Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1899-02-02
SCHNAlppS NIT BIER


Any one will find it is both amusing
and interesting to listen to tho con
yersation Of Americanized Germans,
for often in the middle of n most i'm
portant sentence, they will shy from
the language Of their Fatherland TO
that Of the most approved American
slang. 4fA
When I asked the chief steward of
our ship as we were nearing Bremen
haven, il he couid give mo the name
of the most comfortable hotel there, l
received in reply, Bet yer life, mein
Herr (which caused US both to break
into hearty laugh at his unconscious
combination. His directions were few,
as the town was small. aud within five
minutes after landing from the good
ship Aller we were safely lodged in the
storm worn Schloss Gasthaus,
Bremer-hayen grew into importance
in 1927, after it was acquired from
Hanover, and made the seaport of
Bremen. Situated on. the Weser
Estuary, only 10 miles from the North
Sea, and having possibly the finest
dockage facilities Of the German EN-
pire, Bremer-haven has. had a phe-
nomonal growth in population and i'm
Originally our hotel could have been
| anything from powder magazine to
the wings of theatre, as it was most
irregular in construction; spooky, and
mouldy smelling; but the novelty OF
change, plenty Of good food, and en-
thusiasm, soon made all discomforts
acceptable. {.
Shortly after breakfast l drifted with
the people into the big Bier Halle, and
| presently was as much taken with my
new surroundings as small boy at his
| first circus.
Each new-c conner, from the street,
after diyesting himself Of his wraps
and hat, first called for glass Of
schnapps, a nondescript cigar, and
then Immediately ordered "eine
halpes," full pint of cold lager bier.
| Turning to a pleasant faced man near
me, who seemed to understand Eng
| lish, l asked: Ad,,s..9s ~
why is it you drink Holland gin,
| and then take beer on top?''s
"Das list all right, schnapps makes
der-makes der, wei heist magen in
| English? Oh, yees, stomach, warm.''
| Bier list zu kalt to drink right away
first" Well what could l do hut try
| the mixture, and then for half an hour
afterward the internal controversy be.
tween these two liquids made me ,as
cross-eyed and undecided as Chelsea
hack driver of duty.
| The weather was bitterly cold out OF
doors, but argued, "cold weather and
exercise is brightener of the intel
lectual faculties, and, perhaps, an adj
| iuster of new mixtures,'' SO left the
Schloss, and started on the mile and a
half walk to the Fish Market. 1t was
an open shed built Of iron and glass,
and very artistically constructed, about
200 feet long BY 10 wide, one edge OF
the roof just overhanging the water
enough to protect those unloading the
vessel during stormy weather.
The river, though quite narrow al
this point, had been we'll dredged, SC
that even at low tide there was good
| depth of water. The solid masonry al
this landing side of the Market, BULL
Of huge blocks as IL intended to las.
forever, seemed in workmanship and
strength fully equal to the docks OIL
Great Britain. M
One of the large steam trawlers hac
just made port and captain and crew
were sorting and putting the fish into
baskets and hoisting them from the
hold to the floor of the market, where
they were seized by thick-set, red faced
tisherwomen, who hustled about in
their wooden shoes and short skirt
with as much ease and familiarity
with the work as any hired girl in the
kitchen. There was too much hurry
and activity for them to, pay attention
to the stranger looking on, and moro
than once had to dodge or get wipec
with shiny fish basket in the hand:
of shore mermaid. The principa
catch consisted of paddock, or called
by the people, schel fish, few salmon
and some scattering varieties. Al
sales at this wholesale market WERE
carried on by auction, lots being made
| up by the women, depending upon size
and condition of fish, into various
parcels and knocked down by govern.
ment officer in uniform and bright but
tons to the highest bidder.
We were told that from this nor
shipments of fresh fish were forwarded
to all parts Of. the German empire. TIL,
walk back accomplished what we hat
set out for, and wa vowed then anC
there, on reaching the Bier Halle, =
that our ''magenn might take its owr
chances on a chill from. cold beer befor,
we would fire it up again by beginning
init schnapps.
Robert Mitchell Floyd.