Category: Novels
The red flag of international Socialism waves from the palace and from all the public buildings of Berlin. If our immortal Bebel could but have lived to see this! He always used to tell the bourgeoisie that “the catastrophe was almost at their very doors.” Friedrich Engels had...
I have not been in the House since the debate on the savings bank question. It will be remembered that this was prior to the recent general election, and that the House, or as i...
6. CHAPTER VI. ASSIGNMENT OF WORK.The union between Franz and Agnes is suddenly put off indefinitely. The police have to-day distributed the orders relating to the occupations of the people, which orders are bas...
5. CHAPTER V. A PARLIAMENTARY SITTING.It was only with considerable trouble that Franz and I managed to-day to squeeze ourselves into the House situated in Bebel Square (the King’s Square of old days). A settlement...
24. CHAPTER XXIV. THE ELECTION STIR.The general election is at last to take place, and next Sunday is fixed as the polling day. This choice of a day of rest and leisure deserves the highest commendation, as nowada...
12. CHAPTER XII. THE NEW STATE COOKSHOPS.It was, indeed, a wonderful achievement that to-day, in Berlin, one thousand State cookshops, each one capable of accommodating 1,000 persons, should have been opened at one str...
11. CHAPTER XI. THE NEW DWELLINGS.The universal dwelling-house lottery has taken place, and we are now in possession of our new home; but I cannot exactly say that we have bettered our position. We used to live...
21. CHAPTER XXI. FLIGHT.We have just passed through terrible days. On Sunday morning Franz arrived here unexpectedly on his way to Stettin, to which town, as I take it, he has been transferred. My wife...
17. CHAPTER XVII. IN AND ABOUT THE WORKSHOPS.I am very glad that I have now received the appointment as checker which my friend in office promised me some time ago. I shall no longer have to be employed in the workshop. I...
8. CHAPTER VIII. THE LAST DAY TOGETHER.I have had rather a bad time of it to-day with my two women folk, my wife and Agnes. It was mother’s birthday, a day whose return I have for the last twenty-five years greeted w...
9. CHAPTER IX. THE GREAT MIGRATION.In place of the cab which we had expected to fetch away grandfather and the children, a furniture-van pulled up before the house in the early morning. An official who accompanie...
19. CHAPTER XIX. RECREATIONS OF THE PEOPLE.Open-air concerts are continually being given in the various public squares of Berlin. The new Chancellor is going the right way to work to make himself popular. In all the thea...
23. CHAPTER XXIII. FOREIGN COMPLICATIONS.The entire navy left by the late Government is to be got ready for service with all possible speed. In addition to this, the standing army, which had already been increased to 5...
28. CHAPTER XXVIII. DOMESTIC AFFAIRS.My poor wife still lingers on at the hospital, and the doctor lately asked me to make as few visits as I possibly could to her, so that she might be kept from all excitement. Fo...
18. CHAPTER XVIII. FAMILY MATTERS.Sunday was such a Sunday as I had never spent before. My wife got permission at last to visit little Annie. It seems that the observance of order in the Children’s Homes necessi...
20. CHAPTER XX. DISAGREEABLE EXPERIENCES.As checker, I ought by rights to denounce the pair of them to the proper authorities for over-production, and for exceeding the maximum hours of labour. Fortunately, however, th...
7. CHAPTER VII. NEWS FROM THE PROVINCES.All young men of the age of twenty are required to enrol themselves within three days. Agnes’ brother is among this number. The “National Bulwark,” as it is called, is to be org...
27. CHAPTER XXVII. A LARGE DEFICIT.A deficit of a milliard per month! A thousand million marks expenditure over income per month! That was the disagreeable message with which the Chancellor greeted the assembling...
15. CHAPTER XV. EMIGRATION.The ministerial crisis called forth by the boot-polishing question is not yet over. Meantime, a decree has been issued against all emigration without the permission of the autho...
10. CHAPTER X. THE NEW CURRENCY.Trade is very brisk with the photographers. All persons between the ages of twenty-one and sixty-five years, that is to say, all those who are not inmates of State establishment...
26. CHAPTER XXVI. THE RESULT OF THE ELECTIONS.With heaviness such as this in the heart, all political matters seem so immaterial and idle to one. The sorrows of the present moment make one regard all considerations for the...
35. CHAPTER XXXV. THE LAST CHAPTER.“MY DEAR FRANZ,--Be a man, and prepare yourself to bear with fortitude the sad news this letter conveys. Our dear father is no longer amongst the living. Like many other innocen...
1. CHAPTER I. CELEBRATION DAY.The red flag of international Socialism waves from the palace and from all the public buildings of Berlin. If our immortal Bebel could but have lived to see this! He always used...
33. CHAPTER XXXIII. THE COUNTER-REVOLUTION BEGINS.The iron-workers on strike have no intention of being starved out. Paying a visit to my father-in-law, I discovered on the way home that a number of these men were about attempt...
2. CHAPTER II. THE NEW LAWS.One hears the most exquisite stories of the scramble there is on the part of the bourgeoisie to get across the frontier. But where are they to go to? Socialism is now dominant i...
25. CHAPTER XXV. SAD NEWS.Annie, our dear, precious, little Annie, is dead! It seems impossible to actually realise that the pretty, little creature that used to frolic about, so full of life and joy, is...
31. CHAPTER XXXI. MENACING DIPLOMATIC NOTES.The socialistic Governments of Russia and France are quite as much at their wits’ ends as we are to know how to overcome the difficulties that are constantly arising. Hence they...
22. CHAPTER XXII. ANOTHER NEW CHANCELLOR.The discontent in the country has now reached its culmination upon its becoming generally known that all concerts, and theatres, and other amusements in Berlin are free. The inh...
4. CHAPTER IV. THE CHOICE OF TRADES.Big red placards on all the hoardings remind people that in accordance with the regulations of the new Labour Law, all persons of both sexes between the ages of twenty-one and s...
32. CHAPTER XXXII. GREAT STRIKE AND SIMULTANEOUS OUTBREAK OF WAR.All the iron-workers in Berlin and the neighbourhood came out on strike this morning, upon the refusal of their demands to receive the full reward of their labour. The Governmen...
14. CHAPTER XIV. A MINISTERIAL CRISIS.The Chancellor has tendered his resignation. All well-intentioned persons must sincerely regret this step, especially after yesterday’s event. But the Chancellor is said to be i...
30. CHAPTER XXX. THREATENED STRIKE.The Chancellor’s new proposals for getting rid of the great deficit have been received on all sides in Berlin with mockery and derision. To what lengths this dissatisfaction may...
3. CHAPTER III. DISCONTENTED PEOPLE.Agnes, our prospective daughter-in-law, is quite inconsolable, and Franz is hardly less depressed. Agnes is in fear for her dowry. For a long time past she has been industriousl...
34. CHAPTER XXXIV. DISHEARTENING NEWS.To-day has been the saddest day of all my life. On going to see my wife I found that she talked incoherently and wildly, and did not recognise me. The doctor said he must convey...
13. CHAPTER XIII. A VEXING INCIDENT.Our Chancellor is not made so much of as he used to be. I am sorry to see this, because it is impossible to find anywhere a more capable, energetic, and active State leader, or...
16. CHAPTER XVI. RETIREMENT OF THE CHANCELLOR.My ardent wish has not been fulfilled. The Chancellor’s resignation has been accepted, and the President of the Chamber has been nominated as his successor. It seems the Cabinet...