Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1915-09-22

witch, writes from Berlin to The Bull
| letin as follows:
In these turbulent times, the readers
| of The Bulletin and The Courier, who
include many Of my personal friends,
| Will no doubt be interested in receiv-
ring direct news from Berlin. the OBJ
| jective town of the allies, from for
| mer Norwich resident and N. r. A
graduate and perhaps in learning the
| opinion of an American on this terrible
war. who by personal observation is
thoroughly familiar with European
conditions. For 25 years-since 1890
have lived and travelled in Europe,
spending the greater part Of the time
in Germany. During all these years
have been a constant reader of The
Norwich Courier (Which Is of course
The Bulletin in condensed rorm) in or
der to keep in touch with my former
home. for Norwich and my Alma Mater
\ are very dear to my heart.
In the issue of The Courier of June
| 22d read with great interest Poultney
Bigelow's speech, Education in Berlin
| and Norwich. delivered at the meeting
| of the Alumni association at Slater
| hall. While 1 heartily ascribe to ev-
'erything that Mr.. Bigelow says about
the Norwich Free Academy. 1 most
emphatically take exception to his re-
marks on Germany in general and
Prussia in particular. Let US take a
few of Mr.. Bigelow's statements point
by point and look at them in the light
\ of facts.
Hospitals in Germany.
Mr.. Bigelow says: In our country
1t is the people who organize and con-
duct hospitals, libraries and build mon
| uments and such other public works,
| but in Prussia, If you ask what the
people have done they look at you in
/ amazement" First OF ALL in Germany
the care of the sick is not left to pri-
4 vate charity, as it is in England, and
largely also in America, but 1t is in the
hands of the government, |. e., 1t is
1 organized and efficient in a high de-
1 gree. Indirectly these wonderfully
| equipped hospitals are the work of the
people, for not only does the public at
| large support them through taxation
| but they grant the appropriations
| through their representatives in the
reichstag.
Public Libraries.
As to libraries, every American on
visiting Germany has been amazed at
| the large number of libraries and their
magnificent equipment. Towns even
of 5000 inhabitants have got libraries
for the people, not to mention the mag
niicent school libraries all over the
country. Every village, no matter
| how small. has its school library, to
which all of the inhabitants have free
access. Is a government to be con-
| demned for founding such institutions
And, surely. the great public patronage
shows how they are appreciated
Other Educational Factors.
Now as to other educational institu-
| tons. Why is Germany the only coun-
try in the world where iliteracy is I'M
| known? Compulsory education is the
| greatest blessing that has ever been
conferred on a country. What q con-
| trast is found in Russia, where 70 per
| cent. of the population cannot read OF
| write. Or in France and Belgium,
| with their 30 per cent. of illiteracy
And even in England there are II per
cent. Why have the German universi-
/ ties been so largely attended for years
| by Americans, English, Russians, Ar
menians, Serbians and Japanese? Be-
| cause all of these great institutions OF
learning are under government control
and that in this country is SYNONYMOUS
with the highest degree of efficiency.
Why did Mr.. Bigelow not mention
other education factors like the thea
tres, opera houses, the great Symphony
orchestras and the Conservatives OF
music? Does the fact that they are
run by the state or the municipal gov
errment in any way lessen their ef-
fectiveness? Andrew D. White, oul
former ambassador to Berlin. in his
articles on Germany. which appeared
in the Century magazine a few years
ago. expressed views on this subject
diametrically opposed to those of Mr.
Bigelow. Among other things he
pointed out that the German stage was
far above that of any other country
on the globe, and that it was an edu-
cational force of the greatest impor-
lance, and that Americans could learr
a great lesson from 1t. My first foul
years in Germany were spent in Wei
mar. a city of 10000 inhabitants, oil
about the size of Norwich. There fol
the first time saw produced all of the
great dramas of Shakespeare, as wei
as those of Goethe, Schiller, and all Of
the worlds leading dramatists. WoulC
that our government. state and MUM
cipal. make such conditions possible
for they are not possible through pri.
vate enterprise
What the People Are Doing.
eff you ask what the people have
DONE" says Mr.. Bigelow, they look a.
you in amazement." This is a positiv,
untruth. Let me quote one instance;
| Here in Berlin is an association known
as the New Free Stage for the PEG.
ple'.' This is one of the most remark.
able educational movements of tn,
world. Here the lower middle classes
and even the working classes hav,
solely of their own initiative withou
any government Or municipal supper
. whatever, built one OF the finest thea
tres in Berlin, costing four and a hal
million marks lover one million dol
lars). and here are given nightly per
formances of the worlds best dramas
also concerts and operas. Every nigh
! 1920 people, who fill the auditorium
!, are recruited entirely from the lowe
and middle classes. The actors ant
singers engaged are the best that Der
lin affords. and the performances ar,
in every way first class. The prices o
, admission are very low, ranging from
. Is cents to so cents.
, There are also many private schools
: of learning in Germany but the stand
ard of the government schools Is s,
high that 1t is difficult for the privat
: schools to compete. In making an as
certion like the above Mr.. Bigelow hal
. simply demonstrated that he is no
: well informed Facts alone have value
|, Germany Versus England az a Col
onizer.
I have never met anyone familia
with the German and English colonia
7 conditions who could subscribe to wha
Mr.. Bigelow says on this subject. o.
: the contrary, I have always heard tina
. Kiautchou was a model colony. I hav
just read a brochure entitled England
! Loyalty in India, published in Englisl
by the Indian national party, in whicl
the deep-set hatred OF the natives 70
! the British oppression is forcibly ex
: pressed. 1 will quote few short sen