New-York tribune., 1898-12-11

Berlin, November %.
Personal liberty is not characteristic Of Ger
man life. as any one who has lived in Berlin
long enough to be announced to the police will
ADMIT God made him; therefore let him pass
Tor man.. is essentially English conclu-
sion. and not at all convincing to the German
mind. which demands proof in detail. Where
were you born and Why" voices the national
attitude toward every individual not identified
by title and to this the police adds: What
have you done with your life up to the present
moment and what have you to show for it,"
No doubt the feeling of mora! responsibility to
which this question gives rise is most sauary.
out TO answer it often involves an amount OF
petty information that is irksome in the
tremc. In slipshod America the fact Of exist
is conceded to be sufficient guarantee OF
birth, but in Germany this is not So and certf-
Gates from police and pastor are necessary 10
prove the bold assertion.
But. trying as some OF the legal regulations
In this country undoubtedly are. especially
to an American one is sometimes compelled to
admit that they are An Improvement on the ar
bitrariness which exists in some other countries.
To one who has lived in America and has some
practical knowledge Of the servant question
there. the laws for domestcs. laid down in the
Preussischcn Gesinde Becht. come as boon
and a blessing
The cook who suddenly takes her departure
at O'Clock in the evening leaving her mistress
to prepare the dinner, an occurrence common
enough in America, would here be regarded
q runaway and treated accordingly. If the
girl had no just cause such as those conceded
by the law. forcible measures would. at the inst
CATION Of her employers. be taken by the police.
She would be compelled to pay for the services
Of a substitute until the term for which she had
been engaged herself had expired. or she would
have to pay fine. except in case Of financial
inability. when a corresponding imprisonment
would take its place or she would by force be
required to resume her duties
Action Of this kind implies fixed code of do
mestc laws which. with notifications IN the
different states. is in force all over Germany
protection TO employer and employe. To give
the various ramifications of these laws is beyond
the province Of this article but the main regu-
lations will be enough. am sure. to give an
idea IF the order and security which prevail in
this branch of social life
BY domestic. the German understands the man
or woman who living in the family of his or her
employer. performs household duties This per-
son is reckoned as belonging to the family, and
Is therefore subject 10 the "discpne OF the
householder" AS the householder is in most
by law to engage the household servants. Ills
wife may hire female servant without obtain
ing his special permission and even without his
direct consent, but in order to engage male
servant and to forestall legal complications she
must have his written permission.
THE PRESCRIBED CONDITIONS OF SERVICE.
What are the prescribed conditions OF service?
servant to hire himself or herself independ-
emily. must be subject to no outside authority.
Minors are required to prove the consent or their
parents or guardians, wives OF their husbands
The second regulation. which is as invlolable
as the laws Of the MedeS and the Persians, Is
that every person going into service must De
provided with a "Dienstbuch," service BOOK
Although these books are bought at an ordinary
sta ationer's they are by law required to be or
certain description. They must be octave size.
and consist Of eight pages. The first page must
bear the signaement, 1. e.. the full name and
description OF the owner and date OF birth. The
left side OF the other pages in the book must
have five dvsions-thc first for the number or
tbe situation. the second for the name occupa-
ton and residence Of the employer, the third for
the office of the servant. whether engaged
bousemaid. cook or butler; tn fourth for the
date Of arrival and the fifth for the date Of de-
narture. The right side of the pages must have
two divisjons-one for the reason Of departure
and the certificate of behavior and competency.
given by the employer, the other for the verih-
co,io, and possible remarks OF the police
Before beginning service the owner of such
nooL must take it 10 the police who assure
themselves that the applicant Il1ls the neces-
cary conditions and Las the right to take
situation If this cannot be proved. the book
= -, outborizcd In applying for a place this