The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-08-05
WAR SCARE Due
TO SUMMER HEAT.
NO SERIOUS THOUGHT ABOUT IT
HAD WEATHER BEEN LESS
TRYING.
BERLIN is OVER-BUILT
DRESS REFORM SOCIETY DIRECTS
IT'S ATTENTION TO RELIEF
OF MAN--CROwN PRINCE
ISSUES BOOK.
BERLIN is OVER-BUILT
BY STEVEN BURNETT.

BY STEVEN BURNETT.
BERLIN, Aug. Am old German
diplomat. now retired from active ser
vice and close friend OF Herr Won
k1dderlen- Waechter, with wnom have
| Just had a long talk, assures me that
at no time was there any reason why
the statesmen Of Europe. sweltering
under the heat Of an unusual summer,
! should have added TO their distress by
imagining that the dispatch of Ger
! man warship to Morocco even meant
/ an attempt to break the peace or the
world The idea. that the German Min
lister OF Foreign Affairs, he said should
/ be such a fool as to believe that Great
| Britain would ever permit the rounda-
! ton of a German Mauretania" on the
Atlantic coast of Morocco, rs so prepos-
ferrous, that nobody would have given
/ IL moments consideration had the
summerheat been less trying.
Germany has no wish to found. at
least at present, a great Colonial en-
pire which would tie down great
part of her newly created navy What
she does want Is certain quantity
of foreign territory in various part OF
| the world, which she car, acquire in a
peaceaDle manner, and which will
make 1t possible to make the growing
industry OF the country Independent
OF foreign raw materials.
We have promising cotton indus
try, but at present we are dependen.
on the American market, and this is
why we invest millions or marks In
promoting cotton growing in our Afri-
can colonies until We are in a posi-
ton to do without the American pro-
duct. We need iron ore and coal In
enormous quantities which We hope
TO get in China, probably by leasing
Chinese territory rather tnan invading
1t. and we want rubber, millions of
tons of rubber. and this We must get
from Africa
We get considerable rubber from
CAMERON now. but Just north OF our
boundary line in French Congo. there
is strip Of land which abounds in
rubber II this strip were ceded to
Germany by France we would gladly
permit France to swallow as much OF
Morocco. as she thinks she can man
axe, and should be very much mis-
taken II France win not find a way
10 come TO an amciable settlement of
TINS kind, which would be equally
profitable to both countries and which
no power could object no
Berlin 10 Over Built.
In its desire to overshadow any
other city in Europe In rapid cBayelon-
ment the city of Berlin has greatly
oVerreaehed itself and housewares
ana Spectators who a year or two
ago cohIo not put up buildings fast
enough are now bitterly com planning
because they nave to pay taxes on
their new built houses while they find
1t impossible to tenant them.
mere are at present more than
eo'ooo mats standing empty in Berlin
ana It's suburbs. according to an Off
Far 4tta
2s,ss1 are in Berlin itself and over
$1,000 OF them consist of two rooYnr
and Kitchen intended for working
mems families The workingmen
however. are more and more adopt
ing the American system of building
small houses for themselves outside
the city limits and are ENCOURAGED
TO this by building societies. railroads
and trolley companies alike. If the
movement continues to grow in q few
years all the "Hinterhauses" that IS
to say tenements In rear OF the pan
tial buildings that line the main
streets of the city. and which are all
visitors ever see. will be empty and
the well to do people will have to
pay enormous rents to make up for
the loss on the empty houses in their
backyards.
Relief In Mems Dress.
A Mems Dress Reform Society
has been founded in Berlin. with the
object Of Bringing masculine attire
to a higher hygienit standard
The society protests agains the
alright armor plating Of the starch
ed shirtfront. the cast-iron rule of
black frock-c coats for weddings and
funerals alike and the general sys-
tenn of dress which involves the wear
ing OF many tighuitting garments.
each overlapping the other.
The society is greatly In favor OF
kneebreeches for everyday wear, in
place of conventional trousers which
its members declare. require great
skill in cutting and are a source of
considerable trouble to the wearer
Stiff collars and cuffs are also ia
booed.
The society recognizes, however,
that the fight is going to be a hard
one. particularly as the leaders Of
fashion--high officials, society men, |
and others--are creatures Of conven-
ton. and will not of their own ac-
cord go outside the beaten track. |
The first propaganda will. there /
fore. be made among men of inde-
pendent standing-for instance, writ |
ers. artists. PHYSICIANS and sports
men. These circles will be carried |
along by force of development, and |
will thus make the reform style OF
dress socially possible.
Crown Prince Issues Book.
Memories of My Journey to In
dia.---Wiiliam. Crown Prince" is the +
title OF an album OF photographs just |
published in Berlin depicting various
scenes from the recent Eastern tour
of the German crown prince.
The volume OF ~ photographs is (
printed and arranged, and +
bears it's title on the outer cover In
fac smile of the princes handwriting +
Every one OF the ~ photographs,
with the exception. OF course, OF those
on which he himself Ia shown, was !
taken personally by the royal trav-
sler. and In his compilation of the
work the prince has taken the great
est care and trouble.