The new era., 1908-12-31
3sMDe
aMI6H:

prince had attended a regular course
OF studies at the Berlin technical high
school at the kaiser's bidding. thrill
or surprise ran through that exclusive
set usually termed society"
such thing as an imperial prince,
an heir to the throne, embracing
studies of practical usefulness. was.
heretofore, unheard of in Germany.
Until recent years the princes educa-
tlon had been cast in venerable,
time-worn mold-military exercises.
military whatnot; and, by way of or
namental side issues, few morsels
OF general history. geography, mathe-
mates. social politics. and the like.
But matters technical-electricity, me-
chanics and their practical applica-
ton. the building of railroads, wire
less telegraphy, all similarly useful
and therefore "plebeian" pursuits
were hitherto kept at distance from
the scions of the Prussan dynasty.
The Emperor William, who has res
olutely broken with many an obso-
lete custom and mildewy tradition,
has now also pushed aside the worm
eaten system for educating an imperi-
al prince. 1t is on record that he ex-
pressed in his spirited way, as an
axiom. that modern monarch I'D
modern statesmen must be equipped
with practical turn OF mind and
that great deal of the political and
colonial successes achieved by Eng
lishmen was undoubtedly due to their
0f NyfaU nd
soberly. unhampered by theories"
This is not the first instance Of the
kaiser's lively appreciation of what
is typically English. He has repeat
edly manifested decided preference,
inherited from his mother, for Eng
lish social customs, English sport, and
SO forth; and he is certainly largely
responsible for the marked change
which has swept during the last few
years over the whole social life of
Germany. English influence, former
ly tabooed and detested, is now quite
deeply rooted in Germany: the kais-
er's strong personality has been sue
cessful in clearing away the inborn
jealousy entertained by the German
nation toward English notions and
customs, in fact, toward all that hailed
from England.
This change is especially marked
in the fashionable circles of the Ger
man capital. Berlin, formerly dead
ly-dull, uninteresting town. inhabited
by narrow-minded citizens unac-
quainted with the outside world, and
possessing an absurdly inordinate con-
ception of the greatness of Germany
and German influence has become an
international center, attracting peo-
pie from all parts of the world, in
outward appearance rivaling Paris,
eclipsing Vienna, and trying to live
up to London. This new state of
things dates from more recent times.
Englishmen have lately visited Ber-
lin more often than in former years;
they have introduced into German
life that element of sport which ever
tends to further the cause of good fel-
lowship and thus bind together di-
verse nations, and have in this way
assisted very materially to show the
Germans as a race that good does
exist in England, that English people
are not all unbearably naughty and
stiff and that English ideas and no.
tions are not, as was believed in Ger
many of yore, the offspring of lofty
disdain of others and insular preju-
dice and arrogance. The result is that
Germans, spurred by the kaiser's ex-
ample, have begun to take lively in
terest in their fellowsportsmen, have
themselves founded rowing clubs, foot
ball associations. and kindred institu-
tions. From the nursery to the uni
versity, from the kindergarten to the
women's club, from the servants hall
to the fashionable salon, English in
fluence is making itself more and
more marked in Germany as each year
passes by.
Babies in all the rich. fashionable
families are nursed by English nurses,
children are taught by English gov
ernesses. boys and young aspirants to
university honors are coached by Eng
lish tutors. and English nurse girls
and English parlor-maids are becom-
ing quite the fashion. Educated Ber-
liners delight to show to newcomers
their thorough grasp of English; they
make themselves acquainted with the
most modern English novels, and oft
Ell write, as well as read and speak,
English as easily as German Even the
shops are affected; English furniture
is imported from London to replace
the heavy ancient style of walnut and
mahogany suites; bedrooms are pret-
tily furnished in white, nurseries are
neatly and sensibly appointed, and
pretty English drawing-rooms take the
place of the stif and clumsy 'recep-