47

for the past year two regular troupes of professional
actors and actresses; and, what is more, not by indi-
vidual speculation with lucrative aim and success, but under
considerable pecuniary sacrifices by the strenuous efforts of
two noble-minded clubs The " Concordia " deserves public
thanks not only for erecting a splendid building, the hall of
which is considered by many the prettiest although not the
largest in this country, but also for the unceasing efforts and
liberality in supporting the German drama. The stage of the
" Concordia" is, in regard to the selection of pieces, per-
formance of the first characters, taste of costume and scenery,
equal, if not superior, to any German theatre in this country,
whilst in liberality toward the art and the artists, it surpasses
anything previously known. The other, the Turner Thea-
tre, is perhaps second in means to the Conoordia, but in lib-
erality and enthusiasm it is not inferior. It has also the
merit that on account of lower prices it reaches classes of pop,
ulation who are seldom visitors of the other theatre. There
are also private theatricals here, of which the stage in Me-
chanic's Hall has quite respectable proportions. The average
standard of the dramatic performances gives general satisfac-
tion, and a steady improvement ia perceptible. Original
pieces, as of domestic authorships, have also made their
appearance, and the prospects are promising for more and
improved efforts. In regard to Painting, we cannot point to
works of the first magnitude and celebrity, but there are many
meritorious specimens of portraits, landscapes, historical and
other sketches in the parlors and saloons of our city which
bave emanated from German artists. In a similar manner it
may be said of the Plastic Art that Wood and stone proclaim
in several public places aad many private houses the standard
of the German chisel.

COMMERCE.

There are about six German basking houses in Baltimore,
i. e., such as transact exchange business between Europe and
the Germans of our city; about 190 wholesale merchants and
not less than 1,500 retail dealers in different branches of com-
merce. Steamboat linea are not in the hands of German cap-
italists, yet of late there is one such enterprise in progress,
with fair prospect of early and favorable results. Direct
import and export from this port to Europe are but on a small
scale when compared with New York or Philadelphia, but
what there is done", especially in the line of importing, is
nearly all done by German merchants, and in consequence of
this, there are certain branches of commerce, as, p. e., toys,
fancy goods and notions, clothing, etc., in a great measure in
their hands exclusively.

The German merchants as a class represent many very
substantial firms and considerable wealth, although they do