Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1893-07-28
ODDITIES or BERLIN.
SOME or THE QUEER THINGS N
THE GERMAN cAssTAL

SOME or THE QUEER THINGS n
THE GERMAN cAssTAL-
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1. Ouss-GsoA Feasnrss Of - street
Car sysss.-Ns Chance Fer shs ''zAD-
49, 8ASvpsr-Bnsin<ssS igna.
The horse cars and other pubfic convey
enees in Berlin strike .he American A.
somewha peculiar The fares IN the horse
ears ~sry according TO the distance, the
lowest fare being 10 pssnnigx. or ~ cents.
and the hfghes. 80 pfsaEigs. or ~ cents
A Zee Of psennsgs IS frequently given 70
the conductor, because il i . well known
fact THAI their sTages ara 80 low that they
could not live without their fees. and lady
IN the evening OF On a stormy day VIII 50
cars from the CONDUCTOR every attention
and courtesy by giving this rrifiing amount,
although ie "a By no means necessity.
Horse cars in Berlin are allowed to carry
only . specified number. On each car IL
distinctly marked how many seats there
are inside and how many standing places
on each platform. and when the car Is niisa
1t will not stop again for passengers, for the
rules are strictly enforced. The horse cars
do not stop at any point where they are
signalei, but only az intervals Of abou, two
blocks The stopping places are marked
by an iron polls with plate on top bearing
the words, ''Pfer,ie- isenhahn Haitesteile,"
or Horse Railroad Stopping Plaee-"
Some Of the horse cars have double row
Of seats running iengthwise on top Of them.
Only men are allowed to ride On top, and
the travelling American lady feels this 10 be
very unfair, for fine views Of the busy
streets can be obtained from such an eie-
waited position Ladies' in Berlin as well as
gentlemen jump On and OF the cars while
they are in motion, and they become very
skillfui in so doing
Running directly across the city from
east 10 west is the City Elevated railroad.
aud around the outside Of the city in two
large ioops-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 fne masonry arches which from
distance appear az once massive and grace
full! and they cannot be said to be in any
way Disagreement to the city The sta
rions Of which there are some seven or
eight within the city limits, are immense
brick structures with fine, high, glass arch
ed roofs and with broad fights of stone
steps leading up to the platforms above
As with everything else on the continent,
the Berlin elevated roads are we'll built and
permanent in character and present none
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 elasses-namely, 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 fun 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 to have his pur-
chase handed him done up in newspaper,
for instead of wrapping paper German
economy eompels the dealer to buy up back
numbers OF the daily journals. In all the
markets and butcher shops this is used,
and even in a fine confectionery shop you
NAV have your candies wrapped in a large
nriuted advertisement. In some of the
large and more fashionable shops the strings
taken off the goods rs they come in at
wholesale are tied together and used again
TO secure the parcels Of the retail trade.
Shopping as Americans know it-namely,
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 to PAYS unknown in Berlin. There
one is not expected to enter store and ex-
anime goods unless one is prepared to buy
Oh 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 he is
convinced that you really desire to purchase
he will be exceedingly attentive If, how
ever after having considerable shown you,
you 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 to their destination.
There are not many peculiar signs to he
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 dis
cover, but a white apron tied over n chair,
which il hung outside butchers sls'p, OF
stood Oh the pavement beside the door
means that boiled frankfurter" sausages
are to be had within. One frequently sees
such chair on Saturday evenings about
o'clock. the German supper hour. and PEG
ple living near by will send out IA servant
To bring sonn ia for the evening meal.
Conspicuous By their absence" are all
kinds a large painted signs, great piacard-
and colorpd advertisements. The law does
-. HI a.. :,
painting advertisements on Diahh Sues Oh