European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - April 8, 1968, Darmstadt, Hesse Chin re i Boguts German Chimney sweeps casually walk on six Inch wide boards As they Cross apartment House roofs to get to the next sooty Job. By Robert j. Erb a staff writer "w7e Are among the cleanest peo w pie in the world the Young Man said flashing his White Teeth Ina wide Grin that contrasted sharply with his Black sooty take a Shower every Day. Who else can say that Caincr Reuss 20, paused from haul ing up his hemp rope and set himself More securely on the rim of a tall Chimney some 100 feet above the pave ment. Rainer is a Chimney sweep. It is a / 4 a Bas avos by dirty task is happily Dono. Dirty Job but in Germany it might better be termed a calling because of its traditional acceptance As something special. Germans believe it brings Luck to see a Chimney sweep making his rounds in his Black uniform often with the traditional silk top hat that is a picturesque if somewhat incongruous addition. Young journeymen like Rainer also get frequent requests from Young ladies for a hair from the special brushes used to clean top hats and Skull Caps of similar material worn inside Chimney. The hair is put in a purse and is supposed to ensure that the Money never will run the ladies will also stroke a Chimney sweep s Cheek to wipe off some of the soot another superstition that is sup posed to bring Luck. There is also the compensation of be ing a hero to the Small Fry who Are very impressed that even a grown Mandan get and stay dirty at least until the Shower that ends each nine hour working Day five Days a week. According to Chimney Swee Headquarters in West Berlin there Are about 10,000 Chimney sweeps in the country divided about evenly Between masters and journeymen one of each for each District. In addition there Are apprentices As need dictates plus additional journeymen in some districts. West Berlin has 207 masters 217 Jour it men and about 50 apprentices. In communist East Berlin there Are 114masters, 111 journeymen and 12 apprentices. Fly Liz Wieseke Deputy chief of the Chimney sweep Guild in West Berlin said that the communist East German re Gime had not incorporated Chimney sweeps into collectives As had been clone with Many Oiler craftsmen. Pri Marily he explained this is because they would rather have an individual responsible for Security against fires than rely on collective responsibility. Keeping chimneys from becoming fire hazards is the sweep s chief task. This Means removing soot from the Chim Ney its of am tie l i a Oul lots at Tho Bottom some of which have to be crawled into. It is also the sweep s responsibility to indicate where repairs Are necessary. By Law every German Chimney must have a sweep. A modern by product according to Wieseke is that the Chimney sweeps help keep a City s air clean in an age where every Little bit counts. Guenter Knauer 38, the master wit whom Rainer works said that a Chim Ney is cleaned either from the Botto up or from the top Down. From the Bottom up Means the sweep goes into the Chimney and with elbows and Knees makes his Way up wielding wire Broomas he goes. He carries a flashlight pinned to his Chest. From the top Down the brooms fall sorts sizes and shapes Are attached to a weighted hemp rope and let Dowland then pulled Back up. This is cleaner work but Rainer says the pull is about"20 pounds to the the Chimney he was demonstrating on was atop a District City Hall and was about 40 Yards High. Either Way Knauer said it is hard Dur ing world War ii he added Chimney sweeps were Given the top ration cards issued to persons classified As heavy labourers. Knauer and Rainer serve about 800houses. As Rainer demonstrated while perched atop the City Hall it is a Job calling for cat like balance and Little fear of Heights. On connecting apart ment houses the sweep goes from Chimney to Chimney along the Peak of the gabled roofs. Sometimes there is a six Inch wide Walkway sometimes therein t. Like the postman the sweep makes his rounds in All k is of weather. St. Florian. Guardian against the dangers of fire is the Chimney sweep s Patron Saint and on a Winter Day with ice and Snow on a roof the sweep can use his help. Wieseke said that the risks Are included in the pay a Journeyman gets. A Journeyman is paid about 240 Marks week $60. When he becomes a master the pay goes up with the monthly fees for varying chimneys in Vari Ous buildings fixed by Law. As a master he also will have much of the heavy dirty and dangerous work behind him. Wieseke said that apprentices Are getting harder to come by. Ours he said is a society that increasingly goes for jobs with ties and collars. But we can always Tell when times Are get Ting worse. Then All of a sudden there Are plenty of Rainer said he became a Chimney sweep because his father told him he would have a Good and secure future. Like Rainer. A budding Chimney sweep begins three years of apprenticeship at age 15.perhaps As a sign of the times some masters Are now putting automobile wheels under their journeymen As they make their rounds. For the most part however Germany s Chimney sweeps still ride about on bicycles Black face silhouettes of a traditional Craft whose members add something to a passerby Day As they smile tip their top hats and wish you Luck. The stars and stripes Sis Botzum it s no Job for the Accident prone. Page u
