Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-08-24

II my dear, beautiful Berlin. Time
somewhat over a year ago. You VINO
know Berlin. know Its charm. It's sum
mer skies. its soft breezes Ali what
city. I think OF the gay crowds that
strolled through the Tiergarten at night
when all the gay world loved and still
lived. Strains of soft sensuous music
could be heard on all sides-and gratis.
That is the land where there is music
for the soul and the senses always.
The gay Friedrich strasse. crowded and
alluring. The captivating, soft-voiced,
modern Berlin houris that fitted by, sug-
gestive OF pleasure and peace. The bands
OF rollicking, care-free students, linked
arm in arm, singing their way joyfully
through the streets. Happy? To won
derful degree. Young. light-hearted, each
improvising TO his Gretal
Every cafe crowded with the sons OF
earth. Everybody in harmony. At the
American bars the Englishman slipped his
drinks In ncighborly fashion with his
lightly for, and quarreled genially with,
the German Interpretation OF a cocktail.
No, they cannot make them over there.
Cafe Bauer blazed with lights and laugh
ter. Not n table to be hadl The strains
OF Straus waltz ioated dreamily over
thereof
At giddy Cafe Kerfau, Just up the
Friedrich strasse and near the famous
Palais de Danse, q weird and wonderful
cabaret show was ever in full swing. The
wlld-eyed Mr.. Mashugger performed to
capacity audiences nightly. over In what
is known as Old Berlin, the Alte Ball
Haus drew Its fairy throng. There was
ever exquisite dancing to be seen there.
hall Nafoo xtriNh
Its marches and 'Madels." its soldiers
and "herren."
For those who desired really fine music
of more serious turn, there was always
the orchestra up at the Zoologischer
Garten, in Charlottenburg, so dear to all
hearts. Fifty pfennigs was the modest
price of admission, and here in the cool
and restful park one slipped ones foam
ing. golden beer and reveled in happi-
ness. Girls and women walked and
strclled about the grounds, red-lipped and
provocative. The lirtations we're en-
trancing to the casual observer. Who
could resist the call7 Who would not
wish to pursue or be pursued2 Now the
orchestra sobs out a sensuous waltz-now
popular melody; it catches fire, little
boys are gleefully whistling 1t.
Just outside the gardens an impertinent
little cafe sets the classical at defiance
Nacht." 1t is distracting.
The .blue-b black and starry heavens at
nightS hung lovingly over q great Berlin.
ablaze with the mystery of the moon. 1t
was the month of May.
Then came the change. Humanity sat
waiting. expecting! War was declared.
Then 1t was that the nation became ad-
amant. Girls grew into women over
night. Boys became men, resolute, re-
sponsible young creatures, eager to do
all In their power for their Vaterland.
Men and women went about with stern
faces and little children wept at the
sudden, gloomy change that had come
into their once happy lives. Every man
knew what was demanded of him by his
country and Kaiser.
The wall of a newborn baby smote
heavy on the heart and ear of many a
father who was torn away at the time
when his loved ones needed him most
The first excitement was terrific. The
people became one to stand or fall to-
gether to the end of time. Every one
was ready to help his neighbor-his kam-
eradel
The streets took on a different aspect.
They were as crowded as ever, but now,
in the place of coquettes and cavaliers
were bands of gentle-eyed Red Cross |
nurses and stern-faced soldiers. wild !
prevailed. Motors dashed by |
carrying handsome young Off |
GERS. Often the Crown Prince and his |
wife whizzed by In their automobile, to |
the delight of the crowds. Then came the |
day of the Kaiser's stern speech, when |
thousands offered their lives-their all.
A rough workman recklessly scaled the |
dizzy height within the Kaiser's balcony |
and grasped the hand of his ruler. II |
was the signal! Klein Partei Mehr1 |
aud
people went mad and wept for joy. So |
cialism died that da yin Germany-tem- |
porarIly.
After the first few weeks things he |
gan TO settle into the old routine again
The cafes were still full every evening |
with enthusiastic crowds discussing the
bulletins. the harvest, the enemy. Pa |
trlotlc music and songs were the order
of the day. Ahl what patriotism. what |
fire-what love OF their brave men was
In the hearts OF all who were left be- |
hlndl Cafe Bauer. once the meeting
place or the men of every nation. was |
now the centre of the activities Of the
hed Cross i, as we'll as hundreds NJ
other women. made the rounds of its
tables and those OF every other cafe. res
and street cars, with our LITTLE
tin pals, collecting the money that was
aIways 30 readily given. 1t was rare for
Cafe Kerkan, once famed for its ax
travagant nonsense and cabaret dra,y
greater crowds than ever before with &c
patriotic evenings" The songs of tbs
country we're sung nightly 20 the strains
OF military band. All Joined IN 7,
was a program TO arouse the peonla 10
still greater pitch of enthusiasm In
one corner of the great room a raissd
platform had been erected. Here. hieh
ABOVE the heads OF the people. had haen
placed bust OF the Kaiser. Every even
ing when die Wacht am Rhine'' me-.
sung the people rose In a body; all Ii9hts
were turned out. and then over IN ,hs
corner the little platform was sufrusaS
with merry glow thrown up from a gIsss
ransom placed under the bust OF ths
haiser' BY degrees the glow ehangaS
10 a brilliant red glare. on each s,da 80
me Kaiser's head tall candles were ~
me eneet was theatrical and most inn
pressNe. II brought In voluntaers a.,
.he hundreds and delighted the nuhitc
AZ the END OF the song the red ughts
aied out once more and again the mar.
pie Kaiser smiled benignly on his me-
PIE Every one worked indefatieablv An
was zone to alleviate the sufrerins 80
me poor and their families, thoss Iast
"ithout Fathers ana husbands.
Large kitchens were thrown Oman ana
!. IN IN W charitable women. who person