Saxon Sketches

I was somo weeka in Germany beforo I inissod tlio small boy, writoa a Chicago Nowa oorrespondont, probably bocausc I had luit litllo time to think of him, thcre were so mauy now and beautifnl things to bo secn, and probiibly becauso it is alraost absolutely necessary tbat he shall be near you once in a whilo in order that his absence may bo thoroughly feit and thorougbly enjoyed when lie retires. Bnt, anyhow, it gradually bogan to da-nn upon my mind tliat I had not Been him sinco my arrival. I searched for him along the magniflecnt boulevards of Berlín, through the glorieus avenues of Dresden, along tho narrow and crowded thorouabfavoa nf Old Leipsie, and fmally in the crowds that snrgo through tho quaint and crookcd streets of Chemnitz, bnt I found him not, I went to the theatres oxpecting to see his shaggy head sticking out over the upper balcony, or to flud him pepporing the poople in the parquet lyith paper wad, but I was disappointed. I even aought him in the circus, and vraited pahently ww íiofti iiia rttïAgü yviL anu Hnnn WlllSlie, OUt in vain. Not a traco of lúa existonco could I find. If ho has evor lived and liad his boiug ia the dominions of the Emperor William, ho had entirely disappeared before I arrived. I don't know but that my first thoughts upon making this discovory were ploasant ones, and I am not sure bnt that I hailed his absence with feolings of unmixed deligf.t. I was inclined to look upon his downfall and oxtermniation as ono of !ho results of a highor and happier oivilization than we enjoy in America. Inotiecd that the law was supremo in Gerïnany, and that it had routed out gamblors, bunko-steerers, trampa, garroters, burglars, ward bnmmers, anrt other onemies of society and disturbers of the peaco, and it struck me that it had not sparod even the small boy but swept him away, too, as a public nuisance and a living menace to the happiness of the peoBut I missed him, and tlie moro I missod him, tho more I feit that, if it wero possible, I would like to gazo npon his mischievous, uuiy, iinppy-go-iuciiy taco agarn. I would oven allow him to trip me up ou a piece of orange peel and undergo the torturo of bis in-born satire as my heols went up. if I could only enjoy lus disrcputablo society for ten minutes. Tho Germán peoplo fecl no longings for mm, for tbey have never known Vim. They have never seen a very angry and cxcited dog running through tho streets hotly pursued by iuu , iuvj uu n; utCt WllIlUöHCCl ÏI1Ö auguish of two innocent and unsuspecting cate whose tails were firmly united with a piece of fish line ; they are unacqnainted with the stove-pipo hat in which is bidden tlio eilent but potent briek-bat; ncver bavo tbey stooped to piek np the pletborie pocketbook from the Bidewalk, only to fiml that it vanishes like a dream; to them a soaped doorstep would be an awe-inspiring novelty. The Saxon lover has never feit the panga excited by the bent pin on the chair whieh his sweetheart's younger brother haa preparod for him, nor upon bidding adieu has lie found his hat to be f uil of flour and confusión. Ño houest wayfarer walks the streots with a mg hancl-biU pinned to his eoat-tail. Thero is not an instance on record where the key-holos of the Saxon's house have been filled with pnty, and street-lamps eau etay out all night with perfect impunity. From the hour of his birth until he has reached the mature ago of six yeanj he is under the constant supervisión of his parents or his nurse. He plavs as children play all the world over, bilt his games and pastunes are not rough. From the moment his sensitivo mind is capableof being trained he learas obedience and politeness. He is not four voara nlrt nrn l-.n win h;,i o stranger good day or good evening, raising his httle hand aud making his little bow at the eame time. Betaveen four aud six ho is allowed to mingle freely with the children of the neighborhood, but his play-ground is always cir. mscribed acoording to the size of the garden in the ïear of the block. At sii the law compols his párente to send him to Bchool. From that time on ho is a person of some responsibility, for his leseons must not be negleoted under any circumstances, uníess hu health proves him to bo uneqnal to his taaks. His school hours for the first year are not long, but he must be in lus place promptly at 8 o'olock in the morniug, remamuiguntil 10, and at 1:30 o'clook in the af ternoon, remaining until2:S0. Then he brings home his lessons for the morrow, -which with the assistance of his parents, ho must be prepared to answer for on the next day. i'he socond year of his school life is a little more severo. The schools open at 6 in summer, and 7 in winter, and long before the children of his age are awakened in America the streots are f uil ui uwc uubo nurrymg to me ctilTeront schools. This early class is dismissed at 8 and 9o'clock and they are thcn expected to aesist their mothers, or, as is moro froquently tho caso from 10 years of ago npward they go to the great factories or workshona, where thoy are apprenticed and learu a trade. Indeed tho school honra are fixed thus early in order that tho children may not onjy receivo an educanon, but also learn how to niako a living and help their parents to keep the wolf from the door. If the Saxon boys do not ent np tho pranks and perform tho tricks of their American cousuis, tüey enjoy themsolvea in a way that ia entirely satisfactóry to themselves. i hey have cihes, largo swimming taths, constraeied like those in Chicago, where they fiock in large numbers ia tho evonings and on Sundays They can have all tho fun of this kind they want, includmg clean towela and neat di-easing rooms, for abont fivo American conts. ïhen gymnasiums and museums are well pati-oaized. It is a raro thing to find a Saxou youngstor who cannot pcrform on the horizontal bar, on the ripgs, or on tho flying trapezc, feats that woula be creditable to a professioual athleta The boys aro generally well developed, muscular and agüe, and good health seems to tiike a fancy to them. In dispoeition thoy aro as amiable as girls more amiable than some girls. Theirmannors are pieasing. xnoy aro poüte and accommodating. They do not swear, "chaw" nor smoke Fiet-hghting ia not to their liking, and vulgariiy ís unknown among thera. Thcy aro eedatc, quiet, peaceable and good-natüred at all times, whiíe in the presenco of their elders they observe with aatoniahing precisión and wouderful judgmont tho l&ws and igulations laid down lor their guidance at home and in the scüouIh. ïhe work whieh the ernall boy ia called upon to do in America ia done hero generally by girls or full-groTvnmen. Thero are no tolegraph boys. All despatches are delivevod by men in uniform. There are no cash-boys, ■ gms generally íillmg such positions. Boyn aro not called upon to run errauds for the public. Able-bodied men in uniform, large enough to bo trusted with valuable packagea, stand at every corner and are ready to como at your beek and cali. Tho newspapera are earned and sold by men. ïhere ara no newsboys. No idlo boys are seen on the streets. Vhen they aro not at school they aro learning a trade, and after business hours they generally betake themeelves to somo place where they can oxerciso themselves, or they study their lessons bo as to be preparod lor tho early morning class. There are no street Araba in any of the Germán cities- no ragged urchins, no Artful Dodgers, and no "wipe-nippera. " Thereare no 8ooty-facod, blaapnemous bootblacka In a word, the American small boy, of high, or low degree, would find his oooupation göne, whatover it might be, if he omigratpd to Germany. He wonld pine away and die of a broken heart