Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1899-01-21
J. o. Spring Writes of Christmas
tide in Germany.

Dresden, Germany, January 5, 1899.
Mr.. Editor:
If any of your patrons are ever dis
satisfied with your paper let them go 5000
miles from home, then send them few
copies. Your paper is very welcome
visitor to US here in Germany. We look for
its coming and peruse it with great pleas
ure.
l have not written to the TIMES since
my week in London, where visited West
minister Abbey, the Tower, St. Paul's Ca
thedral, the Houses of Parliament, the
British Museum and other places of great
interest, all of which thoroughly erj ,yed
l haven't felt like asking space in your
paper to give my friends an account of my
visit there which could not be done in one
short letter with satisfaction to myself. /
will let that pass for the present and Wi g
short letter regarding some people have
seen and of Christmas tide in Germany.
I visited Holland on my way here from
London i. e. Amsterdam, a representative
city, and some of the surrounding country,
which is low and wet, Astounding in ditche s
and canals, but under high state of cult
walton. One Of the most interesting things
to me was view of the MANY quaint old
windmills which are part of the Holland
er's stock in trade. 1t is said that ut is
an ill wind that blows no one good" With
these huge fanlike arms attached to the
side OF the house or shop or mill, reaching
far above is top, the motive power is
created, when the wind blows, which
grinds their grain, brushes stone, saws their
lumber and pumps water for drainage.
Here saw boys and girls at play and
peasant men at work wearing very plain
clothes and wooden stoee, seemingly con-
tent and joyous. have been interested to
see both in Holland and Germany how lit
tie it takes to make some people happy.
The laws Of the land may have something
to do with it. Is it better SOP
As far as have been able to learn with
out knowing the language there does not
seem to be that unrest here among the Ia
boring people, with hope for something
better, as in America. Here people sem
TO be satisfied with their condition. In
America the laboring man wants to get q
house and lot of his own, educate his chill
dren and later have horse ard carriage,
perhaps, and some Of them want to go to
cong ess and finally be president of the
United States. Give me America with
her free laws, free schools and elbow
room for advancement.
The common schools in Germany are
excellent for boys and girls alike until IA
years OF age, aud the exactions for pune
tual attendance are far more rigid than IN
America. At this age the school life of
the girls ends unless they be sent to pri-
vate schools, which the poorer classes gen.
orally cannot do. The boys may take
regular four years. course from II to 16 if
tuty WISH w. dui tOlU IDdt InerS are
msny private schools here where those who
are able educate their children thoroughly
But does not this system of withdrawing
public support from school children alter
the ages of IA and 16 years, together with
the low wages of the country, have ten
dency to keep the poorer people servants
to those more favored. l think so.
think the living is no cheaper here than in
only people are content or obliged
TO do with less comforts.
When in Amsterdam my guide showed
me block containing IS rooms. He told
me that it was occupied by rs families.
The wages in Dresden are from 40 and rs
cents per day for men, about the same as
in some of our southern states in America. |
VII these low wages and so many OF the
boys in the army, the women are obliged
to help support tie family BY labor which
we should think men ought to perform.
Some OF them shovel coal, carrying it into
h houses with baskets on their backs and
some peddle milk on the street with a dog
arne.sed to the milk wagon. OF course
she helps the dog pull up the hills. This
Is an unpleasant sight to an American.