New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-11-19
brsost bones. he'll Under the skull

breast bones. he'll Under the shut
bones. 49,,
There is no chatter, no laughter. Inc
faces are lined with sadness. keep
among the women, there is no you,n
All are shrunken, listless, distraught
Coffee "ersatz" Coffee mixed with
substitute) and tea "ersstz" are beng
served. There is no milk and no sugar
The few cakes are made Of an unknown
substance. try one, but cannot swai'
low il. Only the music Is cheerful
There is n revival of band playing ~
Germany. Il is needed to hide the iach
Of laughter and talk.
Mind and Body Starve
There are but two topics OF CONVEX,
sation-war and food shortage Ihs'
is the whole of life. There Is little
business. no trade, no reforms, nc
scientific discoveries, no creative wors
to discuss. Life has become mere ex,
istence, a prison existence. MIND ano
bodies are shrinking from shortage
Of intellectual and physical nourish'
ment. a,
This first day in Germany is the
worst. Fresh from war-free countries
the impression Is vivid. After a little
| become adjusted. All who live IT
Germany get adjusted. Ths changes
have come gradually. One month sugar
stops. When this is an old story, Their
one must learn TO do without milk
Herr Smyth fails one week and herr
Bauer weeks later. This slow decline
blinds Germany to what Is reaily oc'
curing. But the total, seen by
s.ron0or IA onnallinQ
Across the street from the cafe is
little circular space with benches. On
a bench is seated tragic, well dressed
mother in deep mourning. Her chiIo
plays beside her innocently, happy. lie
climbs I'D and down and finally knocks
paper bag from the bench. A roll
tumbles into the dust and rolls under
the bench. covering itself with dirt
The mother picks it up, carefully
brushes it. gives it to the child, VINO
eats eagerly. Everywhere are similar
pathetic incidents.
Go to City's Best Hotel
Ny spirits sink lower and lower
look here" | say firmly to my com
panion. "I've got to have square
meal. We are going to the best ant
most expensive hotel in town"
That evening we dine at the Atlantic
and have meal that is satisfying. BS
skilful use of wine, salt and some
stray scraps Of fat the table d'hot'
dinner is equal to that of second rate
American hotel. The slice of mea'
served is no bigger than my hand
brown and juiceless, but the soup, lsh
vegetables and dessert would pass mus
ter anywhere.
II seems cruel to eat Of Germany
best, but I decided to live hencefortf
at the most expensive hotels.
That night a picture flashes before
me. It IL the vision of big unoccu'
pied building. In large black letters
upon its front is the inscription, Eng
glsh Reform Church" and in its gap,
ing windows are plastered printed
signs reading. gu zermieten" Ito remit
No wonder Gods buildings are to rent
God, the spirit of love, must have diff
fculty finding any place to rest these
days.
Starts for Berlin
Next morning my companion and
separate. She starts for SwitzerlanC
and for Berlin. Ny inability to SPEAK
German is disconcerting. manage &c
get on the train, but in the dining cal
i am helpless. | content myself with
tea. bread and cheese, the only words
| know.
In the compartment with me are ar
attractive young woman and her nus
band. They offer me magazines and
papers. | summon up courage TO say
'Ich kahn ncht Deutsch sprechen," and
show them my credentials. The young
woman is Immediately interested. She
speaks to me in excellent English.
In May, 1915, | spent ten days IN
Berlin. Then English could not be
spoken with comfort. Flushed faces
and angry looks were the result. To-
day English is tolerated. Occasionally
eyes follow me questioningly; the Of
fetal class resent it, but the people
are always friendly.
A year ago there was bitter hatred
of America. American bullets were
flung in ones face everywhere. To
day the average person is pathetically
eager TO be friends. Slowly the people
are awakening. For months the news
papers have fed them on the triumph'
of Germany and the perfdy of othel
nations. But these stories of glorious
German victories have resulted II
what? A lean and barren country, un
dernourishment, death, the hatred o
other nations. The people begin t
doubt their leaders.
Deceived by Militarists
To call these people "barbarians" /
an outrage. They are, like ourselves
lust folks, kindly and generous, de
ceived and browbeaten by a ruthles
military group.
The Young woman in the railway car
riage belongs to the well-to-do bour
geoisie. She is eager to talk. why,
She asks, "does the world think we'r
beaten when We have soldiers IN bel
oiun and France" So often this ques
ton is asked. Boosting no longer ex
/ lists. Instead comes the plalntiv
query: "Why are we beaten and VIII
must we suffer-"
We gaze out of the window as tn