Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-02-08
DIFFICULTIES Experienced.

The difficulty the German meets in
clothing himself was brought home to
me. because 1 was forced to buy three
articles during my stay in Berlin.
needed collars, a hat and pair of
carriers. The collars, made of cotton,
but well cut, cost me one dollar and
a quarter each. A fuzzy hat-velour
is the trade name-came to Ga marks,
or SIC at the nominal rate of ex-
change. But it was when I bought
the garters that got the real shock.
These garters have real rubber in
them" was told by the clerk. They
are worth 20 marks. Here is gar
ter made with ersatz rubber. which
We do not recommend. They are
worth IS marks"
At the nominal rate for a mark,
then, a pair of ordinary fifty-cent
garters cost IS, and pair that might
be worth a dime at home. except that
II is doubtful IL such things are on
the market in America at all, sold for
81. A really first rate wooden suit
cost 500 marks in the ready-made
stores. At the nominal rate this would
be 5000. The suit might sell for $50
to $40 at home. An overcoat sells over
the counter at from 1000 to 1,400
marks. Most of the poorer Germans
wear cotton clothes which at first
sight look very much like wool. but
are jast as good when compared with
wool as cotton always Is. They sell
for 200 to 300 marks. when a clothes
card Is presented. Paper pants are
worth "a marks and paper suit
about so marks.
Two Suits the Limit.
No one Is permitted to own more
than two suits of clothes. Not many
Germans have voluntarily surrendered
this excess. but anything more than
two suits is subject to conffscation.
IL
great many old suits were turned
over to the government, for the SOL
diers were promised so marks each
and suit Of clothes when they left
the army. AS a rule they held on to
their uniforms, which were made of
strong stun, rather than accept the
second and-third- handed suits offered
them. Now and then. of course, a
soldier with luck or influence got a
good suit.
why did you give up suit this
morning?" asked a revolutionary
turned in a well worn outfit He was
well to do man who wore good
clothes.
81 had to do 1t to save my face"
said he. Every one knew 1 had more
than one suit. It would not look well
for man in my position to be caught
Withholding my extra clothes from
the soldiers"
Far worse than the clothes situa-
ton is that of footwear. There are
no new shoes for sale in Germany
that are made of real leather, SO far
as I could discover. The shelves of
the cobblers' shops are packed with
unmendable old shoes. The owners
demand that they be mended even so,
Footwear Situation.
There H. no leather to mend thern
with. and the substitute leather fur
nished by the state is soft compound
made of leather scraps and old rub
Der and some other odds and ends
that do not wear at all. Nor can the
German take in a pair of shoes to be
mended in an informal sort of way.
He must get a card for IL and satisfy
| a state official that his shoes really
need mendfng. No one may have more
| than one pair of shoes mended in a
single month
Children very largely wear shoes
made with wooden soles and paper
| uppers. These cost 1s marks and
asst very well while the weather is
dry. Three days Of rain destroy them,
However I was shown shoes of this;
| sort which had been worn not more
| than three days-the state of the
| wooden sole proved their age-but
| which had literally fallen to pieces
| because of the wet condition. / saw
barefooted. although ice formed regu-
| larry every night in the roadside
puddles. The Germans endure their
| old clothes with philosophic resgna-
| ton. Every one wears old clothes
and to be discovered in a new suit
would almost expose the fortunate
| wearer to criticism. But they com
1 I'll ~