Socialists ana members Of the Friesin'
nige party alone are likely to benefit
Herr Richter and other leaders Of the
Friesinnige party will devote the Parlia
mentary recess 10 celebrating their All
ticipated triumph over the trouble.
Vorwaerts, the Socialist organ, warns
them that their jub.lation is somewhat
premature. Three OF the Parliamentary
groups composing the old Cartel party
are again visibly approaching one an