BANKING AND INVESTMENT SERVICE THROUGHOUT THE WORLD The National City Bank of New York and Affiliated Institutions THE NATIONAL CITY BANK OF NEW YORK CAPITAL, SURPLUS AND UNDIVIDED PROFITS $238,516,930.08 (AS OF OCTOBER 4, 1929) IIEAI) OFFICE THIRTY-SIX BRANCHES IN 55 WALL STREET, NEW YORK GREATER NEW YORK Foreign Branches in ARGENTINA . BELGIUM . BRAZIL . CHILE . CHINA . COLOMBIA . CUBA DOMINICAN REPUBLIC . ENGLAND . INDIA . ITALY . JAPAN . MEXICO . PERU . PORTO RICO REPUBLIC OF PANAMA . STRAITS SETTLEMENTS . URUGUAY . VENEZUELA. THE NATIONAL CITY BANK OF NEW YORK (FRANCE) S. A. Paris 41 BOULEVARD HAUSSMANN 44 AVENUE DES CHAMPS ELYSEES Nice: 6 JARDIN du Roi ALBERT ler INTERNATIONAL BANKING CORPORATION (OWNED BY THE NATIONAL CITY BANK OF NEW YORK) Head Office: 55 WALL STREET, NEW YORK Foreign and Domestic Branches in UNITED STATES . PHILIPPINE ISLANDS . SPAIN . ENGLAND and Representatives in The National City Bank Chinese Branches. BANQUE NATIONALE DE LA REPUBLIQUE D’HAITI (AFFILIATED WITH THE NATIONAL CITY BANK OF NEW YORK) Head Office: PORT AU-PRINCE, HAITI CITY BANK FARMERS TRUST COMPANY (Formerly The Farmers* Loan and Trust Com pang—now affiliated with The National City Bank of New York) Head Office: 22 WILLIAM STREET, NEW YORK Temporary Headquarters: 43 EXCHANGE PLACE THE NATIONAL CITY COMPANY (AFFILIATED WITH THE NATIONAL CITY BANK OF NEW YORK) HEAD OFFICE OFFICES IN 50 LEADING 55 WALL STREET, NEW YORK AMERICAN CITIES Foreign Offices: LONDON . AMSTERDAM . COPENHAGEN . GENEVA . TOKIO . SHANGHAI Canadian Offices: MONTREAL . TORONTO The National City Company, through its offices and affiliations in the United States and abroad, offers a world-wide investment service to those interested in Dollar Securities. LONDON OFFICE: 34 BISHOPSGATE, E.C. 2. FOREIGN S JOURNAL PUBLISHED MONTHLY BY THE AMERICAN POREIGN SERVICE ASSOCIATION VOL. VI, No. II WASHINGTON, D. C. NOVEMBER, 1929 The Ratskeller By ERIK MAGNUSON, Consul, Halifax, Nova Scotia (at Stuttgart, Wurtemberg, 1922-27) IT would be difficult to conceive of a German stowed and received in abundance. Every one town of any size without a Rathaus, a knows every one else. Each newcomer is seeking Rathausplatz, and, above all—the inseparable a cozy corner—eine nette Ecke—where the eve¬ Ratskeller. While the Town Hall and the Town ning may be whiled away in carefree indolence. Square with encircling frescoed houses generally Animated coteries are soon formed. Obliging are, in themselves, master-pieces of old and quaint waiters hurry back and forth with filled trays architecture, it is the Ratskeller in the cellar story balancing on well trained hands at precarious of the Town Hall which receives the lion’s share angles. of popular appreciation. The Ratskeller—the The cutaway-clothed Obcrkellner, of portly Town Hall Inn—is the beloved rendezvous of the stature and congenial countenance, constantly natives. The “gemutliche” atmosphere lends an winds his way among the tallies and up and down irresistible attraction to the Ratskeller as a meet¬ ing place for the town folks after the toils of the day are over. He who would have a place in the assembled circles of convivial companions must needs come early. As the evening grows dusk and the night air takes on a frosty tinge the habitues, at first one by one, but soon in groups of twos or threes and more, are seen mak¬ ing their way toward the temptingly inviting Rats¬ keller with its pleasing illumination and agree¬ able warmth. Friends meet, hands are shaken, Photo from Erik Magnuson and greetings are be- TOWN HALL SQUARE, STUTTGART, WURTEMBERG 365 the aisles looking after the needs and comforts of the guests with pater¬ nal solicitude. He has a friendly word of greet¬ ing for all, whether habitual frequenters or strangers. The fumy air is filled with an unceas¬ ing undulating murmur of contented voices ac¬ centuated by occasional spurts of contagious laughter. Beaming phys¬ iognomies reflect spirits of contentment and hap¬ piness in the process of exchanging views and relieving pent-up stories of gossip with friends Photo from E. M^gnuaon and neighbors. Every TOWN HALL SQUARE, NUREMBERG, BAVARIA one is happy. The “gemutliche Stimmung” —congenial atmosphere—reigns supreme. The questions of the day, besides local gossip, are being discussed with more or less fervency, while last year’s vintage continues shrinking to the point of renewed replenishment. A permanent institution of the Ratskeller is found in the inevitable “Stammtisch”. This is a table set aside in a selected place for a certain group of inveterate habitues. It is being scru¬ pulously reserved day in and day out for the chosen few. The right to each place at the Stammtisch is jealously guarded, and woe unto him who would encroach upon another’s treasured privilege. The knights of the Stammtisch, as well as other habitual frequenters, are in a category of their own and known under the local epithet of Fibster. The Fibsters come regularly every evening and remain until closing time. Business is talked, politics discussed, wars waged, govern¬ ments criticized, and new methods devised for the most expeditious management of public afifairs —all under the blissful influence of the stimulat¬ ing atmosphere. Time is progressing, the evening drawing to a close, and the air is growing heavy. The coteries gradually break up. The individuals are reluctantly departing with miscellaneous remarks on the delightful evening before bidding fare¬ well to remaining friends. Transparent billows of tobacco smoke are lightly wafting their way, past amber-shaded chandeliers, towards the ceiling. Photo from Erik Magnuson Every one has left except a few Fibsters, who Old Town Hall, Weilerstadt, Wurtemberg—Statue of are too deeply engrossed in an unsolved problem Kepler, German Astronomer, born here (1571-1630) to notice the flight of time. 366 But the clock strikes one. It is closing time RETIREMENT and lights are dimmed. The last guests unwill¬ ingly leave this delightful haven of gossip and By JOHN A. L. ODDE good cheer. The final Aufwiedersehen has been (Taken from The Saturday Review of Literature) returned by Herr Oberkellner. The doors are Men to retirement may be born, or may in time achieve it, locked, the lights extinguished, and the Rats- On me the boss has thrust the thing. It galls me to re¬ keller, once more, is dark and silent. ceive it. He tells me I must quit the job (the cause I loathe to mention) Raise chickens for a hobby, and subsist upon a pension. I hope I’ll manage to survive when income has been LADIES LUNCHEON quartered. I dream of sheriffs dragging me to see a budget The Women of the American Foreign Service slaughtered. met at luncheon on Friday, October 18, at the I hate to live a life of ease, but harbor a misgiving University Women’s Club, 1634 I Street, N. W., That nobody will let me have a chance to earn my living. Washington, D. C. Those present were Mes- But it’s the end of autumn. What with labor I have dames Anslinger, Caldwell, Carr, Dawson (and treasured Must yield the winter’s rest which by eternity is Miss Dawson), Erhardt, Imbrie, Ingram, Jack- measured. son, Josselyn, Keblinger, Lay, J. J. Murphy, If naught but pension may remain to cherish an existence, Robert D. Murphy, Moffitt, Peck (and Mme. God help me keep within life’s stream, nor undertake Peck), Smith, Stewart, Swalm, Reed, Thurston, resistance. For strength would fail. I take delight in family, and Washington. It being the first meeting since friends, and Nature, the luncheon on May 28, an election of officers Whose laws I would refuse to change were I God’s was held, Mrs. John K. Caldwell being elected legislature. I’ll banish worry and complaint. I’m in for a vacation. chairman (Mrs. James B. Stewart retiring), and That can’t disturb the soul in me or bust the corporation. Mrs. Paul R. Josselyn, treasurer (in place of Mrs. J. J. Murphy, Jr.). Mrs. H. M. Byington and (The foregoing lines were kindly forwarded by Wil¬ Mrs. Paul H. Ailing were also elected members liam A. Newcomb, Passport Agent, San Francisco, say¬ of the Executive Committee to serve with the ing that he thought it might be of interest to Foreign chairman and the treasurer. Service officers who have retired or are about to do so.) Photo from Erik Magnuson “AS THE EVENING GROWS DUSK,” NUREMBERG, BAVARIA 367 The World Series By PAUL W. EATON, Department THE World Series of baseball games for the In batting, a world series contender seldom championship of the world was played in equals its mark in the season’s previous work. Chicago and Philadelphia, October 8 to 14. This is because the games are pitched by the This event is the climax of the national game’s best pitchers when at their best. This time the year, and the President of the 'United States A’s hit .295 for the season and .281 for the series, made a special trip to Philadelphia to witness and the Cubs, .303 for the season and .235 for the last game of this season’s series, and saw a the series. Neither are many bases stolen in a well played and exciting contest. world series, because the managers prefer to The Athletics of Philadelphia, champions of play it safe. Only one was stolen in this series. the American League, won. This team was or¬ Many records went into the discard. If no ganized by Mr. Cornelius McGillicuddy (“stage new records had been made, that would have name” Connie Mack), by adding four brilliant been a new record. The strikeout record went, young stars, Catcher Gordon Cochrane, First when 50 Cubs were fanned by the A’s pitchers.