The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1919-12-19
GERMANY REAP|NG
THE WH|RLW|ND
CARL D. GRoAT.

DeIiH I'D! hiditJ -bciHidIy l.
reapins the whirlwind.
Rearing /, in. shattered morale ant
deadered morals.
A once strong, industrious nation, i
has slumped through war to lant
that oro scarcely recognizes as tbs
near w0r!dnlaster Of the early days
CT struggle
This degeneration is pictured tell
ingly by Erhard Brei;ner, CORES
Dondent OF the Neue Berliner, in the
following story.
'1914-It is the carefree early sum
mer, the last of the olden time. In
fatuatingly beautiful June days. The
city is flooded with brightness and
spleador Life foams over. In the mild
evening, the autos hum over the
krrfurstemdamn in an uninterrupted
chain tward the L!chterpark. Foolish
~ happy confusion, music choirs.
Nance pavilions. theatres, champagne.
palaces, laughter love making in
hidden garden paths. Who thinks OF
care? One thinks. what generation of
Germans Is this? Are they really the
descendants of the men of 1870? In
pleasure seeking enervated spoiled
cosmopolitan with comfort; thoroughly
eynicalT-so are they All. Thank God
that there will be no more war. The
others remain silent for 10 one knows
what reply to make.
.1917-Berlin is half dead. Through
the streets creep human beings too
hired TO complain. Sorrow and need
Cypress them, scarcely any hope now
CLEANS on the horizon. Turnips and
sCggy bread are their food The ovens
have no heat Clothing and shoes are
unobtainable. One drags himself about
/ the day in and the day out, week in
and week out, month in and month
out. But they do it with supernatural
patience, with teeth set. Are they the
same? Have the years changed them?
Purified through sarcrifice, they have
cleaner hearts. Blood and belongings
lost, but they have come out of the
mire of the past. Not in vain do they
die out yonder.
"l919-Thrcugh the entire city
there is = sewer odor. Existence vib-
rat - geen the dance bar and the
gam ING club. Bank notes fly; one
drinks bcc champagne. and carouses al
fabuiCs s..ces. Obscene films flicker
before an oyerfiiled parterre. Full
pocketboCh5-nobody asks after the
future. One doesn't need to know.
Card winnings; business on the edge
of the law: smugglers tricks. Beggars
with the black white-red ribbons in
their buttonholes make music at the
street corners Murder, burglary,
housebreaking every day and without
number. Smouldering ferment below
hate and anxiety above, lurking mis-
trust everywhere. Yesterday is for
got Nobody cares what comes to-
morrow. The Flood? Perhaps. Only
the moment, counts. Are We still
brothers as before? Now each is near
! est himself. So 1t Is this suItry stirn-
mer, the first of the new era.
"Finis-The Copenhagen society 70.
study of the social results Of the war
has just published its report on Ger
many. A volume full of figures. About
100000 have been lost, 100000 in
the field; 100000 through increased
mortality; 100000 through decline
on the birth rate. There are 2.700.000
more women than men in Germany
the final reckoning of our misery. II
we could unite the dead. they would
make a city of graves through which
one could not wander in many days
| ''For what we have died? Shot, torn
by grenades, frozen. starved, perishins
in torture Why? What is the thanks
of the living? If the spectral army oi
the dead could turn home again and
ask "why- have we died., who would
dare to answere?
Those who have taken upon them
selves the responsibility" for the wal
follow the hunt. play tennis, sit in
villas and castles. write recollections
/ What is that-the responsibility?
/ Nothing-a phrase behind which as
| behind an impenetrable shield misuse
of power hides itself This sham has
lotlived the death of masses it is
, hereditary and no one brushes it."