The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-12-19
CO-EDUCAT|ON IN
 GERMAN EMPIRE Is Being Widely Discussed By
 The Authorities A PIANIST OF PROMISE Miss Olga Steeb of Los Angeles Dis plays Remarkable Gifts In Ger
 many-ls But Nineteen
 Years of Age.
BY STEVEN BURNETT.

the current controversies of Germany is with regard to the co-education of the sexes. It will probably take many years to decide so divided is public opinion on the subject, and so strong is the opposi- tion to co-education on the part of the government educational authorities.
 The last contribution to the argument is supplied by an official of the Prussian Educational Department, who recently defended the present system of separate instruction before a meeting in Cologne. No less than 56 towns in the Rhine land, he admitted had petitioned the department for permission to receive girl pupils in their high schools for boys. vet permission in every case had been refused, and for the following reasons: In the first place, for girls the education al influence of the female teacher is indis- pensable, and there are no female teach CTS in the boys high schools. In the sec ond place the entrance of girls into boys schools would mean an amount Of extra work the girls could not stand, as they would have to learn in six years what they now study in seven, and undergo thirty-six hours weekly instruction, in- stead of thirty hours as at present. Last ly, the development of the girl takes place along other lines than that of boy, and, consequently, the plan of studies must be suited to the girls bodily and intellectual health. The argument most commonly used in Germany by the opponents of co-education is that it tends to make the nd ha eyir Fl Much astonishment has been caused in Germany by the marvellous gifts of Olga Steeb, of Los Angeles, a young Califor- nian, and some even go as far assto de- clare that she is destined to become the worlds greatest pianist. Miss Steeb. who is nineteen years of age, has played be- fore Germany's severest musical critics. all of whom have been greatly impressed by her precocity, both in execution and interpretation.
 Miss Steeb plays from memory all of Bachs compositions about 250 in number, besides about 400 other classical and mo- dern compositions. This young musician, who is of German descent, has. since the age of seven, devoted six hours daily to piano practice, whilst at the same time pursuing a regular academic course of education.
 
 several years ago that Miss Steeb would become one of the worlds greatest ar lists.
 Christmas is exercising its customary favorable influence on various branches of trade. One of Berlin's largest paper manufacturers informs me that he is en- ploying far more hands than this time last year, and work will be plentiful for some time to come.
 The October report of the Statistical Office gives somewhat more favorable re- turns of the labor market. There Is a marked improvement in the printing and clothing trades, also In the iron industry in Selesia and central Germany.
 While there Is a little improvement In the weaving trade, cotton textiles leave much to be desired. and a general im- provement in the situation is not discern able.
 The condition of the tobacco workers, in consequence of the new tax, is de- plorable. learn that further relief sum will be demanded in the Reichstag at an early date. The sum of s1O00,000 has al- ready been voted, but 1t is utterly inade- puate for the needs of the men thrown out of employment.
 The "Lokalanzeiger'' prophecies a new development in the liquor trade. It learns from Guatemala that the government has undertaken the manufacture of a liquor from over-ripe bananas. The expenses of production are very slight, and the liquor is reported to be plentiful in quan- tity excellent in quality, and similar to the best whisky. The invention has been purchased by the government.
 The stuttgarter Beobachter. popular weekly of south Germany, where people are accustomed to talk about the Kaiser more freely than In Prussia arraigns the '"rraveling Emperor" for the disturbance of railway schedules involved by his journeys.
 In eastern Germany the authorities lock up the public in the stations while the im- perial train is passing through, and dur ing the changing of engines the period of Imprisonment lasts five minutes.
 While the Kaiser was en route to the shoot given by Prince Fuerstenberg at Donaueschingen in November, five i'm portant trains were withdrawn altogether and the schedules of twelve others al- tered without notice. The railway author ities acted. says the Beobachter as if the most urgent preparations for war were afoot.
 The Berliner Morgenpost states that the railway officials recently experienced bad quarter of an hour because an im- perial footman arrived late with the kaisers tea service.
 An Ingenious burglary was committed yesterday in a fashionable jewellers shop In Vienna, the thief having entered by a hole he had made in the ceiling while playing the flute. The fiat above was let in lodgings and the landlady informed the police when the burglary was discovered today. that she had let small room to a well-dressed young man. who played the hute all Sunday morning and afternoon In the evening he went out and did not re- turn A Jimmy and other burglars i'm plements were found in his luggage, and the man must have made the hole in the floor with one hand while he played the hute. in order to drown the noise, with the other.
 As he removed the boards and the pias- ter he hid then in his trunk, which was found full He let himself down in the shop with a rope. which he left hanging there, and collected s10000 worth of rings. brooches and earrings, set with smaller stones, which had not been put away in safes. Ffngermarks found on the pol- ished boards of the floor form the only clue.
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