er
journeymen of the Guild are there too, and they comfort the sick man, and
hand him the weekly stipend, half-a-crown, allowed out of the sick-fund.
Hans contributes to this sick-fund two marks--two shillings and
fourpence--a quarter. He does it willingly, but the master has power to
deduct it from his wages in the name of the Guild. His poor sick friend
dies; away from home and friends--a desolate being among strangers. But
he is not, therefore, to be neglected. Every workman in the trade is
called upon to contribute his share--about sevenpence--towards the
expenses of the funeral; and the two senior, assisted by four other
journeymen, in full evening dress, attend his funeral. His effects are
then carefully packed up, and sent--a melancholy memorial of the dead--to
his relations.

From the same fund which relieves the sick, are the "wandering boys" also
assisted. But the "Geschenk" (gift), as it is called, is a mere trifle;
sometimes but a few pence, and in a large city like Berlin it amounts to
but twenty silver groschen--little more than two shillings. It is not
considered disgraceful to accept this donation; as all, when in work,
contribute towards the fund from which it is supplied.

And what is the amount of wages that German workmen receive? In Hamburg
wages vary from five to eight marks per week, that is, from seven
shillings to ten and sixpence, paid monthly. In Leipsic they are paid
fortnightly, and average about ten shillings per week. In Berlin wages
are paid by the calendar month, and average twenty-four dollars (a dollar
is rather more than three shillings), for that period; so that a workman
may be said to earn about eighteen shillings a week, but is dependent on
his own resources for food and lodging. In Vienna the same regulation
exists, and wages range from five to eight guldens--ten to sixteen
shillings per week--paid weekly, as in England. But a workman in Vienna
may be respectably lodged, lighted, and washed for at the rate of
half-a-crown a week. In Berlin and Vienna married journeymen are to be
met with, but not in great numbers, and in smaller towns they may almost
be said to be unknown. Dr. Korth, in his address to his young friends,
the "travelling boys," on this subject, emphatically says--"Avoid, in
God's name, all attachments to womankind, more especially to those of
whom your hearts would say, 'These could I love.'" And then the quaint
old gentleman proceeds to say a numbe