Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-03-15
GERMAN ENJOYS WIFE CITES
COUNTRYWOMEN'S ABILITIES
Entry Into Politics Affords
Feminine Representation
in Reichstag.
Baroness and Countess Make
Success of Mercantile
Enterprises.
BY GRETCHEN SMITH.

The women of Germany, whom 1t
has been traditional to cite as model
housewives and homekeepers, have
widely expanded the field of their en-
deavors since the war. Frau Won Pritt-
witz und Gaffron, wife of the German
Ambassador, tells many interesting cases
where women of her native land, forced
through conditions created by the war
have developed an amazing aptitude
for business and public affairs.
THE German women, like those of
your country" said Frau Won Pritt-
WITT ARE entering into politics more
and more; perhaps, to a greater extent
even than the American women.
believe we have more women in our
Reichstag than there are now in the
American Congress. I believe 1t is a
splendid thing, too, for women to take
an active interest in the laws of their
country. especially In those that affect
the women and the children"
Frau Won Prittwitz expressed herself
as being particularly interested in jul
venile court work and said that the
study of methods of best handling juve-
nile delinquents, the care and treatment
of abnormal children and all matters
pertaining to welfare work among juve-
niles. had become subject OF particu-
lar study and research among the wom-
en- and young girls of Germany.
"A young cousin of mine is now doing
public educational work in Berlin" said
Frau Won Prittwitz, land is making a
great success of 1t. There are many
girls of the younger generation who are
specializing in child welfare work"
Frau Won Prittwitz remarked that she
would like very much to visit the Juve-
nile Court in the District some day, as
American methods of juvenile court
proceedings were Of greatest interest to
her.
A baroness in her own right. under
the imperial regime, and utterly unac-
customed to work of a public nature,
Frau Won Prittwitz, through her own
ingenuity and resourcefulness, opened a
hat and gown shop in Berlin shortly
after the closing Of the war and con-
tinued its operation with great success
until her marriage year and a half
later.
Dress Designing Favored.
"After the war I felt it imperative
that do something to add to my in
come. which. like many others in my
country had been greatly reduced. I
had always had great liking for dress
designing. and would unconsciously
study people and types and think to my
self how well they would look II they
had dressed along certain styles. There
fore, when felt that must do some
thing, decided to open hat and
gown shop, where I would make spe-
cialty of creating models for types, ad-
viSing my customers what style would
be best suitable to each.
81 started my business on a very
small scala" continued Frau Won Pritt-
witZ, "but 1t was not long before ]
found 1t necessary to employ more as
sistants. The actual making of the
gowns was done by another woman, but
did the buying of materials. the de-
signing OF the gowns and the hats and
the displaying for my customers. / was
the buyer. the seller and the NAME
quin," smiled the German diplomats
wife, "and I enjoyed my work thor
oughly. OF course. I had to give up
my work after my marriage, as at that
time I left Germany to accompany my
husband to Rome. I tried at first to
continue the supervision of my business
from afar, but that was not successful,
so / sold my interest In 1t to another
woman. who is carrying 1t on in Berlin
at the present time"
Many women. prominent In court
circles In the days OF imperial Ger
many. have entered the business world
and are supporting themselves with
great success at the present day. For
example," said Frau Won Prittwitz,
there Is very dear friend OF mine,
the Countess Anna Montgelas. Before
the war she had been lady-in- waiting
to the Empress and had been a woman
with large means. unaccustomed to work
Of any sort. At the end of the war
she found herself practically impover-
ished, and 1t was necessary that she
find some means to contribute tn her