The discontent in the country has now reached its culmination upon
its becoming generally known that all concerts, and theatres, and
other amusements in Berlin are free. The inhabitants of every little
insignificant bit of a place demand that the national purse provide
them with the same diversions that we have here; and they base their
claim upon the acknowledged social equality of all, and upon the right
of all to enjoy the same identical recompense for the same labours.
They say that even under the best of circumstances they are still
placed at a great disadvantage, as every village can’t have gas or
electric lighting, heating by hot-air pipes, and the like.
The _Onward_ attempted to soothe the feelings of the people in the
country by graceful and appropriate references to the advantages of
country life, idyllic remarks upon the enjoyment of nature, and the
sweet freshness of the air. This was looked upon as irony, and they
wanted to know what enjoyment of Nature there was during heavy rains,
or in the long winter evenings?
“What fresh air do we get in the cramped little cottages in the
country, or in the stables and shippons?”
Thus they grumbled in letters to the paper.
It was pointed out to them that it had never been any different. They
admitted the truth of this, but then went on to say that formerly
everyone who did not care to stay in the country was at liberty
to remove into a town. Now, however, it was very different, and
the countryman was tied to his clod of earth until it pleased the
authorities to dispose otherwise of him. And under these circumstances
they must look to the State to provide them with just the same
amusements as the large towns had. They merely asked for equal rights
for all, and no more.
The Chancellor did not at all know what to do. The wise government
of a people has unquestionably more knotty points about it than the
cleaning of boots and the brushing of clothes. This scheme of planning
recreations for the people has been about the only thing he has carried
through. But with the best will in the world he could not possibly
have a band of music, a circus, and a company of specialists at every
street-crossing. Pondering upon this business, the happy thought
occurred to him to have a few hundred thousand Berliners transferred
to the enjoyments of the country every Sunday, and a corresponding
number of country people brought up to the attractions of the town. But
unfortunately for this social equality the weather proved very unequal.
In rainy weather the Berlin people showed no great liking for damp
excursions into the country. But the country people, who had arrived in
great numbers, naturally expected those seats at the various places of
amusement which the Berliners did not care to relinquish.
After the Chancellor had succeeded in thus setting the townspeople
and the country people thoroughly at loggerheads with each other, his
retirement was deemed expedient, in order that the feeling against him
might not unduly prejudice the coming general elections. In Berlin,
as might be expected, the disgust at the stoppage of all further free
recreations is universal. Henceforth places at the theatres and similar
entertainments can only be had against payment in the coupons of the
money-certificates.
The Secretary to the Treasury has been appointed as the Chancellor’s
successor. He is known as a man who goes straight to the point,
regardless of all considerations, and he also has the reputation of
being a good financier. This latter quality will be all the more
welcome, as there are all sorts of ugly whispers abroad respecting the
disproportion there is between income and expenditure in the finances
of the socialised Community.