Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1893-02-14
SOCIETY In BERLIN.
THE CITY ON THE SPREE IS STILL
IN A TRANSITION STATE.

rho military Element Dominates Every
thing--Great Wealth II Not seer In
1 Any Part OF the Big Town--rhe wem-
en- Oversee Their Domestic AGaIrs.
II has been said with much truth that
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 capital OF first rank
Berlin is not fully fledged even yet, In
spite OF the gigantic strides to maturity it
has taken since 1871
| However, 1t refuses obstinately to con
slider itself otherwise than grown up;
hence IA sort Of hesitation, an uncertainty.
diiiidence perccptible to the outsider, the
unncknowledged consciousness Of which Is
thinly yelled under ostentatious assurance,
and engenders watchful jealousy in 30
cial relations that has often been attrib-
uted TO other motives.
Sometimes this feeling has created diff
cuIties. In the simple and perfunctory
matter Of calls, for instance, no definite
rules are possible. At whatever hour a for
eign visitor pays visit he Is liable to fall
ON the dinner hour, which may be at any
time between and l. 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 Ia abundance, with the
comprehension Of the refinements Of life
that springs from superior intellectual ed
ucation, the Berlncse 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 aud 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
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 as they think 1t Ia to act
otherwise. this adherence to old teachings
creates certain distrust and shyness Of
strangers, aud fear Of possible ridicule,
which IL the real reason of difficulty ex-
perienced by foreigners in penetrating into
the inner life Of the Germans. The diplo-
matte corps especially Is viewed as dam
gerous competitor and critic 1t is looked
upon as generally worldly, subversive, ex-
travagant and snpercilious; to be courted
withal, sometimes flattered, often envied
but always and prudently kept at safe
distance.
THE MILITARY.
Setting aside the court and tho imperial
family. who are extremely hospitable the
chief social functions devolve upon the en-
bassys and legations. These entertainments
retain "A certain official character which
In itself has charm for native society; the
Prussian houses at which receptions on
large and cosmopolitan scale are given are
very few. and for many years have always
been the same. Conspicuous among these
are the houses of the Radzywills, not mere
ly those of the heads Of the family, but of
the younger and allied branches.
The universally, it may almost be said
the excess, OF the military element preva-
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 it
at a very early age. having been prepared
for II 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
tue officers have private fortunes, military
men are content to depend and live on
their pay, and their existence is necessarily
very unpretentious, although their uni
form precludes them from practicing some
OF the small economics that clerk in
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 by the generic name of
"Bursch" and Is literally jack of all
trades. He is valet, housemaid, butler,
cook, goes to market, tends the children,
waits at table, runs errands. and would die
without n murinur for his master il his
death could afford that master the slightest
qualification. Many instances of this dog
like ndelity and devotion were recorded
during the Franco German war; not more
admirable, however, than the humber
round Of daily service these soldiers so
cheerfully perform,
SMALL PAY FOR OFFICERS.
An oificers pay Is ridicuously small;
many dashing young lieutenant deems
himself in luck ii at the end of the day he
has thirty pfennigs 0hree PENCE left for
his supper; yet IL he is garrisoned in Ber-
lin his condition is brilliant compared with
that of his comrades stationed on the from
tiers, There ARE a great number of the lat
ter; their barracks are wretchedly incon-
venient aud uncomfortable, and possess no
accommodation for married officers, who
are compelled to leave their wives behind.
But whatever their hardships, they
never grumble Woe betde them il they
felt inclined to do so; they would be
bracketted Immediately as unworthy of
their cloth. Dissatisfaction is a very rare
Occurrences; German officers live exclusive
ly for their profession, supported by the
ardent, innate, blind, hereditary military
instincts Of their race,
The external politeness of officers cannot
be exaggerated II constitutes one of the
features OF Berlin society, where they reign
supreme. Until quite lately high play was
carried on in clubs and casinos, but the
young emperor has expressed himself SO
strongly and repeatedly against this prac-
tice that excessive gambling has been dis
ent Tar. Ia,