Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-08-31

GERMAN
ADVANCE.

iINNSI1Sf6 dES m7N M zlii0l111SiLS1l10z
BERLIN. August 14.-Social gradations
in Germany are much more sharply de-
fined than in either of the other great
Teutonic nations.
The German genius for organization
has affected the social relations of men.
Just as IT has the political and Industrial
affairs of the empire. The paternalistic
| bureaucracy. which controls the political
and business affairs Of every German.
also fixes his social status.
Roughly speaking. it may be said that
| in England a mans social position is de-
termined by his birth. in America, by his
wealth. and in Germany by his job.
No matter whether a man was born in
a palace or a hut no matter whether he
has millions or nothing, II he Is an army
officer he has a social rank above that OF
any professional or commercial man. The
army is socially supreme.
There always have been, now are. ana
ever shall be classes and class distinc-
tons among
Glass Distinction men, In some
With Army on Top. class distinc-
lions have both social and political effect;
in others they are only social
In Great Britain the class lines stili
divide political camps, but they are SO
fixed and immutable that men on botn
sides may mingle with one another WITH
out fear of losing caste. In the United
States, where the class distinctions are
purely social or financial. there Is mucn
less. mngling between the aristocrafs and
the proletarians than in England. for the
reason that the proletarian Is not Will
ing to recognize the condeScending su-
periority of the other fellow.
But in Germany, where the class dis
tinctons are not only social, but also
political and industrial, there is pracucally
no intermingling whatever. Every person
Is given an exact social rating, and every
considerable person above the rank OF a
mere manual laborer has handle to his
name. which enables even the stranger 10
determine that standing.
When a German Journeys from Cologne
| 10 Berlin. on arriving in the capital city
| he is compelled to furnish the agent Of
the police. the hotel clerk or lodging
house janitor with a statement, giving
his name, his home address and his
stand" That means not only his oc-
cupation. but also his social position.
AS in every other country, the women
| are more insistent than the men upon
nice distinctions in social relations
| Therefore the German woman claims as
her own the full title of her lord and
master, and must be accorded equal So
cial honors.
If she is the wife Of young officer she
must be addressed as Mrs. Lieut.. Leh-
| mann. If she is the wife of clerk In
| the post Office she will be addressed as
| Mrs Director Of Posts Schwartz.
But if her husband is the postmaster
she will be Mrs. Upper Director of Posts
L t,nN
| Schwartz in any capacity but that Of an
| inferior.
| But II must not be thought that these
social distinctions are confined to the
military and
Social Prominence civil serv-
in Commercial Affairs. SoSsr ~ mt
When Bismarck and his fellows decided
to make Germany an industrial state
| they recognized the alluring qualities of
the German system of titles, and there
fore titles were granted to men in trade.
A great merchant may become a royal
privy commercial councillor. That Is what
Mr.. Rockefeller or Mr.. Hill would be in
Germany.
This scheme has its obvious advantages.
since it admits successful financiers and
merchants to the sacred community OF
titled personages. Yet it does not give
them patents of nobility to take their
places among the hereditary princes of
the realm, as is done when the English
promte brewers who have been liberal
i'm campaign contributions not only 10 the
housecf lords, but into the ranks OF the
mobiles of the blood.
Thus it is that there is great festi-
val i'm a German city when Mr.. Royal
Privy Commercial Councillor Electrical
Appliance Factory Proprietor Schild-
streicher gives the hand of his daughter
in marriage to Mr.. Lieut.. Schmidt. he,
the much-betitled factory owner, has
reached the highest possible altitude OF
social distinction In industrial circles.
Naturally, he shares with his wife ana
daughter further social ambitions. There
fore he is willing, even anxious, to follow
the precedent of social leaders OF his
| land and pay the debts which the lieu
tenant has contracted in the years he has
| been living as an officer on the salary OF
a street sweeper: to place in a govern
ment bank to the lieutenant's credit the
| large sum which every officer must have
| in cash free OF incumbrance before he is
| permitted TO marry, and to add thereto
| fat dowry for his daughter. I'm order