Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-12-03
BERLIN'S MANUAL SCHOOLS
COURSES IN MECHANICAL TRADES
AT NOMINAL FEES.
Evening and Sunday Glasses fol
WOrkingmen-Grad Become
Captains Of Industry.

w. L. Curtis In the chicago hec0ru-heraiu.
One of the most interesting features of
German educational life is the industrial
art schools in which young machinists are
trained to become foremen and superinten-
dents Of factories. There are eleven such
| schools in the city Of Berlin, and they open
ed the fall term with 2.512 pupils. They are
situated in different parts OF the city to
serve the convenience Of the working class
es. for whose benefit they are intended.
There are two systems-one which furnish
es instruction in every branch Of mechan-
zeal industry. including designing. drawing.
carving, molding, modelling, surveying. en-
cheering, chemistry, the use OF instru-
ments of precision and every phase OF cleo
trical science and mechanics, SIX hours
day for six days in the week. Eor this an
annual fee OF 100 marks ($25l is charged.
In this school. are representatives Of the
middle classes of society, who are not de-
pendent upon their own earnings for sup
port-the sons Of manufacturers, merchants
and skilled mechanics who earn good sal
aries.
The other system appeals to a much larger
class Of the population, and about 1000
young men who are compelled to earn their
own living. take advantage of evening and
Sunday instruction that Is given them for
nominal fee of marks for the year for
an average Of four lessons a week. and q
marks a year for an average of six lessons
week. OF course, this fee Is merely for
NAL, and is intended to appeal to the self
respect Of the pupil and remove the odor of
charity. For two hours each evening and
for four hours each Sunday instruction is
given those whose circumstances compel
them to work during the week days. To
enter candidate must have already gone
through the common schools and acquired
solid foundation of general Information.
He must also pass an examination in math-
ematics, and must have served an appren-
tlceship of at least year at some rechan-
zeal trade.
Practical Work Done.
Upon entering the school he has an option
Of seven or eight different departments,
all Of them dealing with the construction
and operation OF machinery, electric mo-
tors, pumping apparatus, locomotive or
stationary engines, spinning. weaving,
molding, the manufacture and handling of
all sorts of TOOLS forgings and every other
form of mechanism. The instructors are
practical men, and each student must fol-
low practical course. No time can be
wasted in experimental work Upon enter
ing the school he must select his trade
and he will be educated thoroughly in that
particular line of industry, SO that he may
not only be able to operate. but to design
and construct the machinery that per-
tains to 1t.
Many of the graduates of these schools
of industrial art, from their own inertia
or from the pressure Of circumstances,
fall back Into the ranks of wage-earners,
but more have the force of character to
become captains of industry and superin-
tend the work of others.
The Germans combine art with utility as
completely and universally any other
race, and whatever they produce has an
ornamental finish. They have embellished
their bridges, docks and warehouses made
their canals and drains to contribute to the
beauty of their Cities and have trans
formed even their sewers and gas works
into decorative effects. This purpose pre-
walls in everything. but nowhere Is it more
noticeable than in the geological gardens
in the center. of the new residence quarter
Of Berlin. and in the pleasant summer and
autumn days the resort of thousands of
people. -.s- t--a
Work and Pleasure.
The women and children go early. The
women carry their knitting, sewing and
embroidery. Not long ago saw motherly
old person making a shirt and another
darning socks. There is an area of about
seven acres, covered with beer tables with
two band stands one on either side, so that
the music Is continuous. The bands alter
nate; as soon as one finishes a selection the
other band strikes up. and the concert con-
tinues from o'clock in the afternoon until
IL at night, although as the weather gets
cooler the evening performances are cur
tailed. Men come from their offices and
stores at the close of business hours, join
their Families for supper and spend the
evening. Meantime the children have been
looking at the animals. digging in the sand
and playing games in a corner of the park
set apart for that purpose, and the mother
has held table in a convenient location
where she can hear both bands and see
everything that is going on.
Ihese FAMILY parties are a feature Of
Berlin social life. In the summer the wo-
men do most of their visiting In the parks
and beer gardens. and few families take
their evening meal at home They have
hoir h-ao II 20 CT I'D
women and children lunch at home: the
men folks get their lunch down town, and
then all join for dinner or supper at their
faVorite cafe. where they spend the even
ing. You never saw so many people at an
outdoor restaurant as may be found every
afternoon at the geological gardens. I
never counted the tables, but the walk
quarter of a mile long