The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1921-09-30
Mt. Vernon Boy Writes OF
Conditions After The
Great War
TELLS OF CONDITIONS
OF THE RESIDENTS
Finds Germany Rapidly Re-
covering From The War
And People Happy
Berlin, Germany, Sept. II, 1921,

Editor of The Daily Banner,
Dear Sir-No doubt you may be in
terested to hear bit about the coun-
try which seems to have been the cen.
ter of so much concern since 1914.
Coming from Austria, Germany ap,
pears, comparatively, to be in per-
feet condition.. There is prosperi.
ty, cleanliness and business and
hustle and action in all German cities.
Munich's streets may be a bit less
clean than when saw them ten years
ago. But only bit. The people you
see in streets look prosperous, are
i2e just where this war business H..
I've looked rup and down every alley
for that economic breakdown" you
used to hear about, but haven't seen
sign of 1t yet. Certainly / speak
from mere appearances, for this coun-
try staggers under a terrific debt, she
ket But on the surface | say, she Is
the most modern, prosperous and
above all-busy nation I've yet visit
ed in Europe.
In the south German cities one sees
scarcely a sign of the wars ravages.
Not cripple on the streets, not a
begging ex-soldier. One must con-
stantly remind oneself that there real
ly was war, as he walks through the
streets of Munich. This city is q well
nigh perfect modern dwelling place
Its streets are broad and straight, its
parks are everywhere, It's art gallery
contains what seems to me the finest
universal collection have YET seen in
Europe, and it's two great museums
are the equal OF any on the continent.
In the museums. galleries, on the
trains, In the hotels, you encounter
terrible crowds everywhere in Ger.
many. 1t seems to me that practical.
ly all or these people are Germans
Hotel accommodations are well nigh
impossible and we spent two hours the
other night in Dresden driving from
one hotel to another to get rooms.
With vision of hard seat in rail-
road station in my head finally my
alleged German" succeeded in pro.
curing one little room so far out we
were curious to know whether we
were still In Germany or not. One
wonders II the whole world isn't on
his train when il pulls into a German
town. This is the only country I've
yet visited where the natives them
selves are prosperous enough to trav.
el in any large numbers and nowhere
else have / found them patronizing
the great hotels.
But for the bulk of the German peo
pie living Is very hard matter. The
mark, once worth over twenty-five
cents In our money, Is now but a cent
and fourth. Bread and meat are
very dear and fuel is at premium
The less expensive 1t IL to live here
with American money. just so mucl
more difficult Is 1t for the people. MY
room In Dresden cost me eighteel
and one half cents q night. meal II
the finest cafe can be had for forty
five cents and you can buy an excel
lent suit of clothes here for nfteel
dollars. These ridiculously low price,
here mean high prices for the natives
We spent several days In two dc
lightful and picturesque mediaeva
German towns. In Numberg You fin,
city with perfectly preserved tow
walls and gates and towers And her
Is n collection of the most remarkable
house roofs you ever saw. They e,
every which way. the house window
are In the roofs and the whole bus
ness just rambles and turns an
climbs as though II had all fallen tc
gether. Numberg IS full of little sar
sage houses, whore the food just melt