Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-07-06
GERMANS IN LONDON
THOUSANDS FROM FATHERLAND
FLOCK no BRITISH CAPITAL
The Teuton Population in the City
Would FIJI q Town Like
Bonn.


We are apt to look upon London as an
English city. This is q great mistake: it Is
a collection OF nationalities. To take the
Germans alone. II they were to congregate
in one quarter they would comprise the
population of q town a. big as Heidelberg
Bonn. The German who leaves the
fatheriand. impelled by that spirit OF
"wanderschaft." or travelling, which for
centuries has sent young Teutons into all
parts OF the world I'm search OF adven-
ture," to use the fairy book phrase. or. IN
plain English. to make a living. and who
finds his way to London. whittier all roads
lead. is not lost in a foreign city, but has
come from one home to another.
There are several quarters Of London
which are almost as German as the Fried
rich strasse in Berlin Leman street, White
chapel, Is the High street OF the East End
Germans. and all around from the City
road to Finsbury Circus one finds a crowd
of German shops. hotels lodging houses,
clubs and restaurants. which give evidence
OF the large Teutonfc population in our
midst. But this is only one district which
the German invader has marked down for
his own. In the West End the well-to-do
Germans Of London have selected the en-
virons Of Cavendish Square: and those who
prefer suburban life have settled in large
numbers at Denmark Hill. Sydenham,
Kentish Town and Dalston. In Soho the
German holds his own with other foreign
ers. and there are scattered colonies at
Green Lanes. Walthamstow. Wimbledon
and Kings Cross.
German Clubs.
The Germans are all what DR.. johnson
called "clubable" men. and the number of
'-vereinen' in London is a witness to this
national characteristic. There are no fewer.
than seventy-four German societies in Lon
don which all have an element of club life.
The center Of German social life for the
working middle class OF the East End Is
the Deutscher Gwerbe und Theater We
rein" 1.-THE German Handicraft and Theat-
rtcal Society In East road. or the City
road. 1t has membership Of 1, 100 men
and women. Is an admirable institution,
In the midst Of very crowded quarter,
which helps to bring a great deal of light
and brightness into the lives of these hard
working foreigners. The subscription is
only %. Sd. yearly. and for this the mem
bers have the privilege Of admittance to
excellent club premises containing large
dining rooms. billiard room. reading room
and ball room. The latter Is fitted up with
little stage. and here. on Saturday and
Sunday evenings drawing room plays are
performed by club members (under the d.
rection Of Herr Max Sylge of the German
Theater in Breslau). interspersed with
songs and rotations. the entertainment
closing with a dance.
Here also on national feast days the en-
thusiasm OF young Germany finds a free
vent and toasts to "Das Vaterland," health
to Kaiser Wilhelm and the honor of the
army are drunk in stone beakers of lager,
with resounding "Hochs!' that shake the
rafters and f1utter the German flags which
always decorate the rooms.
In the West End the Germans of the
verein fur Kunst and Wissenchaft" 0he
German Society of Art and knowledge,
sometimes called the German Athenaeum.
where herr professors and DISTINGUISHED
men of science. art. diplomacy and COM
MERGE sustain the reputation of the father
land by lectures and entertainments OF an
exalted and truly German character.
Over the Friendly Lager.
Among the most interesting phases OF
German life which have found a home in
London are the singing clubs.'' which do
more than anything to cure that helm
weh." or homesickness. which melts the
heart Of the young German in a foreign
land North. east. south and west, in the
taverns and restaurants of the German
quarters. there are what are called Lie
dertafeln" tsong tables) and Manner
gesangvereinen" Choral societies). where
over the friendly lager and the homely.
long stemmed pipe the old national ballads
trolled forth with depth of patriotic
emotion that only Englishmen abroad can
realize
In the German hotels of Finsbury Square
and Soho there are special evenings when
THE Society of German Veterans" The
Society of German Reservists of Wilhelm
II in Great Britain" THE German Military
Club of England and THE Union of Ger
man Officers on Leave" hold gatherings OF
an exclusively military character, in which
they flight their battles Ger again." and
criticise the English war Office with much
self-sa abstraction.
Another German institution met with IN
London Is the skittle alley. The devotees
Of the game belong to three skittle clubs
all situated in the Pentonville road but
several hotels and other clubs have skit-
tie alley attached to the premises, which
offers more attractions to the average Ger
man than the best appointed billiard table. |
In the Pancras road. Kings Cross, there
is another establishment resorted to by
hundreds Of young Germans who take a
pride in carrying on the traditions of their
early training. This Is the 'Deutscher
Turn-verein." or gymnasium, where box