San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-10-07
ART COLLECT0R
TERMS BERLIN
A BROKEN CITY.
Hattie Grace Rabe, Back
From Continent, Tells
of Germans Plight.
FINDS ART TREASURES
Buys Earrings Of the Late
Sarah Bernhardt at
Paris Sale.

Contrasting Berlin of pre-war days
with the Berlin of the present, and
describing it as q once beautiful wOm-
an now lying destitute in the gutter
is the analysis of the social and econo-
mic conditions of large part of Ger
many given by Miss Hattie Grace
Rabe, well known San Antonio art
collector, just back from four
months tour of Europe.
Wearing a Partisan dress Of the
latest mode, large dangling earrings
that formerly belonged to the late
Sarah Bernhard and carrying Louis
the Fourteenth cane, Miss Rabe re-
counted many interesting experiences
in Germany and gave vivid descrip-
ton OF the economic unrest so pre-
valent in that country; and made the
prediction that unless the Ruhr con-
troversy is settled before the winter,
Germany will be in sadder plight
than Russia ever knew. Even now
there are to be seen on the streets
of Berlin hundreds of beggars that
before the war belonged to that class
of financially independent Germans
who lived on their incomes from ill.,
vestn. ents-in other words-the leis-
ure class. To appear on the streets
of some Of the German cities attired
in fashionable clothes and obviously
prosperous is sure to call forth from
the alms-seekers denunciation and fire.
quentiy vile epithets. Reduced to alb
jcct poverty these once happy and
prosperous people are now forced to
beg their daily living.
French Not Wanted.
Not the least interesting OF her i'm
pressions was Miss RABIES descrip-
tions of her reception at some of the
hotels in Germany where in some in
stances large placards bore the warn
ing, mo Belgicns or French wanted
here" Though not formally warned
Miss Rabe stated that this mental
attitude was equally evident toward
Americans and tourists who have in
vaded Germany by the hundreds of
thousands because living is exceed
ingly cheap. Being unable to obtain
luxuries themselves the natives resent
foreigners taking advantage of their
sad economic conditions.
The wide and extravagant fluctua-
tions of the German mark. Miss Rabe
stated had created a panic in Ger
many and the daily crowds in the
banks acted rs if run was being
made on the institution. in almost
any bank in the larger German cities
one has to wait in line from one to
two hours before reaching the window.
This constant depression and anxiety
on the part of the people has almost
Frustrated the German bankers most
of whom are on the verge of nervous
collapse. The mark has been reduced
to such an extent that the print shops
OF Germany work overtime and even
modest purchases such as cafe bill
have to be computed in the millions.
Currency has been printed in such
quantities that everybody carries
portfolio instead of an ordinary purse
or shopping bag. The people have be-
come dizzy counting their change in
millions and only a Euclid or adding
machine can make accurate reckon
ings.
Travels by Airplanes.
Miss Rabe left San Antonio four
months ago, going direct to Paris
where she remained three weeks and
0hN dttthhtu tnN cuie Vi tHt
books and art colltcions of Sarah
Bernhardt one of her purchases being
volume of poems by Gabriel DAN
nunzio. autographed and given to the
great actress.
From Paris Miss Rabc went TO Lon
don. making the trip by airplane and
being the only woman passenger
among list of ten others. each from
y different country but none from
either France or England. According
to Miss Rabe aerial transportation is
much further advanced in France and
England commercially than in this
country. Regular schedules are main
tanned between London, Paris. and
many other cities. making daily trips.
The round trip fare between London
and Paris is $40 and the trip is made
in two and a half hours as against
seven and half hours by train and
boat. These commercial airplanes at
tain a height of four thousand feet.
frequently being above the clouds so
that the only view one can get of the
landscape below. particularly the
cities. is n weird md bizarro hI,,r