Indianapolis Times, Volume 43, Number 196, Indianapolis, Marion County, 25 December 1931 — Page 7

PEC. 25, 1931

YULE GLOOMY IN GERMANY, LAND OF PARADOXES Good Trade Balance and Efficient Industry Fail to Offset Grief. * n*th*r Id a aerie* or article# Webb Miller. European general new* wn*(ter of the United Preaa. who has ef touring Germany to survey he ronatry a political and economic eondition, BY WEBB MILLER United Press Staff Correspondent fCoovrlght. 1931. bv United Press) BERLIN, Dec. 25.—Germany is a country of paradoxes. The nation’s trade balance is good, and on figures it should be in a favorable economic position. Yet Germany encountered without cheer the gloomiest Christmas since the war, when she was ringed in oy the blockade of her enemies. Now Germany is ringed in by an invisible blockade of frozen credits, international debts and the world economic crisis. Although Berlin’s streets for the last few days have been thronged wtih shoppers and the boulevards Sprouted little forests of Christmas trees, and rows of street booths selling cheap toys and trinkets, and although the big department stores largest in Europe, have been crowded, there was little of the lighthearted preparation for the traditional German Christmas. Meets Beggars S j cles an <3 sloppy streets, ifh piles of dirty snow, added to the impression of lack of cheer. in a walk through the Kufucrstendamm section, I was approached by a dozen match sellers and beggars. The beggars in the de luxe, glittering Kufuerstendamm epitomized the paradoxes the observer meets at every turn in Germany. With the most efficient Industrial organization of Europe, and perhaps of the world, and its great modern factories, there are 5,000,000 unemployed, of which the most fortunate are the married men who receive an average of. 60 marks (about $14.25) a month by the dole. With the year’s favorable trade balance of nearly 3,000,000,000 marks - more than double that of the United States—Germany’s industrial machine is half paralyzed. The country is unable to meet the $11,000,000,000 in short term credits owed abroad, yet unestimated fortunes fled abroad for safety. &

Railways Fail Germany has built hundreds of the world’s mast modern workmen’s apartment buildings, with bathrooms, sun balconies, hot water, central heating and other comforts, astonishing in their modernity and containing from 1,000 to 2,000 apartments each. Yet there are a million living in Berlin in tworoom flats and 1,500,000 in threeroom flats. Germany’s great railway system has been unable to make expenses this year (although an important part of reparations are charged to the profits of the railways) yet her network of airways, the best in Europe, charges even less than first class railway fare. Although the Reichsbank’s gold reserves cover only 12 per cent of her currency, if foreign credits were removed, the German mark is as stable as the dollar in the world money markets, even though Germany’s international credit facilities are now paralyzed. Despite the trade crisis which shut down a large per cent of her industries, Germany has repaid nearly five billion marks since last autumn, which is a fairly astonishing performance, considering economic conditions. Wash Day Shows Poverty Millions of households in Germany are afflicted with poverty, living on the barest necessities. Yet there is little evidence of it in the streets of the cities and even in the workmen’s quarters of Berlin. They retain the clothes from more prosperous days and the Germans have a characteristic of neatness and carefulness of appen ranee. However, in Munich and the Ruhr district on washing day. I saw several hundreds of clotheslines which revealed the ravages on more intimate parts of the wardrobe, impossible to conceal on washing day. Although Christmas shopping has been considerably below previous years, it has been bigger than might have been expected under the circumstances. People who have money to spend for tangible, useful objects have been impelled to buy through fear that the mark might decline. They have not forgotten the inflation period when millions of marks would buy only a single meal. Face Wage Cuts Millions of Germans are facing a cut of 10 per cent in their wages which is highly unlikely to be offset by reduction in prices and rents prescribed by the latest decree. For hundreds of thousands of government employes, this second cut of the year makes a total of 20 per cent in wages, bringing the higher middle-"/ass employes down to between 8 A and 97 per cent of prewar wages, despite the cost of living index of 1931. The marriage and birth rates have been falling because of economic conditions. In the first half of 1931, there were 45,000 fewer births than in the same period of 1930. Stamp Record Set By Times Special ANDERSON, Ind., Dec. 86.— A new record for business was established at the Anderson postoffice when $2,430.61 entered the cash till at the stamp windows in a single day.

Christmas Special—s 4*l O QO Match*.l Golf Irons 411Z..J0 Perfsctl? matched and balanced Irons, chromium elated, steel shafts, leather * *° Sports Dept—Second Floor. VONNEGUT’S Downtown. 120 E. Washington St. (Neighborhood Stores) Irvington. Fountain Square. Belmont

[davi s JEWELRY CO.

Visit Pettis’ WKBF ■TTETTfI ff If For Prompt Delivery ■ J 1 ■ B y )H M J Service Fourth Floor! jP? Call RI. 6321! After-Christmas Clearance Sale! We are offering a great Clearance Sale of all gift merchandise Fine Quality Silk || which must be sold to make room for new merchandise. Thou- || Burkey’s Lace-Top _ sands of articles are offered at a sacrifice for quick Clearance. * LINGERIE w - n 4r Chiffon Hose Adorable Silk Chemise, Stepins, 1 I t* \ A I Exquisitely Sheer, High Twist Slips and Gowns! * * M. M- M. A V/ kj Permanently Dull Hosiery PETTlS’—second floor, SB9 SO S* PETTlS’—street floor. MFTV’Q 1 sm '° o T-O-V-^s I Ii I k Select from a group including ■ \ w ■ 1 M JL T JKL jL A A American Boucle, Forstman I AL JBL Robes, Golf Sox, Coat Sweaters, Capeskin richly furred with Kolinsky, A Vast Assortment of Wheel Goods, Gloves and Slipover Sweaters f u e rs> ° X an< * other beaLltifu wii .. , Games, Furniture, Dolls and Other Toys REDUCED JHrSi Cllic Dresses Vz PRICE Our entire stock of Men’s gift wear marked down sizes, half sizes and Adorably Smart n* esses tor All Many fine Toys in our large Toy World are radifor quick clearance. regular sizes. Women of Every Type cally reduced for quick clearance. PETTlS’—street floor. / • f ! / "'HP PETTIS’ —fourth floor. HALF-PRICE SALE Selection * sheers, sheer woolens and cantons. HALF-PRICE SALE PETTlS’—second floor. ‘ Gift Items • |- After . tioM/ ,- —- ♦ Gift Items * $6 Evening $2 Cheramy $1 Book 75c VelourGloves Bath Sets sj2gg§pj| ShH4|| Ends Table Scarfs $3 $1 ' SAVINGS 50c 38c 16-Button lengths. White, Cappi and April Showers \Tj A r f Novelty figures, such as Also damask Scarfs. Size black and eggshell. odors. V ■ *r M *P dogs and elephants. 18x36-inch. PETTIS’ —street floor. Street Floor I PETTlS’—street floor. PETTlS’—third floor, JL mU %J $1 Tiffany $1 Toilet Consists of pumps, ties I This group is Suedes, I Many of our highest De Vilbiss $1 Table II .1 11 I tt-t -and straps. Supply is and black Kid, in a wide grade Shoes are in- A . -r Bath Powder Water yiG {jmited, s0 yK ra a tte e rn 0 s f ' our window Atomizers Lamps 50c 50c V2 Price 50c . In satin box. Assorted Assorted odors, brands I Assorted styles and color Metal, Pd:tery, Enameled PETTlS’—street floor. PETTlS’—street floor. "A* \| !! PETTlS’—street floor. PETTlS’—third floor. $16.5010-Pc. $1 Pen and 95c Leather Assortment Toilet Sets Pencil Sets par mj yjt t r-w Book Covers Diaries $8.25 50c TIAJ Mil L 47 c XL Price Pearl* on amber, quartz VV omen’s high grade Galoshes, fashioned of WjmjMmlA In pleasing Florentine Jfeny sizes and styles, and Lucite. 14-Kt. Gold Pen Point. rst ru hber. Slide or snap styles. leather. Some are real leather. * floor. PETTIS'-street floor. bro "' n OT tWO - tone Color 4IHHk rEmS'-.treet floor. PEITIS'-street floor. 81.95 Colonial 81 Leatherette Si Boxed 98cImported & Bridge Lamps Hassocks II AA -** Stationery Tapestries 98c ■ 50c 49c Wrought iron bases with Size 12x14 inches. Up- Note and letter sizes. Col- Size 16x48 inches. Beaudecorated shades. holstered in colors. ors. tiful designs. PETTlS’—third floor. PETTlS'—third floor. PETTIS’ basement. PETTlS’—street floor PETTlS’—street floor. - - - - ■

THE INDIANAPOLIS TIMES

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