New-York tribune., 1919-05-13

n ERL1N, April 2e.-Berlin now is on
u great wave of pleasure-taking, of un-
brided passion, of reckless crime.
Dancing halls are doing thriving business
and their owners are rolling in deprecated
wealth. Their customers spend money with
lavish hand Gambling houses Of all kinds
and degrees are in operation; some here on
the principal streets in the heart of the city;
manv more Of smaller kind In the fine
apartment houses of the western quarter of
the city. And the gambling goes on at
reckless pace. One hears Of this or that man
who has won his million or two within
few weeks.
Even in the poorer sections the gambling
wave runs high and visible. Yesterday the
newspapers were telling US how the police
had Cleaned out" the Schoenhaeuser Quarter,
in the poorer section Of Berlin. There was
situated the gambling centre of the working
man and the small tradesman-partly in the
houses and partly in the open streets. The
other day the quarter raided by the
military patrol and many Of the proprietors
Of gambling holes and street stands were
taken into custody. But many Of the so-called
clark elements" made their escape and al
ready have begun lively operations in an
other quarter.
All classes are appealing to the goddess
of chance to help them to wealth and luxury.
Elegantly clad ladies and others that are
only elegantly clad seen at the gaming
table, and they "play the game" with
coolness of hand and a recklessness as to
figures which bespeak long routine and a GER
+oi IND; +o +ho xxybi, of for
The atmosphere is fragrant with the odors
of smuggled Havanas, paid for at
marks apiece. The champagne glasses cink
to the tune Of so to 100 marks bottle.
Eat and drink, for tomorrow the tax COL
lector will come-that seems to be the motto.
Robbing the Gamblers
But even those revelling places of the
wealthy are not free from depredations-
legal and otherwise. Occasionally the police
come along, take down all names and send
everybody home At other times, usually in
the wee sma' hours, robbers in soldiers uni
forms are likely to call, armed with per-
suasive arguments like Brownings and hand
grenades. GAIL hands up!" is the cry-and
up they CO. The robbers relieve the aston
shed guests of their ready cash and jewelry,
empty the bank, and then are off, leaving
their victims to admire the boldness and dex-
terity of this post-bellum brigandage of
Greater Berlin. That is no fancy picture
it is taken from life--has occurred twice or
more in Berlin since my arrival here.
Hundreds and hundreds are the new gam
bling places, SO the reports run. They spring
up like mushrooms. Suppress them in one
place and they soon are in operation in an
other. The passion is there and can no more
be suppressed than a spouting geyser. It is
a part of the momentary psychology of the
German people. Writers who are disposed to
phlosophize and who know some history are
coming forward with their explanations of
the phenomenon--explanat that have
tragcal significance. Did not imperial Rome
abandon itself to the widest orgies when
paganism saw itself being steadily under
mined by Christianity? asks one writer. And
in the French Revolution, did not the
Girondists have a night Of mirth before
going to the guillotine? Were not the gay
Parisiaus drinking and making merry right
in the midst Of Terror? When the flames
Of Moscow were threatening the very exist
ence Of Napoleons army, did not his officers
throng in the theatre there to witness the
wild pirouetting of Paris dancers?
National Harakari
All Of which, being interpreted, means that
Germans are, or fancy that they are, irr
q mood of desperation, a daredevil mood,
where anything, where national hara-kiri
even is possible. Germany Is creaking at
every joint" says writer. cold estab-
lished things are breaking up. Out
side across the border turks, mighty and tri-
umphant, the foreign foe. Within our own
gates the internal enemy is plotting and
continues to infict incurable wounds upon
the sick body Of Germany. Civil war, hun
ger, impoverishment are eating away the
marrow from this body. The depths of our
national life are lashed into fury by destruc-
tive storms. But the surface glitters, smiles
and dances in thousand seductive colors.
Theatres, hotels, moving picture shows,
cafes all overflled, all resplendent with
color. Are our people dancing and laughing
on the way to their own death? A people