The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-09-01
THE GERMAN HOUSE.
MIR. Otto Responds to TIL
Criticisms of NParent.v

To the Editor of the indianapolis Journal:
No doubt your correspondent signing him.
self Parent in a recent communication
referring to a remark made by a lady quot
ed III your society news relating to the
Friday night concerts at the Deutsche
Haus German House, not Dutch, if you
please, felt very proud and self-satisied
when he had relieved himself of the vi
Imperative billingsgate contained in the ar
ticle in question. L certainly pity the chill
dren of Parent" who are obliged to listen
to the gentle admonitions couched in Ian
guage SO elevating and dignified as was en-
ployed in the correspondence referred to
above. This billingsgate was certainly not
acquired by associating with the members
of the German Club; it smacks more of the
''levee" or Brighton Beach, of savory re-
nown. I desire to inform Parent that
the club referred to SO sneeringly differs
in one essential, to it's advantage, from
other like institutions, in so far as that it
Is strictly a family affair, where the COM
fort of the ladies and the children is consid-
cred as we'll. and that all of it's members
take particular interest in fostering this
family spirit.
The exception taken to the quotation of
the lady referring to the refreshments dis
pensed at the entertainments, and which
was the basis of your correspondents re-
marks, was certainly not well taken. The
delicious drinks referred to were not spe-
Gifted, and could have. been tea, coffee,
champagne or beer; possibly also the
strains of the excellent music furnished at
these entertainments. However,, it is evil
dent that the lady in question was well
pleased and that she has an appreciation
of the good things in life, and that she has
acquired her taste by travelling, and that
she has learned to enjoy innocent amuse-
ment.
The mission of the German Club as a civ
ilizer in our community cannot be overestl-
mated, and it will prove a great factor in
promoting fellowship, in destroying preju-
dice against harmless amusements, and es-
pecially in destroying hypocrisy, so preVa-
lent in society. The fact that children are
allowed the privilege of accompanying par
ents to all entertainments of this charac-
ter is characteristic of the German mot
Dutch), for it has proved to be the very
best method of calling their attention to
matters which they should have knowledge
of, so that in later years, when not under
the supervision of their parents, they will
not be tempted and out of curiosity and
ignorance indulge in forbidden fruit when
they are unable to handle it with safety
for want of proper knowledge. The anx-
ious care which many parents exercise in
preventing their children from tasting, even
seeing intoXicantS, has seldom resulted in
the result desired-more generally to the
contrary. Curiosity in later days, when tie
opportunity presents itself, on the principle
that everything forbidden has special at
traction, often leads to excess in the matter
of drink. whereas if these very children
would nave Deen Id1nllldrlZ6d With the
cause and effect of drinking early in life
they would have been in position to dis
eliminate and also to drink with modera-
ton.
My advice to Parent" would be. before
INDUCING in another such outburst OF pious
Indignation, to first inform himself in the
premises, particularly AS to the character
of the DeutSche Haus, and of it's patrons:
also, learn to express himself in language
in keeping with the high mission which he
assumes to esDouse, SO that the children,
for whose welfare he seems so solicitous.
can read his views with safety, and last,
but not least. that he concede that our
tastes cannot all be alike, and that a little
liberation and charity for the views of
others, in this enlightened century, are al
ways in place and appreciated. Further
more. / desire to have it distinctly under
stood that, although the Deutsche H2uS is
Cosmopolitan in character, it proposes to
foster German ideas as to Socia billty: it is
essentially only American in everything re-
quired to make D good citizen, ana nothing
which would tend to create national dis
tinction would be tolerated within its walls.
/ would also be pleased to have Parent"
visit our reading room at the DeutSche
Haus, where he will find the le ading period
icals and magazines published in Europe
America-English. French and German
containing the current thought of the age.
and after having imbibed the contents of
these publications his mind will probably
have expanded to such an extent that he
can readily see beyond the barrow orbit to
which he must be confined, judging from
OTTO STECHHAN.
Jnjio no DoiiS AnU s1