BERLIN AT NIGHT

Evening Star, Issue 20059, 27 December 1928, Page 19

BERLIN AT NIGHT

SHOPPING AND PLEASURE “Night Life I'or Families” is the new watchword of Berlin (says a correspondent of tho ‘ Observer ’). Blazing like a jewel, during tho “ Festival of Light,” the great city is now a fairyland whoso magic increases as daylight wanes. The highly specialised electrical industry has concentrated its forces and taken a whole metropolis for its exhibition ground, turned public buildings from the Reichstag downwards, into enchanted castles, long boulevards into rivers of light, and overy autumnal plane and linden into a shining Christinas tree. Shopkeepers, who hero illuminate the windows, as a matter of course, long after those in other cities are shuttered down for tho night, have joined in tho movement by special exhibitions of window dressing, and shop gazing at midnight has become a popular recreation. Laying claim with justification ‘ to be the most American town of Europe, Berlin, alter a feverish review of its pre-war places of amusement can now offer the most varied assortment of ‘•night life ’’ on the Continent. Not all attempts have been successful. Berlin is laid out on the grand plan devoted to the spectacular mid magnificent, and tho intimate little cabaret cannot flourish in the pretentious atmosphere, nor can the hotel ballroom or expensive dancing establishment show; anything approaching the elegance of Paris. Paris, being sill tho haunt of the fashionable, business men have seen that Berlin’s forte lies in catering for the bourgeois family gathering, on the one band ,and for the student of postwar pathology, and the ultra-moderns themselves, on the other. Her night life has been competently organised into three distinct classes. Besides the legitimate evening business of countless popularly-priced restaurants and cafes, there are vast pleasure haunts for the middle class, bent on family rejoicings, showing country cousins the sights, or entertaining business friends from _ the provinces. There arc the expensively decorated, and exquisitely-lighted dancing cstablishnients,. serving bad food and worse wine, which tho hotel concierges immediately recommend to young Americans “doing” the night life of Europe. One can also gain access to the third category of pleasure resorts, recommended not by concierges, but bytaxi drivers. These are carefully shuttered windows, provided with a notice, “ Open to members only.” Admittance to these “ private clubs ” can always be obtained through a door at the side after careful scrutiny from within. Prices are higher, surroundings- more sordid, the air more furtive, and the stranger disappointed of thrills, honestly comforted by the thought that the police can find him if “ anything, happens.” The great bulk of the' middle-class populace knows nothing of that kind. It has been admirably catered- for of late'by the rebuilding of the pre-war cafe. ‘‘Piccadilly,” reebristened “ Vaterland,” on tho outbreak of war. An ingenious system of scenic effect on the diorama plan provides under one roof an almost complete illusion of a Rhineland terrace, a Bavarian beer garden, and the special attractions of several other countries as well. To gain a very fair idea of Germany and the Germans at their best and most natural at close upon 2 o’cock in the morning, it is only necessary to seb a table full of home-sick Bavarians solemnly ■ ordering; in turn quart tankards of the genuine home brew for • the large wind orchestra,- each generous act being acknowledged by a flourish of trumpets. The exceptionally .effective diorama