A Study Of Berlin

Berlín is altnost as discouraging in íts other landniarks of its notable Gerrnaas as in its public statues. It is almost as bad as New York, whére few houses now stand tbat were in existence when Franklin and Washington were alive. Londen is rich iu buildings associated with graat men, and an American can hardly walk from -Westniinster to St. Faul's without recalling a dozen ñames ol men whose lives are dear fcq him. Berlín has, however, been almost built anew since 1870. I can remember whole streets that were different when I wás a boy. There are, to be sure, a few instances of memorial plates being affixed to houses where notable Gerraans have lived, but even in these cases the houses themselves are an uninteresting portion of an uninterestiug Street. The Prussian kings adored unifermity in street architecture, as well as in the dressing of soldiers, and that may be the reason why today the most beautiful Btreets of Berlín furnish less interest to a stranger than the grimiest alleys of London, with their charming diversity of dirty fronts. The houses here are all equally high, equally broad, equally gaudy on the outside and equally devoid of individuality within. The Anglo-Saxon owns his house and makes it comfortable for himself and his family. The Prussian lives in an apartment house, along with perhaps a dozen more families, all of thein subject to the petty tyranny of a poorter whose duties are dangerously near to those of a pólice agent. Thus the individual taste of a Berlin artist, writer, actor or other notable resident finds no expression throizgh his architectural surroundings. A Helmholtz, a Mommseu, a Menzel or a Virchow is in Berlin as little identified with his house as a soldier with his barracks. This form of living has its conveniences, particularly to a bachelor, but is not conducive to interest in those who seelt the literary landmarks of great caDitals.