New-York tribune., 1896-12-27
HARD TIMES IN BERLIN.
THE WORST CHRISTMAS SEASON KNOWN
FOR MANY YEARS.
TRADEsPEoPLE AND WoRKMEN ALIKE sCFfE'-
rxc rpov THE FINANCIAL. sTRINGENCY-THE
IMPERIAL FAMILY'S CELEBRATlON-AN
ENORMOUS MILITARY CREDIT WANTED
PROPOSED EXCOMMUNlCATlON
or CoI-NT LYOT TOLsTOI.

ENORMOUS MILITARY CREDIT WANTED
PROPOSED EXcoMMUNIcATIoN
OF COUNT I.YoT TOIsToI.
,,,, ,,oc oG-The Christmas holidays this year
nave been much dul.er than for many years pas
,rbe .radesmen have greatly dissatisfied at the
lack OF holiday business IN comparison WIN 0
wears and the wo.kinemcn have been ciScoh'e"''u
al the sackncss Of work and the consequent sc"'O
OF money with which 10 provide the bare heces'''es
OF life 20 say nothing Of the purchase Oh
goods Added 20 this state OF affairs the damp ia"
weather which has prevailed for the last few Gays
and still continues has had dispiritnS ehecl OH
everybody the absence of the old-'Ime shaip los'9
az Chris;mastde having deprived the pFrlod oi ''S
usual glow Of fcs;ivty. Last Christmas the '"'es
men complained Of bad business, but they al aeie.
in declaring that this year it is far worse IL Is ho'
the lack of attractive inducements that prevents
shoppers from buying. There was never a Det'er oS-
play in the shop windows. nor was thefe ever ~
tasteful an arrangement Of holiday soois uhuer 'le
1rillance OF electric lights or more e,aRoia.e d " al
other radesmen who were relying on Icdplns . i
vest from tneir thisthi.s sdes aie ..rl,. az Zen
maderate degree of business. ana X IS oiy IN tns
cheaper toy shops and stores dealing IN iac! 'i00
that are doing any business az al. =, -, ...A
Although less money has been spent in the purchase
of Christmas presents however, great deal more
than usual has been bestowed on the absolutely des
iujc In addition 10 those already eHsliHs'
two night refuge houses were opened on C.lr!st
mas Eve. where TODD and clothing was distribute @
yesterday TO hundreds Of distressed persons. ne
numbers of bazaars in behalf of various chafltes nav
also increased, and hOuse-t toulouse COLLECTIONS
in aid of poor children have been made. IN conse-
quence Of This increase in charitable work there VIZ
general Christmas treats OF dinners al the aSyIuHs'
prisons. casual wards soup Kitchens oohaoohs rb 70
donations exceeded all previous years in abundance
and the charities 10 which they were devoted were
much wider in scope.
The Empcror's two eldest sons. Crown Prince
William and Prince Eitel Frederick. arrived at
Dotted noS11
Ploen College. where they pursuing their
studies. for the purpose Of enjoying the holidays
with their parents. On Christmas Eve the i'm
peral family and the servants Of their household
assembled in the an:e-room Of the apartments OF
the Empress where the Empress and her children
presented gifts TO the servants of the household
The Emperor and Empress. with the whole Court
and the Prince and Princess of Schaumburg- -Lippe.
o'clock the Christmas trees were lighted and thc
presents displayed in the gIo',o OF Inc me sapn- ,
mensc silver goblet and carved clock five feet
high from the Grand-duchess of Baden, the En-
pcrors aunt The imperial children ran ABOUT tne
had received to the members OF the Court. The
holidays with her SON Prince Henry Of Prussia,
and his wife, Princess Irene. at kiel
There is high authority for the statement that
the War Office is undecided whether or not to
present to the Rcichstag bill asking for largely
increased credit for the augmentation Of the artil
lery branch Of the army at the present session OF
the legislative body. The Government is anxious
to secure an enormous credit for the purpose Of
carrying out its plans for the addition of new
artillery. but there is no certainty that the pres
ent Eechstag will grant II. General Won G0sscr.
Minister OF War in the course OF recent address
10 the Budget Commission OF the Reichstag in re-
gard to gun which he described being
superior 10 the new French Canet quick-ring gun.
asked the members Of the Commission TO observe
the stfictest secrecy concerning the gun. Some
indscreet member. however. disclosed the whole
plan Of the gun. and the Budget Commission has
begun searching inquiry with view to ascer-
tanning which Of its members has shown himself
unfit TO be trusted with the secrets of the body.
Adyices from st. Petersburg say that a sensa-
ton has been created there by tho decision OF the
Holy Synod 10 eXcommunicate Count Iyof TolsoT
Church. on the ground that his works calcu-
lated to and do undermine tho Church. The Synod
melted to this action by NJ Pohicdonostzeff
to summon Count ToistoI before the Synod for
trial. which Will involve deprivation of his civil
rights. II is improbable however that the Car
will assent 10 any action Of the tribunal which
goes further than condemnation Of some Of Count
Tolstols tracts and essays.
4 submarine cable has been completed from En-
den. PRUSSIA. NiGo Spain. which links tho Ger
man telegraphic system with the South American
and other systems. Capital has been furnished by
Anglo-German syndicate for the construction
OF the first section Of submarine cable between
Germany and the United States by way Of the