New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-07-02
NOTES FROM BERLIN.
POSTS AND TELEGRAPHS-AIR GER
MAN EMPEROR AND MARK TWAIN.
Berlin. MAY. 1898.

Berlin MAY. 1913.
There are many more things l want TO say
about Germany, but for the present l forbear
Many sides OF German lifc.-of much as one
comes in contact with during three weeks
visit, must he left untouched, including the fds-
cinations of Dresden, with it's farylike beauty as
you enter it by night, and the brilliancy of Ham
burg. That is a name which since last year
sounds CONTINUOUSLY in the ears Of the world. but
Hamburg is nevertheless, delightful, with ITS
lakes in the heart OF the town, its architecture
lite opera, its docks, its canals, its gardens, and
other charms among which put high up mid
night voyage on the Aster Binnen and through
remoter and narrower waters of which we could
not even conjecture the name. But l suppose
must presently get back TO England and Eng
lish topics Before do that I will collect into
column one or two of the notes lying before me-
and I wish above all to offer my homage 10 u
truly great man. | do not refer to Prince BIS
marck, or Professor Virchow, or Herr Ahlwardt' or
the Emperor but one whose greatness differs from
all these and whose power, perhaps, exceeds that
Of all OF them together: mean the hall-porter,-
not any one individual, but the type.
Tho hall-porter has of late years, and indeed TOT
q good while past, become one OF the most IN
portant functionaries anywhere TO he met lie
has in Germany jurisdiction of his own. ana an
authority in matters concerning the Traveller
stretching far beyond that of the concierge IN
Franco or the humble Boots in England HIS
very appearance inspires awe. lie Is choseh'
firstly, for bis size, and martial bearing, ana ca
pacity for putting on side. III IS though' hooo'
sary that the guest should understand az nrS'
s,obt that he Is in presence Of superior per
am and he does. and the longer he stays the
more he Is convinced Of it. True, this gorgeous
creature takes OF his god-aced cap 70 you, ana
takes your orders, and sometimes obeys them'
But YOU are perfectly aware that this is only III
Tho hvav Of business while as a man he feels hlh-
self. and Is, your master
He meets YOU at the door Of the cab on your
arrival: assures you that the rooms you nav
telecraphed for are ready, matter about winch
Re knows nothing, and when you are once ih', ~,
the gates, pays your oabman double MS larc i0
has legion Of little boys under him. "loh si's'
laced CAPS which they touch 70 the 'ra'eie,
,,vsrr Time he enters or leaves the hotel. ana
every time he comes within view and when 'nel"
are no travellers about, they touch them 70 each
80, o. L.ar their none too clean hands in They
ora tho satellites and slaves Of the hallporter'
and are sent fying for cabs when you want
cah' and occasionally when you do not Inc!
hr;no vour letters to your room, or, as oiVNh a'
mot other peoples' letters, and yours go 10 '"o
,ther people He has another legion OF por'erS
under him: real porters these, VINO Gritty 'o"'
trunks upstairs and down, and put 'reii vi wy
o, your dressing-bag. an article AGAINST WIN"
norters have distinct animosify ooihe'inie' ~
has an under hall-porter; sometimes 'he TWO arc
IN partnership and leave you In doup' "ii'. =,
The real boss, 81 that, if you are weak-ni'"",u
Won nav both when you 90 away. Inc n r
caught american has habit derived '''i''>
from his native land, of paying hall-porters anu
or
HE neriod of servitude. 1t Is ms'ake' pu'
Anor II Is useless to tell him so. 1t Will cost MN
.,roh moro and ha will be much worse looked AFTER
I;ko Tho great general he is. the hali-lor'er
.ho,vs ont sl,irlnishers of whom useo ~
conoe daily 70 our rooms 10 ask winch opera "
theatre he should get tickets for that eVc''i"e'
The tone of the slIirmishcr lmpHeh 'i'a'' " "
had any sclf-respect any right 10 oe stay
a, that hotel VIC must he gong 10 one VI NV
,+bor and that il was a moral obligation 10 "'N
tickets of him. and pay for them "ila'e'ei J"
md the hall-porter between them might ue'i
;o % ha tbe proper sum- Your errands anu
commissions will. in any case. De trahSao''' a,
rs,v HIGH frIre if YOU intrust them either 70 '''
~ .or or IN the skirmisher. You will find
Oh. orera tickets supplied 10 yOu in this way are
Soor. Tho. thc carriage of letter comes 70 Iho''
thor II Won sent Il by cab. that railway
rpiae is NOT 70 he had under fifty per conf DE-
yond its published price, and tha' 'l'r
Union rates for kilograms have been suddenly III
creased There is in this Berlin ho"i ""''
caIlod TELEGRAPH Office It is, so far "a | co"li
make ont. branch of the hallporfers depart
-. ord rnassaces are sent ont by hand 20 some
,oal office. or not sent ont az the case NAV w.
ALWAYS at an extra charge, unconfesse1 pu' "''i-
versal ,u.o.r
came finally to think that the hall-por'er
NJ hotel,
.rnarior officer of it, The manager ana secret .N'
.a o.hor b;ch nersonapes are but his suhordih-
..s ua teons an account Of his own against
- d sonds IL TO YOU independently OF N'
;o.o, ,ccopnt or. If he wants ready money! eH-
oo.s nav,nent on the spot TINS, suppose =
rhon his operations on the bonise haNr Eo"
,rorc This rule is not universal. H. io'
annie Won engage a carriage OF nun Wv I"
M fixed price, and he subsequently, -
CHARGE a higher price, the item Is trah'i'i''"
..or,s hill, n the hotel bill. You fee" now
aver that for all these little lrre4I'd'i'o' Ho
.,,n,v compensated. You have been guld'u
arc nard;anyd on your way: counseled II NOT
,,orded. cheercd instructed. amused. 70"
,o... hoor in the presence Of truly great man
1T, =; HE mild and magnificent eye, ana No"
D., .bo+ the handful Of silver he expects i none
A.. rroat a reward for the privilege OF haNi"4
known him o .ha whole
His duties and functions are, on '',T w"oir'
40, any sinele human being could be en-
.,~o.od N discharge we'll. 1t is doubtful whe'npr
,.,, ,,or,d have been a good hall porter lie
;Nsp. his head sometimes, and when You ask Tor
A.. arrs, worth Of foreign stamps gives you nor
.f Imavs quite tho full value for your ten marks,
~ 80, ho,.ovcr he pockets. When the luggage
VIZ" ~,,. Jewellers has to be sent away from
y, ho,a, bo is expert in getting rid of it, but IT
70 no part of his duty TO see that the traveller
ms,. his own luggage. If he gets the right mum
her Of pieces what can it matter whether 'hrS
ars bis or another's? The hotel Is no ione'f c"-
numbered. and the cabman divides ms surp'~, ,on
1T .ho rorter. and everybody is happy except