The sun., 1909-01-10

y
three years in the cavalry. Whatever
may be the need and value OF such SER
vice from the point OF view OF national
defence, the disciplinary and educative
results are by universal testimony most
beneficial. while the spirit OF order and
the habit Of working with others which
he has practised In the ranks enable tho
discharged soldier to At naturally into
the highly organized mechanism OF mod
ern industrial undertakings. '1f a Ger
man manufacturer in close touch with
his men Ia interrogated on the point he
will invariably answer! Military SER
vice makes men Of the recruits, and they
come back TO US far more efficient as
workers then they we're when they left.
For they learn obedience, discipline.
regular habits; they are more alert.
quicker TO understand. smarter in every
way 1t is interesting TO learn that
when on furlough the first thing con-
script does after visiting his parents is
to 60 on to the factory to see his old fore
man aud comrades.
II.
While military training exerts this
valuable moral and physical influence
arrangements which are plentifully pro-
vided minister TO bodily cleanliness In
their own way. The German factory laws
require facilities for washing to be peo-
vided in almost all industrial establish
ments, but many employers go further
and add shower baths. which may be
used by the mon at stated hours In turn.
Sometimes a nominal charge OF a cent
is made, but usually the baths are free,
and some employers even give their mon
twenty minutes or half en- hour once a
week in which to use the beth. which Is
supplied at will with cold. tepid or hot
water. The wash bowls and troughs are
even more largely used. both at the noon
interval and the evening break. for
German workman has an aversion 10 being
seen on the streets soiled with the dust
and the CRIME Of tho workshop. A chang
ing room with lockers for all the men is
a common feature Of a factor or work.
shop, and here the out OF door clothes
are replaced by working attire.
II is we'll known that the German work
by no means sadly. For six days out
OF the seven he works nine, ten and some
times eleven hours a day, according TO his
industry; but Sunday is devoted entirely
TO recreation On that day the working
classes will not be found in the churches,
but in the parks and woods IL 1t In sum
mer. and in the restaurants at other
seasons Of the year. All the large towns
are in both respects well supplied. Like
the middle classes. the workers take their
picnics and pleasures en- fdr:,Le. and the
spectacle OF rough handed toilers enjoy
ing themselves on a Sunday afternoon
In the parks in the company OF their
wives and children is pleasing and throws
light upon the healthy solidarity which
In spite OF all disintegrating modern
influences still in the main characterires
German family life.
Touching the efficiency of Germany's
workers, Count Posadowsky. formerly
Imperial Minister Of the Interior. declared
in the Reichstag on February 8, 1906: IF
Germany has just experienced vast in
dustrial expansion, equalled by that OF no
other country in the world during the same
time. it is chiefly due to the efficiency Of
it's workers. He went on TO say that this
efficiency must inevitably have suffered
had we not secured TO our working
classes by the social legislat ton Of recent
years tolerable standard Of life and had
we not as far as was possible guaranteed
their physical health The effect Of the
triple system OF assurance which obtains
in Germany is to assure to workpeople
in times OF sickness or accident adequate
medical treatment either at home or in
hospitals. together with such pecuniary
benefits that the home can be maintained
at the usual level Of comfort. without any
serious depletion OF family savings, where
such exist. while pensions are granted in
the event Of premature invalidity and in
old age By these provisions the weight
OF uncertainty and apprehension which
in most countries presses so heavily on the
lives of workingmen. concerned To meet
their responsibilities as heads of families.
is sensiby relieved. for should the worst
come absolute want need not be feared.
Mr.. Dawson bears witness that OF all
the measures passed In the interest OF
the working classes Of Germany during
the last quarter Of a century the insurance
laws are not merely the most beneficent.
they are also unquestionably the most
popular. A few figures will suffice to
show the magnitude Of the industrial
insurance system. The number Of work
people Of all classes insured against sick
ness in Germany in 1905 fell but a little
short Of 1900. 200. and the amount paid
kA aioLp in Of nj
kinds was nearly t70,OOo,OOO. The number
Of workpeople dncluding agricultural
laborersj insured against accident in the !
same year was $3.50. 900, and the value
Of the compensation in benefits of all |
kinds given TO the victims OF accidents
and their dependents was nearly 50. 4.OOO,- |
OOO. The number Of persons insured in |
1905 against old age and invalidity was
about i3 e5O. 900, and the sum paid in pen !
sions and other benefits was about t2s,- !
oOO, 900. in addition to some sl2 900, 900 !
paid in subsidies by the empire. The |
average amount Of the old age or invalidity |
pension granted in 1905 was little less
than $40. Between 1885 and 1905 there
was paid TO insured workpeople in sick
benefits nearly 500, 600. 900. in accident
benefits about $500. 900 900 and since 1891
in old age and invalidity pensions nearly
$500. 900. 900.
In the matter OF amusements the work. |
ing classes in Germany are more and
more going their own way. They have
their own theatres and music rooms.
and workingmen's musical unions and
athletic clubs exist in all towns. In
Berlin the Free Peoples Stage pro-