Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-09-17
THE TRUTH ABOUT GERMANY
[Continued from First Page.l

Chocolates were not to be gotten al
any price. Chewing gum of course
was not heard of in Germany. Ice
cream Is an American dish and could
not be mentioned. There is no pie.
We paid 90 cents pound for peas
and from Is cents to 50 cents each for
eggs. Each person is allowed three
eggs a month.
1t is almost impossible to get beans
l did not Jest when I said 1 was
hungry for the contents of our gar
bage can at home. I knew, at the
very time that I was going hungry
there was enough left over from
than feed me. 1 have learned a les
son against waste. I could not throw
away a crust of bread now. I would
stop to think of how I wanted 1t when
I did not have 1t. Had 1 not had a
generous supply of money with me,
an extra egg and portion of butter
have l managed to get by paying for
1t what would have bought 20 times
AZ much in the United States.
LOYAL THOUGH HUNGRY.
You can see the hunger in the faces
of the people on the streets. They
are gaunt and haggard Beggars
who come to your door beg for a bit
of bread. They do not dream of ask
ing for money. Children watch you
wistfully when you are carrying
homo your portion.
It is heartbreakinE to see the
hungry little faces and eyes. Old men
nnd women, too feeble to work, too
feeble to stand in line for hours for
totter along the streets, fairly faint
ing In their tracks. The suffering be-
cause of hunger is heartrending.
Yet. through 1t all, though they
murmur against the kaiser, though
they speak wishfully for the days
when peace shall cosne, though they
speak regretfully of the days when
plenty lay upon their land like a
blanket of comfort and protection,
yet the German people are united in
their loyalty to The Fatherland.
Not only food is restricted and high
in price, but clothes are, as we'll.
When 1 was leaving Berlin I wanted
new suit. as 1 had only one. went
to the ONCE where 1 had to get a per-
nit to buy every article of clothing l
needed and asked for permission to
buy new suit. The woman in
charge asked me how long 1 had had
the one I was wearing. I told her.
1T looks good yet" she said, land
you can do with It,"
But I am leaving Berlin" I told
her, and l want a suit to travel in
VIII you take oath that this is the
only suit you have?" she asked. i
said yes. and then she gave me the
permit.
When I bought the suit paid 500
marks, over $100 for it-that is what
# would amount to in our money,
and, here in Pittsburg. I could have
bought 1t for S25 or less.
Blouses which cost SIS there could
be bought here for 50. A hat which
1 paid SIS for could be gotten here
for IS.
was treated no differently than
the German women in the matter of
permission to buy clothes.
PAPER VERY SCARCE.
I was allowed two pairs of shoes a
year. three pairs OF stockings; two
nighgowns. three suits of underwear
and a limited number of handker-
chiefs and gloves. 1 paid $40 for a
pair OF shoes once. and they were not
in style at that. l had to furnish my
own bed linen and towels in the
boarding houses where 1 stopped for
a short time. And 1 had to wash
them-and that sometimes without
either hot water or soap.
II a woman wants q white linen
skirt she must get special permission
to buy IT. And under no conditions
Copyright. 1917. by Pittsburgh Press