110

DOMESTIC MANNERS OF TUE PBÜSSIANS.

" Weinwirthschaßs " of the place, to discuss their "Maitrink"or " cardinal," and eat their "Wurst" hard-boiled eggs andcake ; whilst for those who are fond of dancing there is alwaysat such times, on the first floor of the chief tavern, a band anda ball, at which the soldiers and the Mädchens with the " Haarwadels" form the principal couples.*

Then almostevery village and smalltown has its "Schützen-fest" (shooting-feast), once in the course of the year; whitherthe Schützen gesellschaft (the foresters' club) go in procession,and füll jagers' uniform, to exhibit their skill and costume.This feast is usually held at one of the largest wine-gardens inthe neichbourhood, the grounds beinsr fitted with booths, as atour fairs, for dancing and refreshments, and the sports generallylasting for upwards of a week. The fete commences withtarget-shooting for prizes, which are given not only by theclub, but often by the king, prince, or other distinguishedpersons, and concludes with firing at a huge carved spread

* There are also Sunday dances, at which the Citizens, soldiers, and servant-girls, love to congregate ; as witness the subjoined advertisements :—

To-day, Sunday, 20th January,

®ÄIM<glI=KD(y)gO<g

At H. Hürter's,

With a powerful Orchestra, composed

of Hartmann's Band.

To-day, Sunday,

At Fellinger's.Open at half-past Four.

We remember once, whilst prosecuting some inquiries at the east end ofLondon, being assured by an observant Police-Inspector that the System ofPublic-House Concerts had tended to decrease drunkenness, and the officeraccounted for the apparent anomaly by saying that, though the people went tosuch places to drink, the music had the effect of making them forget their glassfor the time being, and so causing them to take less than they otherwise might.Our own opinion, however, is, that though such institutions may lessen theextent of individuell drunkenness, they certainly tend to increase the grossannunt of general drinking among the people — numbers being thus attracted tothe publlc-house who would otherwise keep away from it; and the drinkingscatistics of Germany, where musical beer-houses flourish to an inordinatedegree, would appear to bear out the opinion.— Vide foot note, p. 111-12.