The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1924-04-06
LUXURY COMES
TOGERMAN FOLK
AS MARK MENDS
Money Suddenly Appears
AS. Currency Is Stabi-
lized-SOme Suffer

BERLIN, April 5.--(By the Assoc
ciated Press. )-Germany's financial
comeback with the sterilization Of the
rentenmark still continues to be mar
vel to foreigners living in the Father
land, and Germans are little less sur.
prised.
1t is impossible. to explain where ali
the, money that has suddenly appeared
came from. Prices stand far above
world figures in shops and cafes. Still
there seem to be plenty of customers,
virtually all Germans.
Prize-fights and horse shows, ,six-day
, bicycle races and theatfes attract thou
sands of patrons. Comic opera produc-
ers have elevated their best seats. to 50
rentenmarks, or about $3.50, and at
tract large audiences. $3.50 =
Much Travel
Swiss, French and italian resorts are
filled with Germans. Trains to Paris
are loaded with Germans. and the
French consulates are besieged by Ger
mans seeking yisas to France.
Prices Of clothing and other manu-
featured articles are roughly only about
towns as in German towns. Conse-
quently Germans are hocking to France
to buy. -
Automobiles are; becoming more nu-
merous in the streets Of German cities
and many OF them are new machines.
Expensive dancing clubs in Berlin are
vate cars standing outside them gives
the impression of great wealth.
Caviar and other luxuries are served
at prices double or treble Partisan
prices and find plenty Of buyers.
The conditions are, not like those in
Russia after the Bolshevists set up their
"chevronetz," or stable money. A pub
lie, which; had figured so long in mil
liens and billions and trillions was I'M
able to think in small figures. Conse-
quently prices did not fall when con-
sidered in terms Of hard money. Ger
man merchants insist they are justified
in keeping their prices up because of
turnover taxes and high duties OF all
imported articles.
Average Man
All in all the situation is. abnormal
and unnatural, and the average man
with small wage is unable to buy any
thing but the barest necessities.
Germans who represented that they
had nothing before the introduction of
the rentenmark have suddenly bios
somed out and seem quite prosperous.
Various explanations are made, but
none Of them seems to explain very
satisfactorily. There is undoubtedly a
great calling back of exported capital.
Persons who were unwilling to keep
money and securities in Germany when
3 the mark was falling every day have
undoubtedly drawn back their deposits
from foreign banks, and converted them
into rentenmarks.
The lavishness with which some Ger
mans spent money in the. days Of the de-
Ginning paper mark was always ex-
A planned by Germans on the ground that
s people got rid of their money because
\ it would be worthless in a few days.
That explanation no longer holds good,
and the expenditures get more lavish
daily.
n But the streets Of German cities are
still filled with beggars, and every-
where there are collectors raising funds
for mass feeding and various other
forms of relief work. The newspapers
overflow with stories of the hardships
which professional classes are suffering.
Doctors and lawyers and teachers COM
Hplain they are in Hard straits. And
many of them, probably majority of
them, doubtless are. But the prices
whiCn foreigners pay for professional
service is well above world standards.