The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-03-08
GERMANY HAS 4
 BETTER SYSTEM Small Furry Does Not Affect
 Its Industries BERLIN HAS G1oD GAS And Enough To Float the Gas Bags of the Aero Club of America In the
 Gordon Bonnet Prize
 Contest.
BY MALCOLM CLARKE.


 Berlin. March 7.-Bad as times are in Germany, the people here get some con- solation from the fact that at any rate they are doing better than are the peo pie of the United States, a fact which the newspapers keep on pointing to with great pride, using it as an argument to show that German industries are based on far more solid foundation than those of America and that it takes more than a temporary depression and passing panic to affect them.
 "The month of January, 19OS, the Koelmische zeitung writes, brings to light a fact concerning the iron industry which is highly fattering to the people of Germany as compared with the Yan- kees.
 During the last ten months of 1907 the output of iron ore in the United States was on an average about twice the Ger man output. During October it went up to 2,374000 tons, but in January, 1908, 1t went down to 1,062,253 tons. During the same months the German output was be- tween 97s,191 tons and 1,13S,767 tons, and in January it went down only to 1,060-
 
 American output.
 This" the paper says. shows the great difference between the two people. In America majority of the mines closed as soon as hard times came, thou sands of people were laid off and suf- ferings followed; here In Germany not one mine shut down, not one man was laid off and the decrease which followed the shock was barely noticeable
 "While there Is no doubt that the action of the mine owners of the United States was wiser in commercial way, we Ger mans ought to congratulate ourselves be- cause our capitalists are less prone to consider their pocketbooks first and their men later, if at all, than the mine owners of free America. They have, thank God, not yet learned to think less of human beings dependant on them than of dollars and cents."
 The general manager of the Berlin gas works declaINs that there is no reason for MT Bishop, president of the Aero club of America to fear that he will not be able to supply gas enough for the 23 balloons which are to compete for the Gordon Bennett prize here this summer.
 Mot only are the Berlin gas works more than able to supply all the gas need ed for the race" he said, but the quail ity of the gas will probably surprise MT. Bishop, If he knows only what they are pleased to call gas in America
 The German socialist press is exceed- ingly harsh in its comment on the $500 cover dinner given by Julius Myers of New York, at the famous Shanley restau- rant.
 There is probably no country in the world Russia not even excepted" Leip- zig paper writes, where a revolution is more needed than In the country across the sea, which in it's national anthem calls itself The Land of the Free
 "In a certain way it may justly call itself The Home of the Brave,' for to give dinner costing 1200 marks cover, when thousands of families only a few blocks away are freezing and when thou sands of disappointed immigrants are leaving the country because they have found nothing but starvation, one must certainly be a brave man.
 "In all Germany it would be impossible to find man who would dare do what the New York merchant did, and spend for one banquet for 15 people enough to keep 15 workingmens families in comfort for six months.
 ''The people of America are patient, as were the people of France before Louis XVI, and they will submit to more out rages and insults than any European peo- pie, but we hope that even their patience has a limit and then people who in the midst of untold suffering can find no bet ter use for their money than to give Lucullian dinners will wish their eyes had been opened a little sooner.'
 The police have just unravelled the cir cumstances of one of the most remark able murders of modern times, which took place nine months ago at Chemnitz.
 On May 14 of last year well-to-do engineer named Pressler was found dead in his room in that town.
 A will was found bequeathing all Press ler's belongiAgs to his fiancee, Fraulein Crete Beyer. the 22-year-old daughter Of the Mayor of the Saxon town of Brandt Susnicions afterward fell on the girl. who was arrested Today her mother and her lover Dresden merchant named Merl,er. were also arrested for having in- stigated the crime.
 Fraulein Beyer has made the following confession to the police: She was in love with Merker, but her mother encouraged her to become engaged at the same time to Pressler, on account of his fortune. Pressler became so infatuated with her that he drew up a will in her favor.
 Then. on her twentysecond birthday, Fraulein Beyer called on Pressler and told him she had pleasant surprise. But first he must be blindfolded, and open his mouth.
 Pressler, entering into what he regarded as the humor of the situation. himself bandaged his eyes and opened his mouth. Thereupon, Fraulein Beyer drew revol- yer, and placing the barrel in his mouth, shot him through the head She then fled, leaving behind her the revolver. so that the police might be led to the conclusion that the case was one of suicide
 
 Prof Maxim Kovalevsky's committee organized to celebrate the eightieth birth day of Count Leo Tolsty approached the Count with the question whether he would like steps to be taken to annul the decree of excommunication issued by the Orthodox church Eve years ago.. The committee received a reply from Countess Sophia Tolstoy saying that the Count did not recognize any excommuni- cation, and had long ago forgotten the incident.
 The anniversary celebration will take place on August 28 and will be interna- tional One proposal Is that Tolstoy's most distinguished admirers should make a pilgrimage to Yasnava Polyvana, and present an address expressing their homage and admiration.
 Tolstoy Is opposed to this, and indeed to all celebrations in which he would have to take part personally.
 
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