BERLIN UNDER THE NEW EMPIRE

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1937, 10 May 1880, Page 4

BERLIN UNDER THE NEW EMPIRE

Berlin, viewed in comparison with London or with Paris, has nothing imposing about it. Its long, broad streets, commonly lack both life and character. No surging crowds throng the footways, no extended files of vehicles intercept the cross traffic, bewilder one by their multiplicity, or deafen one with their heavy rumbling noise. And until quite recently the best Berlin shops would bear no kind of comparison with the far handsomer establishments of London, Paris, and New York. In the domain of literature and science Berlin has its equals, and in art its superior, in other German cities. But it is essentially the centre of political life and excitement, and speculative industries. “ The proletariat is the most brutal and menacing in Europe,” for the simple reason, if it be possible, that it is the most irreligious. In the poorer quarters of the city five-storied houses, densely crowded, are to be found in which the people live by thousands in a state of immorality and barbarism which seems almost incredible. “In these quarters in vestigations have been made yielding the most startling results. Of 1000 children scarcely one-third had seen an actual meadow or cornfield, only a few privileged ones had seen the evening glow, and with them a butterfly was a great curiosity. Matrimonial gazettes flourish and do a large business. The “Voseiche Zeitung,” a leading paper, actually inserts annually not less than a thousand matrimonial advertisements. From marriage to birth is but a step, and we cannot forbear inserting one of the curious specimens of the manner in which happy fathers in Berlin announce the entry ito this world of a son and heir :—“The birth of a son has this day greatly rejoiced the heart of Dr. Rich Braumuller and his wife.” “ With the gracious assistance of God my wife has given me twins.” Prussian infidelity is not of recent date. Even in the days of the Ornsades this part of Germany was already far advanced in scepticism. One popular preacher certainly had the courage, as well as the wit, to reply to some petty German potentate's mistress who had demanded that she might be included ia the prayers of the Church—“ Madam, wo pray daily to the Lord to deliver us from evil.” In the parish of St. Thomas, with a population of 60,000 souls, whose spiritual welfare is ministered to by merely three clergymen, there were in 1870 only sixty-three burials at which a minister of religion figured. Moreover, of 4975 persons who died in the hospitals in 1871 all excepting 236 were consigned to the grave without a word of religious comfort being pronounced over their remains. The population is 1,000.000, and there is church accommodation for 7000 only. It often happens that preacher and organist depart because there is not a soul in the church to preach or play to. The Sunday is paid leva attention to than in Paris. As to the morals of the people, they are something incredibly lax, and in one chapter on this subject the author proves that the German capital is fast becoming a most depraved city. Drink is also a very prevalent vice, and almost every fourth house in the more populous districts either dispenses beer or spirits ; and on Sundays the number of beer-gardens and places of resort in which drink can be obtained is prodigious. If the churches are empty those places are not. On the contrary, they are thronged to suffocation with men, women, and children,—“ Viziteli.”