New-York tribune., 1921-03-06
Germany Boasts
One Championship: p:
War Millionaires
New Rich, Who Converted
Profits Into Foreign Cash,
Gives Ball at Which Or.
chids Cost $62.5O Each

LONDON, Feb. 60 People of every
country declare that their own land is
cursed by the new rich. but the cham
pionship in war milionaires should 90
to Germany. writes a travelling CORE
spondent to The London Daily Mail.
The writer calls them "Schieber," and
they belong to a different CATEGORY
from their corresponding types in Eng
land and France
The "Schiebcr' looks upon those who
during the war made money enough TO
keep motor car and live in comfort
as kind of intermediate class be-
tween the "fools who were ruined by
the war" and the "geniuses' who
amassed fortunes far greater than is
realized outside of Germany.
-, And these fortunes are not in marks.
The wise "Schieber." as soon as he saw
how the wind was blowing, invested
his war fortune in South American
money, in Spanish pesetas, in d tch
guilders. in Swiss francs; in short,
IN anything but Central European Sc
curities The result is that his fortune
increased threefold or more solely
through the rise in the rate of ex-
change
"An old friend" says the co1re-
spondent, whom l met at the Hotel
Adlon. the center of the social activi-
ties of the 'Schieber' in Berlin, laughed
at my amazement at the display Of
jewelry and furs. This is nothing he
said. In few days time a "supcr-
Schieber' is giving a big ball ! will
get you an invitation and then YOU
will see something!'
Lackeys and HejeweIed Girls
THE invitation, plastered with Il
of 1I1lxr
10 o'clock on the evening appointed
entered the hall Of q splendid palace
not far from the Tiergarten, formerly
the abode of woman who for a long
time enjoyed the friendship Of mem
Der Of the late royal family.
"The balustrAde of the great marble
staircase was lost to sight in masses
of fresh roses. The magnificent rooms,
full of antiques, were lighted with
nothing but wax candles, while dozens
Of lackeys in powdered wigs, purple
plush and white stockings lent musi-
cal comedy air to the scene.
"Rut even more surpris 'ng than the
surroundings were the people. Heav-
lily bejewcled girls. stout Germans with
short, thick necks bulging at the back
with rolls of fat, Poles and Russians
in large numbers, Turks and Armeni-
ans. Scandinavians and Spaniards
each of them in his way q representa-
tive type of the national proiNeer-
mingled with members OF the German
aristocracy, whose presence is eX-
planned by the simple fact that the
only people who can afford 20 give q
big ball in Germany to-day arc the
new rich.
Orchids $62.5o a Bloom
Needless to say, on the supper tables
were to be found dishes unobtainable
at any price by any ordinary mortal in
modern Berlin, while the floral decora-
tions consisted of French orchids
priced in the Berlin florists at 250
marks ($62.50 nominal) bloom At
the cotillon, which is included IN the
program of every big dance in Ger
many, presents were distributed in the
shape of silver cigarette cases for the
men and gold vanity bags for the
women.
"The standard Of dancing and man
ners and the loud-voiccd conversation
were scarcely in keeping with the set
ting, but all seemed to be enjoying
themselves in the Teuton way. As my
friend and ! walked back to the hotel
after the ball he said: This function
cost not a penny less than zoe 600
marks $780, 900 nominaD.'"