The age-herald., 1900-07-30
DELIGHTFUL TIME
 IN THE OLD WORLD E. Lesser Tells of Things He
 Observed. PROGRESS IN GERMANY
Europeans Have Hig Respect for Amer ica, Chasing This Nation as Power That Must be Reck-
 oned With in Future

E. Lesser president and manager of the Metropolitan Hotel Company, president of the Turnverein and editor of the Courier, reached home yesterday after a three months trip to Europe He was in bouy- ant spirits and looked the picture of health. During the afternoon many friends called to welcome him home. MT. Lesser is native of Leipzig, and was a newspaper man in Germany before
 he came to this country, fifteen years ago. To reporter for The Age-Herald he said
 that while he enjoyed his trip and especially his visit to the Fatherland, he was delight ed to be back in America.
 Great changes have taken place in Ger
 many since I lived there," he said. "on every side I observed wonderful progress. Industrial conditions seemed to be good; everybody was at work and the people seemed thrifty and contented. Berlin has grown to be Q city of over 2,00O,0O0 souls and it impressed me as being the most cosmopolitan city in Europe. Every nationality in the world is represent ed there. I visited many German cities and all of them seemed to be gaining rapid
 ly in population I found that Munich still
 
 of all the other cities.
 Politics? Yes, I heard much political talk in Europe" continued MT. Lesser. ''The Socialists are quite strong in Berlin, but I found them orderly and not very de-
 monstrative I heard little or no violent
 talk in Socialist gatherings. The Chinese situation was the topic of all-absorbing in- terest, of course. Every German was naturally greatly aroused against China, and amongst all classes deep anxiety was felt.
 'All eyes are turned toward America. I found it in France, Germany and Eng land. Europeans have high respect for the United States. They regard this nation a great world power and watch with in tense interest every move made at Wash ington. Before the Spanish-American war this country was looked upon as only trading nation It was not listed as of the powers. But today every one rec ognizes the fact that America from this time on has to be reckoned with in inter- national affairs; that she has come to be a world power of the most commanding character"
 Reverting to Germany, MT. Lesser said
 
 Socialists were ardent admirers and up- holders of the Emperor. Some years ago." remarked MT. Lesser, q had an idea that the young Emperor was lunatic. But I no longer hold that opinion. William II. is a grand mana wise statesman and splendid ruler. I happened to see him ride through the streets on three different occa- sions and each time he was greeted with enthusiastic cheers The German people have the utmost faith in him and he knows | it and is grateful for their esteem" When asked about the Paris Exposition, MT. Lesser replied that it was well worth seeing; that if he had not seen Chicagos s | Worlds Fair he would say the Paris show | was unsurpassed. Next to France the | United States had the best exhibits. While I was in Paris" said MT. Lesser, | "tfle official register showed that forty | thousand Americans were there. The | French people treated Americans with marked courtesy. They could not have | shown a more friendly spirit. Paris look | ed very gay. I saw the illumination there | on the 18th of July It was a marvellous sight I had never imagined any thing of the kind so beautiful. Paris is great city l as every one knows, but it is full of unrest ] The Parisians are as infiammable as ever l The men become excited in commonplace l discussions and any little group can easily start a riot.'
 l MT. Lesser was in London when the news of the relief of Mafeking came, and
 he never saw such enthusiastic demon- | stratons. q used to think the English l were phlegmatic and therefore not given to | passionate outbursts, but I found they were not only patriotic but much more | demonstrative than Americans" said MT | Lesser. 'I was in theater on the evening I of the Mafeking tidings and the audience
 rose seven times during the performance
 and sang God Save the Queen" | MT. Lesser said that whilst tourists were l in greater evidence in Europe this summer l than usual on account of the Paris Ex- l position, he did not find the cities over | crowded. There was no discomfort, either in the railway trains or in the matter of |