The Kenosha telegraph and tribune. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1859-1860, 1859-06-30
Prussian Manners and Customs.
An American in Berlin thus writes respecting
that city and its peope:-

An American in Berlin thus writes respecting
that city and its people:-
" 1t is not only great city--it is a queer one
This makes itself to be seen continually, and not
always pleasantly. The acrongheadedness, said
to be peculiar to the Irshmau, seems to me to
be, at least in an equal degree, inherent in the
German Their customs differ from those of all
o'hef nations they are as unlike us in certain
respects us they are unlike the Chinese. Their
cookery is so different that many persons visit.
ing the city are unable for long time to eat
any thing with pleasure or comfort. | myself
nave been here two months, and find even now,
when might be supposed near accmated but
two or three dishes which suit me at all Every
one, too, is familiar with the German sleeping
customs-a narrow bed two feet wide, and SO
short that a man of ordinary height 5 Obliged
to double up, in order that he may sleep in it
and covered with that abomination, a feather
bed Such is the only arrangement, the only
Germamc notion of bed; the mobiles have no
other-the peasants use the same. Ii any per-
son wants wider bed, two are placed side by
SIDE but though this may be covered with one
quit, the Prussian mind seems never to have
been illuminated; they saw not, for Il cir eyes
were holden. Then their evening concerts and
parties begin so early, that in summer evening
has not fairly set in when the assembly has
broken up; and in winter vast gulf yawns
between the end of the evenings amusement
and bedtime. On some accounts this is q good
custom, tayoring early hours in every way; but
1t leads to much evil whish any one in Berlin
can mark without difficulty. The language is,
to foreigner, strangely involved: they have
two distinct characters for writing, and also two
for printing, used and well understood by all /;
and their odd use of the masculine, feminine
and neuter genders, puzzles while it amuses.
Think OF speech in which the word dog is
masculine, and horse is neuter the sun felnin-
inc, the moon mascune-tady feminine, and
girl, aooman and Miss neuter
1t is polite city--a city in which punctil-
hous poiteness olns with true heartfelt polite
ness-two very different things. Here no man
enters a restaurant or cafe, or any place of pub
lie resort, with his hat on his head it would be
considered rudeness to the guests assembled
II one In walking rapidly through the streets
chances, ever SO slightly, to brush against an
other, the hats of both are not touched but lift
ed, and Excuse me, sill, - 80 Don't mention it,
are out OF their lips the instant. Should a
stranger ask any chance person in the street
the direction to any place, the polite Beniner
Immediately volunteers to show it himself, and
actually in many cases will go the whole dis
lance, that the stranger may not lose his route.
L remember being thus kindly accompanied,
more thap a mile, by one whom l had never
seen; aud in another instance nearly the same
distance by another person. If your brother is
spoken Of, it is your herr brother; if your
wife, your lady wife In the shops customers
greet the statesmen or women when they enter
do not Immediately begin business, but say a
polite word or two, and then make their pur-
chases and always say AIDE or good bye,
when leaving. An educated, refined German
is, hesitate not to say, one OF the most learned,
polite and agreeable man on the face of the
earth. The only rude persons IN Berlin seem
to be foreigners, and especially-slas that |
should say it-English and Americans I"