Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1907-06-15
INTERESTING
AND COSBY
BERLIN LETTER
SALEM GIRL TELLS OF LIFE IN GERMANY
ess Methods Strange to AmerCanSWOmen Do Heavy Work aud Little
Tots Are Given Tasks

INApi OSSi'Vt 6iStbtu OuI cars. NO Out
realizes what truly glorious thing
1t Is to be born an American, unit
they have been in a country not 6
republic. Caste is an awful tyrant
an almost unconQuerable barrier
THE little children born to serfdom
begin their life work at three years
when they assume the responsibility
of caring for baby sister or brother
AT six years of age they deliver news.
papers, milk, ETC., before six O'Clock
in the morning; climbing perhaps
so steps at each house to place the
paper under the door on the fourth
floor, retracing these steps only to
ascend more, until hundreds are
climbed / have seen little maids at
this work, who were too tiny to push
open the house doors, which have
the patent air spring to keep them
from slamming alone, so they we're
sent in pairs, while yet only babies
needing sleep, 10 refresh the already
old faces, and neither properly fed
or clothed. What hope is there for
them to develop above their class?
The streets and platz are full OF
children of better. class, at play.
Their sports consist of rolling hoops,
spinning tops. rolling balls, etc.
The schools are strictly separated
and co-education is unheard OF, and
the examinations are real. One pro-
crosses by merit only, and the teach
ers and pupils work earnestly for
results, not to cover ground. We
know a small boy OF ten who speaks
German and English, is studying
French and Latin, and is we'll ad-
vanced In algebra and science, and
has a little friend who is younger
and knows more" II is a matter OF
pride with the children to learn for
the sake of knowing.
The telephone is not in as general
use as with us. Here they have
what is called "rohrpost." a system
OF rapid delivery. Letters bearing
the "rhorpost" stamp are delivered
to any part OF the city within an
hour from their receipt at the office.
The mail boxes all over the city are
visited each hour by n post TRACER"
aud the mail taken. This stamp
costs 80 pr. or, proportionately, more
than an ordinary long distance tele-
phone message with us.
The number OF bakery shops. meat
markets. cigar stores, beer cellars,
"drogeries," Cor shops of perfumes,
patent medicines, powders, etc.,
apothekes, (real medicine and pre-
scription stores). book stores, hard
ware laden" soap shops, ETC., is
regulated by law. Unpleasant com
petition is thus avoided and each sec
tlon OF town supplied with all neces-
sary shops. We have always been
proud that We could cook, and IL is
very fortunate for us that We can.
We couldn't learn 20 enjoy pension
diet. so rented a little "wohnung."
and are keeping house. There are
two seasons for renting, viz, April
and October. No landlord rents for
less than six months. We have a
"Gartenwohnung." consisting OF
three living rooms, kitchen, bath,
maids room. hall. cellar, garret and
balcony. We have Ave chairs, and
other furniture in like proportion;
but everything is new and Clean and
our own, and keeping house is great
fun. We have a maid come In TO
wash the dishes, empty ashes sweep
etc, about two hours work. she
comes from TO 5 in the afternoon
and We pay her nine marks or s2.zS
a month. That old ditty. ITO mar
ket, TO market to buy fat pig, Home
again, home again, jiggety Jig. etc.
As laden with meaning 10 as now.
for IL one doesn't buy a wole pig one
buys nearly everything else, and
comes home so heavily burdened that
the resting place at the end OF the
journey tempts one to hurry, result
ing in a little dog trot," a regular
jiggety jig. The market Is very in
teresting and most conducive 20
speaking German. Twice a week u
Is held on the ''platz" OF square near
us, on other days In different neigh
The wagons arrive early
The portable counters, etc. are taken
on and quickly adjusted. little dirty
awnings or flies are hastily raised