SILENT BERLIN

Evening Post, Volume LXXXV, Issue 30, 5 February 1913, Page 2

SILENT BERLIN

DRASTIC STREET REGULATIONS. (From Our Own Correspondent.) . LONDON, 27th December. With the New Year, Berlin is to be a model city, and sholild any New Zealaiidere ih the coming season come Home via the Gel-man capital, then it may be well for -them to know what they may and may not do. Many new street regulations are to be enforced, and an infringement of any of the following will 'result in a summary fine: — Walking more than three abreast on the pavement. Swinging walking-sticks or umbrellas. Talkihg loudly, whistling, singing, or shouting. Dropping cigar or cigarette ends, paper, or fruit on the pavement. Wearing long skirts or any clothing which drags or produces dust. The windows Of any room in which music is being played must remain shut. The principal aim of the police is to keep the streets restfully .quiet, but the humorist points out they have Overlooked one or two points which may , seriously infringe the hallowed silence ,tliey desire. They have made no orders ' that pedestrians shall universally Wear rubber heels or shall not carry loose money in their pockets which is likely to jingle. Nothing is to be done either, it would appear, to restrict the serious evils of coughing or sneezing in the public street, of striking ihatches loitdly, or' of Wealing "loud 'socks, ties, or suits. Also, it is urged, the authorities have been shockingly remiss in allowing the scandal of the squeaking boot to continue absolutely unchecked. The question of the legality of tho carrying of watches with a loud tick is presumably to be left for future consideration, and apparently there is no clause dealing with the question of speed for pedestrians. The report which has been, circulated in certain quarters that the flew regulations are officially expected to provide for two additional siiper-DreddnoUghts in the German programme for 1913 is, however, absolutely without foundation.