Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-01-06
IMPRESSIONS OF BERLIN
Social Life is Not Developed to the Highest
Point.
There is Distinct Animo.ity Against
Americans in Most Of the
Recognized Centcrs.


Charles De Kay in the Cosmopolitan.
On the social side Berlin is not developed
TO the highest point, nor can one expect
such a thing when one considers the re-
served nature of the Prussians their belief
in rank and their anxiety lest they should
derogate from the position in which they
stand by allowing those whom they think
their interiors to claim equality. The court
itself is the home of ennui, but life there is
further complicated by the extraordinary
absence OF manners on the part OF the mas
tiers of ceremony. They treat the guests
very much as the Berlin policemen treat
the crowd Of Berliners. 1t Is amusing To
think how many millions OF Americans
may be envying the diplomats who repr-
sent the United States at a court like Ber-
lin Only people from little towns whose
life has been narrow, and who practically
have not known the great society OF a me-
tropous can stand the tedium. the inanities
kind. '
Nevertheless. Americans are not wanting
who attempt every sort OF advance in order
to be presented at a court where they know
perfectly well they are not wanted 1t Is
doubtful II the representatives OF the cit
liens OF most favored nation like italy
really enjoy themselves at the court ~
Berlin. But far as Americans arc com
cerned, there is a distinct animosity against
them in most Of the social centers of the
German capital. and most particularly at
the court This makes the life of secreta-
RES OF embassy not altogether a happy one
for while they feel II they have any fool
ings at all. that they are regarded askance
they are necessarily pestered at th, en-
oasSy by their own countrymen and coun-
trywomen. who think that to be presented
at court is one Of the necessary and nat
ural incidents Of their stay abroad
Ana yet the court of Berlin might do
worse than encourage Americans to be pre-
nj hsr .
to somewhat raise the standard of fenal.
beauty, which at that court is so depressing
as 10 give an explanation Of the number OF
suicides credited to the capital Under
Bismarck conclusion was reached that in
ternational marriages on the part of Off
GERS were to be froWned upon for fear that
the PATRIOTISM OF Germans might be les
Sened by a knowledge of the world and
especially were the officers given to under
stand that American wives were not de-
sired But love and romance laugh at Bis
narck as well locksmiths and il can
haroly be said that this stern edict has
been Of much avail.
The life of an American woman, however
VINO happens to marry German In almost
any rank OF life is not particularly TO b..
enved. If she marries an officer In active
service the social tyrannIes OF the officer
circleS VIII be apt to give her unendlng
trouble And II she is clever woman. the
extreme stupidity of the officers a. a class
and the narrow pride and assumption Of
their consorts are such as to render life a
hardShip- American wives are looked upon
with special diSfavor because they are ant
to bring with them comparative wealth
and II becomes very serious question TO
the officers of regiment IL one OF their
number marrieS woman OF wealth who
also desires TO entertain. What might
seem perfectly normal and, indeed indis-
pensable. to her would appear in the light
OF Wild extravaganza to the German wife
OF his comrade. whom circumstances have
compelled to exercise the closest economy
and who in any case Is little fitted for the
lShter and more attractive forms Of social
intercourse The CHASTITY entertainment
given to the officers of a German regiment
at stated Intervals by the wives Of coionels
or other superior officers il termed by the
younger of1cers saurer Mops." term
which needs commentary. 'Saurer' re-
fers TO the cheap picked dishes which ap-
pear at such entertainments. Mons" re-
fers TO the traditional poodle that bays the
moon and makes people miserable. 'Saurer
Mops is therefore an abbreviated form of
allusion TO the ineXtinguishable mechanically
OF such banquets and the dreadful charac-
ter of the food there to be had