The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1904-10-23

TEL ShAtI 4
Chicago. Oct. Prom Berlin comes the
story of a high official of the German Gov
eminent who came to this city some time
ago and gained experience as a day labor
er in order that he might study American
conditions at first hand. and report to
Emperor William, whose close personal
friendship he enjoys
This official is no less a personag 20 than
Imperial Councillor Koib. one of the most
fastidious gentlemen of the imperial min
isterial circle.
incidentally. his adventures In this city
| furnished him with ample material for
a book, copies OF which have reached this
country, and members Of the Chicago Ath-
| letic Club are trying to recall the person.
| atty of the Councillor. who tells of his
term of service as a waiter in the club
rooms.
The story of Mr.. kolb Is as follows:
Arriving in Chicago 50 completely dis
guised that I had the appearances Of a
poverty-stricken immigrant just from
Germany. I applied for help and advice
to the German Society. where 1 was rec
| commended to a humble inn in the center
of the city.
ROOMS wINDowLESs.
THE proprietor received me and showed
me his choice Of rooms. There were
twelve Of them, but only two had win
dows.
THE remainder were simply black holes,
without light and ventilated only by a hole
In the wall over the door which admitted
the foul air of the long corridor. This
corridor was always reeking with the
smell Of burnt fat emanating from the
kitchen at one end.
Both the rooms with windows were al
ready occupied so I had to be content
with one of the black holes. for which l
had to nay $1-gs weekly. Close at hand
was a restaurant at which / ate my meals.
THE meals were the same every day
In the year, and ran as follows: Steak
with potatoes. bread and butter with cof-
fee
Cents cen.A
F Fss .: mil. .:fss T9 hired sff Ss.s sssEss:
Veal .........".......Is Ham ..-....-.....l0
Mutton chops .....--0 Cup OF coffee and .
Meat hash -.-
This was not n sumptuous fare, but
the food itself was not so bad as the
knives and forks with which ] had to eat.
Knives, forks and spoons were indescrib-
ably unclean and the fragments OF FOOD
left by numerous earlier dinners always
chung to them. I just shut my eyes and
ate.
Now followed the search for employ
ment. Furnished with a strong recon-
mendation from the German Society, l
offered myself to successive employers In
the following capacities: Hostler, mixer
Of cows, grocers driver, bakers boy, dish
washer, gardener, blacksmith's helper.
MANY REBUFFS.
81 was rejected and rebufted at each
place. Every employer had some fault to
ind with me. Some were brutalIy.rude.
others c~oarselv c~ontemptuous. Day after
day I tramped in search OF honest employ
ment till my limbs were weary and feet
sore. I tasted to the full extreme bitter
ness to compulsory employment in winter.
Finally 1 secured a casual job for a
few hours as so-called Omnibus at a BAN
the walters had removed the dirty plates
from the tables and placed them on a side
board the omnibus had to load them on
a big wooden tray and carry them to the
kitchen.
"On arrival black Jackets. trousers and
white tie were supplied to me. There were
severity walters and six omnibuses en-
gagged for the occasion.
EATS BEFORE WORKING.
Before starting to work we had to
wash ourselves thoroughly under the su-
pervision OF an overseer. and then We sat
down and ate as much bread and butter,
with ham. as We could.
The work OF the evening was harder
than may appear at first sight. soon the
p~erspiration was streaming down my brow
as ! staggered under the heavy burdens
loaded on my tray.
Before long my hands were so blistered
that it was painful to grasp the handles
OF the tray. but II was my first piece Of
manual labor and I persisted doggedly.
Next day I received my wage Of SIC,
and I was proud to have earned at least
this amoun by the sweat of my brow.
Six weeks more wandering In search OF
work ensued. Every day ! diligently ex-
amined the advertisements in ali the Lead |
Ing newspapers n promptly offered my
self for all the possible vacant positions.
WORK IN BREWERY.
FINALLY I found employment in Q brew
cry. where I had to carry heavy cases
containing bottles OF beer from early |
morning TN late at night.
Il stu think with discomfort Of my s1-
per1ence with beer barrels and case. |
Ehsro was plenty of broken E1a4 stx6HH |