Charities, The city council spends an nually about $80.00, aiding various private charitable associations; for instance, nine or ganizations for nursing the sick, 15 for the care of children;five for the care of wonien lying-in, and 43 other aid associations; also 23 educa tional institutions, besides a large number of foundations partly under the administration, partly under the inspection of the city.
The city has two asylums for the homeless. one for families, the other for such persons as only require a shelter for the night. A simi lar institution, as uAsy1,3) is maintained by a private association. In fact, it is characteristic of Berlin that public and private charity sup plement each other. The care of the poor, as such, is in the hands of the city administration, and about 4,000 persons are employed in this work, though in honorary positions and with out salary.
In addition to these means of providing for the poor must be mentioned the system of in surance for the worlcing classes. The statute regulating insurance against sickness was passed in 1883, though previous to that time such insurance had already been made com pulsory. The obligation is placed upon the employer, who pays the assessments and de ducts the amount from the wages of the work man. At present there are 129 branches of this kind of insurance under the control of the city council, besides a few branches that are con trolled by the state, and a number of private associations. The number of workingmen and women insured already exceeds 700,000, and in 1910 about $7,000i000 was paid out in sick insurance. According to the law, the weekly al lowance during sickness is paid for as long as 26 consecutive weeks, but, under special cir cumstances, it may be paid for as long a period as 52 weeks. The city has built upon its own land homes for the convalescent, which are for the complete recovery of the sick. For the rest the city hospitals are open to the insured, but their expenses must be paid out of the in surance money.
There is in Berlin a state institution for the care of invalid worlanen. In connection with the same there are several sanatoria which care for those who are about to become invalids. The sanatorium at Belitz may be mentioned: It is fitted up in magnificent style and is probably the best sanatorium on the continent of Europe.
Educational Institutiona.,-In the field of education the University of Berlin takes the first place. It was founded by Frederick Wil liam III in 1810. During the winter term of 1910 there were enrolled over 7,500 regular students, besides almost as many more so called Zuhorer, i.e., mostly persons who have secured permission to attend lectures, hut whose previous education is not sufficient to enable them to talce up systematic studies lead ing to a degree. In connection with the uni
versity is the Seminary for Oriental Languages.
Further, of special significance is the (Tech nische Hochschule,z' which has nearly 3,000 students; also the “Bergakademie,* and the Hochschulen for agriculture, for fine art, arid for music.
All these are state institutions. To them has now been added a Hochschule for Commerce, which is being erected by the 4Aeltesten der Berliner Kaufmannschaft.'" This is a society of merdiants which was licensed by Frederick William III in 1820. Formerly they exercised the function of a board of trade. Since the Chamber of Commerce was formed some years ago they have had to give up this function and have extended their activity into the field of commercial education.
As to Gymnasia and Realgymnasia, Berlin has five royal and 20 city institutions. There are besides, 13 city Realschulen, two royal and six city high schools for girls, four city finish ing schools, a normal school, a royal seminary for male teachers, a similar one for female teachers and teachers of gymnastics, a royal the atre-school and school for deaf-mutes, a city school for deaf-mutes, and a city school for the blind. Instruction in these schools is free. It may be added that each of the suburbs has its own schools of various kinds.
Museums and Collections.— The more im portant picture galleries and collections are, the Old and the New Museums, the National Gal lery, the Pergamon Museum and the Emperor Frederick Museum — all maintained by the state. Further, the Ravene Museum. Among historical collections may be mentioned the Royal Hohenzollern Museum, the Zeughaus, the Provincial Museum — a city institution, the Post Museum, and the royal museums for an thropology and German ethnology. The liberal arts are represented by the Royal Museum for Liberal Arts and by the exhibit of the Royal Porcelain Manufactory. Further, there are the royal museums for science, for agriculture, for mining and smelting, and for pathology. The Zoological Garden belongs to a private com pany, but it is in the nature of a public utility. The Aquarium is also owned by private par ties, but is subventioned by the authorities. The state maintains a botanical garden. There are also the Hygienic Museum, the Colonial Mu seum and the Institute for Hydrography, which serve further the interests of science and the technic of shipbuilding. A curious recent crea tion is a permanent exhibition of contrivances for the betterment of the conditions of labor. There are three astronomical observatories, a state observatory and two private ones. The latter are always open to the public.