The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1922-11-06
Could LiUe Year In Berlin
On S., Says Young Hoffman

An interesting letter has been re-
ceived by NJ. G. Hoffman, president of
the Pensacola Excelsior Company. from
his son, Mark Hoffman, who is studying
music in Berlin, Germany.
Young Mr.. Hoffman states that the
American dollar is worth 1900 marks in
Berlin and that four or five American
dollars would pay his expenses for a
year. -
He writes that the. housing and coal
problem in Berlin is serious one but
that a person with few dollars in
American money has little trouble.
Here is the letter:
October 18th, 1922
Duppelstrasse 16,
Berlin, (Steglitz)
Germany.
Dear Papa:
Well, the Mark went down to- 5000, SO
for the United States Dollar, I get 5000
Marks. The situation is quite bad in
Germany, but not yet at all as bad as
it might be. People are all just marking
time. Nobody is planning any business
ahead it seems, although of course, am
not in a position to knew, personally.
About two days ago, thed had little
riot around H'Unter den Linden" A
meeting by reactionaries licensed by the
police, was allowed to be held in the
Lust Garten.' The Reds feared it
would be so reactiCnary as to even be-
come monarchistic, SO they tried to march
up with red flags and forcibly break up
the assembly. The police who had been
asked and had consented to allow the
meeting, were called on to protect the
meeting; but while the police finally
stopped the rioting, the Reds were strong
enough to take away all their injured.
No firearms were used. 1 guess only
clubs, etc, etc. One man killed and
about 20 severely hurt and over a hun
dred casualties. However, in Steglitz,
the suburb in which 1 stop, we might as
Well have been a thousand miles away.
We didn't see anything.
The city of Berlin placed big tax on
all roomers, so that the city could use it
to build houses to relieve the shortage of
living quarters. I now pay 1,e00 marks
month for room, light and breakfast cof-
fee. AT that rate, four of the United
States dollars that have brought with
me would pay my room rent, it's light and
breakfast coffee fer one year.
burn briquettes in the stove. 1t takes
about a day at marks apiece; literally
burning money, the Germans always add.
Now 80 marks is contained nearly 100
times in 5000 marks, which 1 can buy
for one American dollar SO one dollar
will probably be the total cost of warm
ing my room until next summer.
Went out to Potsdam and went through
the kaisers summer palace, Sans Souci.
Saw the grave of Frederick the Great;
the room in which Voltaire lived when
he was in theh court of Frederick. Many
living in Potsdam are still true to the
kaiser.
There is so much speculation in Ger
many that it is now law that nc dollar
can be gotten in Germany for marks;
so that those who have only marks will
have to get new money from home to get
back. L was lucky and took cash.
have been here in Germany for about
a month, before 1 succeeded in getting
settled with the police. The rule is that
within "a hours from the time of your
wood had struck the other mans hand
down and with 1.-THE, panther-like
movement had swept me behind him.
What the devil do You mean by put
ting your dirty paws on this lady?" he
demanded