Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1922-09-28
SAYS GERMANY
IS BANKRUPT
Samson Stern Tells of De-
plerable Conditions in
That Country
BELGIUM IN
BETTER SHAPE

Samson Stern. proprietor OF the
Mems Furnishing Store. at Az Mar
ket street. who with his family spent
the past eight weeks in Europe.
much Of the time travelling through
the war zone. said in an Interview
today that he noted great contrasts
in living conditions In these various
areas In Belgium. he said. the de-
vastated area had taken on new life.
The large business centers. which
were destroyed by the armies OF Ger
many have been rebuilt; the farms
throughout this beautiful country.
which were deserted during the war
have been rehabiltated. and not a
semolance OF the horrors OF war
through which the Inhabitants pass
ed IS noticed. MIR. Stern said.
In contrast he says the greater
part OF Germany while not showing
devastated areas. as compared with !
some parts OF France. the business
conditions there were deplorable, |
and business men. railroad officials /
and others say they much preferred /
the old form Of government TO that |
which now prevails.
on landing at Bremen on July Is,
Mr. Stern said. he experienced his
first taste OF the results OF the great
war He said. the train service
was Incapable Of taking care OF pas
senger trafific. and he and his fam
fly were forced to remain standing
from - o'clock midnight until 81
O'Clock in the morning in a crowded
coach, while enroute from Bremen ,
20 Frankfort-on-theR Rhine. Busi- |
ness conditions throughout the en-
tire German empire. he said were
worse than ever before. with no bust /
ness and little or no travel by the
natives.
From Frankfort he said they went
to Stuttgart. then 10 Strausberg'
and from there TO Cologne. where he 1
saw English troops OF occupation, /
whom he said were gentlemanly in /
their conduct toward the inhabiiant.
This condition was in direct contrast /
Mr.. stern stated to that found at
I.udwighafen. where Negro troops
are in charge. He said he saw
merchants arrested and fined. 1000 I
marks for not having prices marked /
on the goods offered for sale by /
them. Another merchant told him
Mr.. stern said II was impossible 10
comply with this requirement as the
decrease In the value OF the marx
and the rising wholesale prices We're
almost continuous. Mr.. Stern said j
he saw one merchant treated Ike 4
dog" when he refused to allow an
officers wife TO purchase his entire /
stock Of linen. He had simply told
her 10 be reasonable and let others
have a chance TO purchase some or /
the material. which is a scarce COM I
modify in Germany
Mr.. stern and his family next
went 70 Heidelberg, and then to
Wildbad where he spent a week.
From there he went to Berlin. where
he and his family visited the palaces
Of former Kaiser Wilhelme and Fred !
erick-the- Great and several mu-
seums and shops OF art. They then
went to Munich. which place he
said he would warn all Americans
to shun. because of the exorbitant
prices charged for everything.
The party went to Oberamergau.
the birthplace OF the Passion
PLAY" and from there to Nurnberg'
where he said they saw the most
beautiful scenery of their travels.
Here they visited the Castle OF
Torture of the Dark Ages. Then they
travelled to Baumberg and returned
to Stuttgart and then to Antwerp
from where they sailed for the uni
ted states on September II, landing
in New York on the evening Of Sep
TENDER %.
Mr.. Stern said to the average trsv-
eller who did not stop to investigate
the people OF Stuttgart would seem
as many lavish buyers
were seen frequenting the restaur-
ants. cafes and other places OF
amusement. Living conditions there,
he said, were much cheaper than
in that country, and to
this is assigned the reason for so
much buying. Eggs sell for IL /,
marks each; meat at los marks a
butter at so and 800 marks
a mound, while a stein of beer costs
7 marks. Germany, he said, Is
bankrupt and he does not believe
the country will ever be able TO pay
any OF the nations the indemnity
claimed. Money spending. he said,
seems to have become craze, and
everyone seems to spend lavishly
their earnings. without any appar-
emit consideration for the future.
The middle classes. he said. are
starving.
In certain large centers offices or
auction stalls have been provided
and operated by the Government,
where -valuables. such as heirlooms
and jewelry may be bought and
sold. When this money is gone the
seller. being too proud to accept
,harity, often commits suicide.
one outstanding feature OF his
tour. Mr.. Stern said. was the alb
ience of persons intoxicated.
II enjoyed my trip" concluded
Mr.. Stern. but myself and family ,
we're certainly glad to get back in
,ur own beloved United States; the
,nly place on earth for human be-
ngs to live"