Omaha daily bee., 1903-05-17

day to see the cattle markets of Berlin.
They are situated on the edge of the city
and are easily reached by the Ringbahn.
They cover many acres and have cost
about $4,000, 900.
During my visit the yards were flied
with cattle. sheep and hogs. There were
about 5000 sheep in one set of stalls and l
was told that 10000 sheep are brought in
every day. Accommodations are provided
in one hall for 1000 cattle and there are
arrangements so that other thousands can
be handled at the same time.
The cattle were roaring like bulls OF
Bashan when 1 entered the hall; across
the way the sheep were baaing and there
was such a bleating of calves that it
fairly dinned my ears.
1 wish could show you the hogs. There
were thousands of them and the cleanest,
p~rettiest hogs 1 have ever seen. Each
porker had evidently been scrubbed before
he had been brought in. His bristles
shone like frosted silver and his skin was
as rosy as the cheek of a baby. The drov-
ers in long, white coats were moving the
pigs from one part of the yard to tn
other, and as they did so the sun poked
.his rays through the silver bristles and
made them look like painted hogs. Each
animal was marked with a stamp showing
that the inspector had looked 1t over ant
passed upon it for killing. and later on !
saw that every piece of meat was likewise
stamped. There are altogether about 400
inspectors employed, of whom los are
women microscopists. The inspectors
were going over the cattle while 1 was in
the beef hall. The examination was
thorough, although many of the animals
were fierce. The bulls were led through
the yard with their eyes blindfolded.
Leaving these halls, 1 visited some Of
the slaughter houses, where horses ara
killed for food. and also the shops where
the meat is sold. Not only in Berlin, but
in almost all the great cities of Europe
horse meat is eaten By the lower classes.
There are great slaughter houses in Pari'
which kill thousands of horses every year,
In Vienna more than 5000 horses ami a
number of dOnkeys are annually killed,
and Berlin eats horse meat by the thou
sands of pounds every day. Such horse {
are inspected both before and after killing
and every piece of meat must be stampe,
as healthful by the inspectors.
Have you ever seen a piece of horse flesh?
1t is redder than beef and looks for all the
world like venison and tastes not unlike it.
There are 200 butcher shops in Paris which
sell nothing else. / saw it sold side by side
with beef in the butcher shops in Switzer-
land. and have no difficulty in finding horse
meat chops here. In Berlin the meat is ad-
vertised as horse meat, and there is nc
chance of having horse steak passed of
upon you as Nenison or beef.
One Of the shops which 1 visited in the
poorer quarters OF Berlin had steaks. roasts
and soup bones nicely dressed and ready
for sale. The meat was black where II had
been exposed 10 the air, but red when frest
cut.
Upon the walls hung horses sides hall
cut up and en- hooks from the ceiling huns
horses hams, smoked and dried. On on
wall were long strings of little sausages
black as ink, speckled with bits of whit
fat, Each string weighed a pound, anC
tho bare-armed butcher behind the counter
told me that it was made of ground hors,
flesh and sold for - cents a pound. III,
said a good loin roast cost 8 cents and tn,
best steak 10 and IL cents. He showed m,
a pile Of Hamburger horse steak at a lowe
price, and also some yellow horse fat, which
no says the poorer classes use as cooking
butter. He says that horse fat is as gooS
as goose grease TO cure a cold. and tina
horse oil is excellent for rheumatism.
This mans family was at dinner when
called, and upon my asking IL he ate hors,
meat himself he took me into his dininl
room. where his wife and children were de
vouring plates OF soup made from hors,
bones. The children looke healthy and h,