The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-09-13
ODDITIES OF BERLIN.
SOME OF THE QUEER THINGS IN
THE GERMAN CAPITAL.
Their Methods In Many Respects Superior
10 Ours--Good Features Of the Street
Tar system--No Chance For the Sam
pie" Shopper-Business Signs

pie" shopper-Business Signs
The horse cars and other public convey
ances in Berlin strike the American as
somewhat peculiar The fares in the horse
cars vary according TO the distance, the
lowest fare being 10 pfennigs, or "a cents,
and the highest 30 pfennigs, or IN cents.
A fee OF 5 pfennigs Is frequently given to
the conductor, because il is a well known
fact that their wages are so low that they
could not live without their fees, and lady
in the evening or on a stormy day will Sc
cure from the conductor every attention
and courtesy by giving this trihing amount,
although it Is by no means necessity.
Horse cars in Berlin are allowed to carry
only specified number. On each car Is
distinctly marked how many seats there
are inside and how many standing places
on each platform, and when the car is filed
it will not stop again for passengers, for the
rules are strictly enforced. The horse cars
do not stop at any point where they are
signaled, but only at intervals of about two
blocks. The stopping places are marked
by an iron pole with a plate on top bearing
the words, "Pferde-isenbahn Haltestelle,"
or Horse Railroad Stopping Place"
Some Of the horse cars have double row
Of seats running lengthwise on top OF them.
Only men are allowed to ride on top, and
the travelling American lady feels this to he
very unfair, for fine views OF the busy
streets can be obtained from such an ele-
waited position. Ladies In Berlin as well as
gentlemen jump on and of the cars while
they are in motion, and they become very
skillful in so doing.
RunaiDg directly across the city from
east to west is the City Elevated railroad,
and around the OUTSIDE of the city in two
large loops-a northern and southern-is
the Circuit Elevated railroad, connecting
with the former at its eastern and western
stations. The roads are constructed on
series Of fine masonry arches which from
distance appear at once massive and grace
ful. and they cannot be said 20 be in any
way a Disagreement 10 the city. The sta
lions, Of which there are some seven or
eight within the city limits. ere immense
brick structures with fine, high, glass arch
ed roofs and with broad flights OF stone
steps leading up to the platforms above.
As with everything else on the continent,
the Berlin elevated roads are well built and
permanent in character and present mono
Of the tawdry, cheap, temporary appearance
OF similar roads in some Of our American
cities. The cars used are the ordinary Euro
pean apartment cars, and most Of the trains
carry three classes-nsmely, second, third
and fourth, the first class being used only on
the long runs The fares vary with the dis
lance in the city, and they are as moderate
as the horse car fares.
The shop windows In Berlin are full OF
interest for the American. Shopping in
Berlin is widely different from shopping in
any American city. TO begin with, the
shops are much smaller There are only
half dozen really large shops, comprising
three or four floors, in Berlin, and only two
which partake Of the character of the Bon
Marche in Paris Except In the few large
shops one must be prepared 20 have his pur-
chase handed him done up in a newspaper,
for instead of wrapping paper German
economy compels the dealer to buy up back
numbers OF the daily journals. In all the
markets aud butcher shops this is used,
and even In n fine confectionery shop you
may have your candies wrapped in large
printed advertisement. In some of the
large and more fashionable shops the strings
taken off the goods ms they come in at
wholesale are tied together and used again
TO secure the parcels Of the retail trade.
Shopping as Americans know it-nameiy,
the going about from store TO store examin-
ing and pricing until one has found exactly
what one wishes, and at the price one
wishes 70 PAYS unknown in Berlin There
one Is not expected % enter a store and ex-
anime goods unless one is prepared TO buy
on the spot II the clerk thinks for an in
slant that you are not pleased and may not
buy. his manner changes at once, and he
will not show you any more But If be is
convinced that you really desire TO purchase
he will be exceedingly attentive. IL, how
ever, after having considerable shown you,
Won are not satisfied and leave, you may
expect positive rudeness on the part of the
clerks, whereas If you buy five pfennigs
az cents) worth you will be politely
treated.
Few stores in Berlin have delivery wag-
ons. Almost all employ small boys, who
carry the parcels 70 their destination.
There are not many peculiar signs TO be
seen in such modern city as Berlin, but
one customary sign, evidently handed down
from olden times, deserves notice. What
was its origin have never been able to dts
cover, but white apron lied over chair,
which IL hung outside a butchers shop, or
stood on the pavement beside the door,
means that boiled "frankfurter" sausages
are 20 be had within. One frequently sees
such a chair on Saturday evenings about
o'clock. the German supper hour. and peo-
pie living near by will send out servant
TO bring some ia for the evening meal.
Conspicuous By their absence" are all
kinds of large painted signs, great piacards
and cOlored advertisements. The law does
not allow the Disagreement Of the city by
painting advertisements on blank sides OF
houses or by the erection Of large and con-
spicuous signboards. The shops along the
business streets have all the necessary
names and numbers on them, and in the
horse cars are panels fitted In above the
windows bearing various kinds OF notices,
and some Of the ear windows have acver-
tisements painted or ground on the glass,
All theater and opera notices and special
advertisements must be posted on the adj
yertising columns" which are in convsn-
lent places all over the city. They stand
on the street corners and are about 10 feet
high and feet in diameter and serve as
directory for concerts, lectures and all
kinds OF amusements for each day. There
have been recently placed in the various
open squares and on the business streets OF
the city ornamental square columns: On
the TOP Il each Is a clock which keeps
standard time, being regulated oy electric
49,. -, a. ot,v observatory. A recording