The New York herald., 1921-02-20
GERMAN NEW RICH
SET WORLD MARK
MEXTRAVAGANCE
War Millionaires Able to
Pay Big Penalties, Says
Berlin Writer.
GRAND BALL ATTENDED
Profiteers of Many Lands
Gather in Motley Array
With Aristocracy.

Special Gable to The New YoRK HEsALp.
Copyright, 1921. By TIE NEW YORK HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau.
London, Feb. 10.
That there are q great many per-
sons In Germany we'll able to pay
heavy war penalties is the conclusion
arrived at by a correspondent for the
London Daily Mdil, who, after mixing
bit In the newly rich" set, writes
from Berlin as follows:
"The citizen of every country Is fond
of declaring that his own land Is the
one most afflicted by the plague or the
new rich But / really believe that
Germany can claim the first place as
far as war millionaires are concerned.
"She calls them 'Schieber.' and tney
belong to a different category from their
corresponding types In England anu
France. Tho 'Schieber.' looks upon
those who during the war made enousi'
money to keep a motor car and I'VE IN
comfort as a kind of intermediate class
between the fools who were ruined py
the war and the 'geniuses' who amassed
fortunes far greater than Is realized out
side of Germany.
"And these fortunes are not In marhs'
The wise 'Schieber, as soon as ne saw
how the wind was blowing. invested ms
war fortune in South American money
IN Spa nist pesetas, in Dutch guilders, in
suies francs-in short, In anything but
central European securities. The result
Il that his fortune increased threefold
~. more solely through the rise In the
rate Of exchange.
IAN old friend OF mine whom met
at the Hotel Adlon here, the centre OF
the social activities of the 'Schieoer'
laughed at my amazement at the dis-
NAV Of tewelry and furs. This Is notn-
ing, he said. In a few days time q
super "SchIeber' Is giving big ball. !
will get you an invitation and then you
will see something"
"The invitation, plastered with huge
coat OF arms. arrived and at 10 O'Clock
an the evening appointed l entered the
hall ~ a splendid palace not far from
the Tiergarten, formerly the abode 81 q
woman who for long time enjoyed the
friendship OF member of the royai
family. The balustrade OF the great
marble staircase was lost to sight IN
masses OF fresh roses. The magniticcht
rooms, full OF antiques, were ilghted
with nothing but wax candles, WINE
dozens OF lackeys In powdered WIGS pur-
ple plush and white stockings. lent a
musical comedy air to the scene
But even more surprising than INC
surroundings were the people. HeaNily
beiewelled girls stout Germans WITH
short. thick necks bulging at the back
with rolls of fat, Poles and RUSSIANS ~
large numbers, Turks and Armenlans,
scandinavians and Spaniards-each OF
them in his way a representative type
of the national profteer-mingled with
members of the German aristocracy
whose presence is explained by the SIM
ple fact that the only people who can
afford to give big ball in Germany To-
day are the new rich.
"Needless TO say. on the supper tanles
were to be found dishes unobtainaole al
any price by an ordinary mortal In Ser
lin to-day, while the floral decorations
consisted of French orchids priced IN
tho Berlin florists at $50 marks taoout
$50 noninaD a bloom. At the cotliIoh:
which IL included in the programme ol
every big dance In Germany. presents
we're distributed I'm the shape OF sllNe,
cigarette cases for tho men ana eoiu
vanity boxes for the women.
''Thc standard OF dancing ana man man
ners and the loud voiced conversation
were scarcely in keeping with the set
ting"