Political economists and statisticians
were drawn into excitement by their knowledge of figures. They
extolled the sudden crisis in the money market, the easy returns,
the great development of consumption in goods. They quoted
triumphantly the amount of importations, the great increase in silk,
artistic furniture, glass, jewelry, valuable wines, spices,
liqueuers, was called a splendid development of trade; wonderful
evidence of the prosperity of all classes, and an elevation of the
manner of life of the German people. And if moralists failed to see
in these heated desires and idle display, the presence of progress
and blessing, they were called limited Philistines, who were too
feeble-minded to recognize the signs of the times.
The position of the workingman profited by the new condition of
things. Berlin seemed insatiable in her demands for able-bodied
workmen. Hundreds and thousands left the fields and the woods, and
taking their strong arms to the labor market of the capital, found
employment in the factories and the workshops; and the mighty
engines still beat, sucking in as it were the stream of people from
the country. Berlin itself could not contain this influx. The
newcomers were obliged gypsy fashion to put up as best they could in
the neighborhood.
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