Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-04-29
LIFE IN BERLIN.
An Exchange for Musicians-Nine or
Ten Concerts a Day.

The idea that Berlin is essentially
modern, gO-ahead business center with
little or no interest for the sightseer
or curio hunter is perhaps somewhat
exaggerated: but the strongest argu-
ment against it's tourist value is that
it leads nOwhere-except to Russia,
where scarcely any one goes for pleas
| ure.
| To lovers of the picturesque the mod
ern houses. broad streets with net
work of tramlines. some dozen of
brand new, luxurious hotels and the
ever varying with fashion architectural
style (Which in secession, old German,
| rocco, and, worst of all. q mixture
of the three in the residential parts),
all these are little eyesores.
There is perpetual restlessness
from which it is impossible to get
away. In Berlin one must get on-push
or, hurry OMIT any cost. But curl
ously the Berliners do not in their
scramble neglect minor details. such
as minute order and cleanliness in
every path of life
This has been topic for caricature
and ridicule for many years, but there
is no doubt that the order has become
now more a natural development than
a police enforcement. A city growing
at the pace Berlin grows. with the
| amount of business it concentrates,
must have order.
| Artistically it is in very curious if
not unique position. The art of the
past is wonderfully represented in the
museums. The Kaiser Friedrich Gal
lery contains some of the priceless
gems of Europe. But it is art of today
which is all important and in no other
city is the commercial value of art
| valued to such a point
Musically, Berlin is stock exchange
| for artists. 1t is the junction from
which they radiate land therefore stu
dents flock there from all corners of the
earth. because they know that there
they will find center. 1t is bewild-
ering to the mere onloOker to even i'm
agine nine or ten concerts day, but
since the quarters of Schoenberg and
Wilmersdorf are largely populated by
English and American students the
business policy seems wise.
In theatrical matters they are no
farther behind, and the performances
are splendid and realistic modern
plays ranking highest in interpreted
ton Operate performances are. on
the whole. weak In the Imperial OPP
era House conventionallty rules the Or
der of the day. The kOmische Opera
is modern in tendency. but can only
give smaller works. For educational
purposes Berlin ranks high, the schools
are excellent, and in every branch OF
technical work unrivaled anywhere.
Smart dressing being still exception
al III every circle. whether bourgeois
or aristocratic, economy can be prac-
ticed much more easily than in Lon
don. 1t is usual to invite your friend
to supper (the scantiest and simplest
of meals), so that hospitality can also
be practiced on very moderate scale.
In fact. for colonial families who wish
to educate their children on the con-
tinent there are few places which RI
val Rerln.-Queen.
Dresden a City Of Pleasure.
Dresden is essentially city of pleas
urc-of fair. wide prospects, of hearty
| river life, of zest in nature and art
Even the public buildings cluster about
the Elbe. just as the huts of the first
settlers clustered. A circle of Wendish
herdsmen's hut on the right bank.
line of fisher shanties on the left
these were the unlikely beginnings of
Dresden in the sixth century But the
settlement lay at the. only point in the
river valley where ford was practic-
able tempting the Germans to settle
on the left bank between the Wends
and the swamps, or Seen. unlovely
places that have long since disappear
ed, leaving behind only the names See
strasse. Am See and Seevorstadt In
| deed. the very name of Dresden is de-
rived from the Slavic dresjan, which
means Jewellers in the swamp-forest."
Century Magazine.