114

DOMESTIC MANNEKS OF THE PUUSSIANS.

Glas Branntwein " (I wish a glass of brandy). " Von ivelcliemBranntwein V would be asked in return; and the reply wouldbe either " Korn-branntwein" (rye brandy), or "Kartofle"(potato), or " Zwetschgen " (prunes), or " Trester " (grape-Imsks), or " Bitter" —according to the taste of the customerfor the timo being.

To this same shop many of the people used to come fortheir breakfast also, and then, after the customary " Ichhätte gerne ein Glas Pfeffermünze" or " Rhum " (rum), as thecase might be, they would add, " Sie kennen mir als ein Weckdazu gäben " (You can give me then a roll, too); " und fürzwei Pfennige Käse darauf geschmiert'''' (and with a pfennig-worthof cheese smeared over it). *

The "Käse " eaten by these folk at such times was of some-what the same consistence as our cream-cheese, but more likedirty white paint in complexion, and equal to the most fostidcommon sewer in odour; so partial, however, were the Germansto the high flavour of it, that it was not unusual for some to

enter the shop and say, " Oh, Frau R ------, den Käse den sie

mir geschickt haben hat nicht genug gestunken " (Oh, Mrs.------,

that cheese you sent me did not stink enough !)

Moreover, with even the better class Rhenish " merchants"and tradesmen it is usual to visit a cafe', either to playbilliards or cards, or eise merely to smoke and drink, for somehour or two after dinner in the middle of the day; so that(what with the number of meals and the four hours passed at

* Such a meal as the one above described costs about three farthings altogether;the " Schnäppschen " coming to two pfennigs (less than a farthing), the " Weck,"or water-roll, together with the "Käse," to six pfennigs (a halfpenny). The costof the "Branntwein" is, for the commonest kind, one groschen the half "Schop-pen" (chopin, or pint),or four gros (hd.) the cpiart bottle; but this the people describeas being merely "Pfeffer und Wasser." The price of the better sort of spirits,however, is from seventeen to twenty-five grosehen (1«. Sd. to 2s. 6d.) per bottle,whilst beer is sohl ordinarily at eighteen pfennigs (1|(7.) the pint glass, andthree gros (3|rf.) the bottle.