n have
different occupations and interests from girls, but when they are
admitted to a family they are often admitted on terms of easy
friendship. In London you may ask a young man with others to dinner at
intervals, and never get to know him; in Berlin you ask him without
others to supper, and soon get to know him very well. Besides, a
German cannot endure life long without an _Ausflug_ or a _Landpartie_,
and when the family plans one it includes one or two of its friends.

When two Germans do get engaged they let their world know of it. A
betrothal there is not the informal flimsy contract it often is with
us. They begin by publishing the event in their newspapers, and
sending round printed forms announcing it to their friends. In the
newspaper the announcement is rather bare compared with the
advertisement of other family events. "Engaged. Frl. Martha Raekelwitz
mit Hrn. Ingenieur Julius Prinz Dresden-Hamburg" is considered
sufficient. But the printed intimations sent round on gilt-edged paper
or cardboard to the friends of the contracting parties are more
communicative. On one side the parents have the honour to announce the
engagement of their daughter Anna to Mr. So-and-So, and on the other
side Mr. So-and-So announces his engagement to Miss Anna. Here is a
reproduction of such a form, with nothing altered except the actual
names and addresses. On the left-hand side of the double sheet of
cartridge paper the parents of the _Braut_ have their say--

"Die Verlobung ihrer Tochter Pauline mit Herrn Referendar Dr.
jur. Heinrich Schmidt in Berlin beehren sich ergebenst
anzuzeigen.

Geh. Regierungsrat Dr. EUGEN BRAND
Koenigl. Gymnasialdirektor und
FRAU HELENE, geb. ENGEL

STUTTGART, _im Juni 1906_
Tiergarten 7"

Then on the opposite page the future bridegroom speaks for himself--

"Meine Verlobung mit Fraeulein Pauline Brand, Tochter des
Koenigl. Gymnasialdirektors Herrn Geh. Regierungsrat Dr. Eugen
Brand und seiner Frau Gemahlin Helene, geb. Engel, in
Stuttgart, beehre ich mich ergebenst anzuzeigen.

Dr. jur. HEINRICH SCHMIDT
Referendar

BERLIN, _im Juni 1906_
Kurfuerstendamm 2000"

Directly these forms have been circulated, all the friends who have
received one and live near enough pay a visit of congra