The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1893-05-12
THE GIG CITY ON THE SPREE.
Third In Population in Europs-How 70
Ia Laid Out and Bu,lt.

we OF the western world are Just b6.
giuning to realize that Berlin is the
third city of Europe in population.
high up in the list Of the worlds great
capitals. The present city spreads
over twenty-five square miles. Tho
main channel Of the Spree runs little
north of tho center Of Berlin, through
winding course across the town and
its branches bnvo been banked up and
connected into systom Of serviceablo
canals. whose sides form shady prom
onade' aud busy thoroughfares. I'm.
til few years ago Berlin grow with
the slowncss md decorum Of an old.
time European city but within the
last few decades it has spread with the
rapidity and with all the modern airs Of
the newest American town.
The most striking contrast between
the outward appearance Of Berlin and
that OF American ci,ies-never forget.
ting its military air-consists in the
character Of its houses and their style
OF ornament. Berlin is made Of flat or
apartment houses. This adds wonder
fully to the appearance Of the town, for
thoy are massive, high aud regular.
In place Of red brick there is q tone of
cobcr grey. In America tho taste OF
individuals is allowed full play, so that
in Tie same square you will see build.
ings of IL dozen different styles of archi-
lecture. In Berlin. partly from Old
World habits OF routine partly from
severe building inspection laws, and
partly because they think it is good
taste, groat uniformity of style prevails.
This may be cause of monotony, but
still the result is impressive and admir-
ably in keeping with the military pre-
cision OF everything one sees and hears.
The Partisan, forgetful of the stucco
which adorns his own great city, may
indeed complain that the buildings are
not OF cut stone, as they seem, but
brick cemenled over and even adorned
with cnryatids of painted zinc, to sup
port caves, lintels and balconies. But
one should not forget Berlin is new.
Berlin has over I 600, 600 inhabitants,
and is still growing. The most notice.
able thing about the streets of the su-
burbs is the immense building opera.
tions now going on. In whatever di-
rection one goes OH the outskirts, he is
met by blocks OF new apartment houses,
i'll such number that it would seem new
towns were springing up.
To the southwest of the city there is
new boulevard that makes one think
Of Chicago. 1t is 200 feet wide. 1t has
one track of Belgian blocks, dirt road
for horseback riders, macadamized
road for carriages, and q steam railway
which makes no noise--side by side
of each other. When this boulevard
leaves Berlin it forgets to stop and
placidly continues-not through fields
OF Indian corn, indeed--but through
potato patches and fields of rye and
tracts of pine and scrub. Yet whenever
you look around you may see here and
there great blocks of apartment houses
built or going up. Only in this way
can Berlin make room for its daily in
creasing population.
Signs of general education are more
conspicuous here than in any other city
of the world. 1 can say this plainly.
Not only in every section OF tho city do
you find great primary school build
ings, but some quarters are positively
imposing with the number and magni-
tude Of higher schools. The chances
for technical education are better here
than in any of the great capitals. At
Charlottenburg there is one boarding
school where over 1000 boys are given
advanced instruction in the different
arts and trades. In the city there are
many Real Schules for the higher train
ing of commercial and practical life.
All this educational character of the
city marches hsnd-in- hand with the
military character of the whole empire.
Everything is intellisently and thor.
oughly ordered from above" Every.
thing is done "by highest command" or
"by highest request"--a curious for.
mula which I have known to provoke
smiles when it was applied TO special
performance Of the ballet Of Coppelia
at tho old opera house, on An occasion
when the Emperor was TO be present.
Whether tho making Of Berlin has
resulted in something admirable or not.
l am sure that its people and is ruler
are determined that il shall stay what
ii is. For have also known foreign.
ers, with too free use OF their tongues,
to leave Berlin "by highest request -
Corr Philadolphi0 presa