M'arthur Democrat. (McArthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1853-1865, 1859-04-14
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Prussian Manners and Customs,

Prussian Manners and Customs,
An American in Berlin thus writes,
respecting that city and its people. to
the Ecangeli8t
1t is not only a great city, it is a
queer one. This makes itself to be
seen continually, and not always pleas
anuy. The aOrOnghcadedness, said
to be peculiar to the lrishman, seer
to ME to be at least, in an equal degree,
inherent in the German. Their Gus
toms differ from those of Of all other
nations; they are as unlike us in Ger.
tain respects, % they are unlike the
Chinese. Their cookery ia so differ
ent that many persons visiting the
city are unable for long time to eat
Rpv thingC Eith,pleasure or comfort.
ge been here two months,
b now, when | might be
supposed nearly acclimatcd, 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 is obliged to
double up in order that he may sleep
in it, and covered with that aboulina-
ton a feather, bed; such is the only
arrangement, the German notion OF q
bed: the mobiles have no other, the
peasants use the same. lfany person
wants wide bed, two are placed side
by side; but though this may be GOV.
cred with one quilt, the PInssian mind
seems never to have been illuminated;
they saw not, for their eyes were hold.
en-. Thus 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 win.
ter vast gull yawns between the end
Of the evenings amusemcn: and bed
time. On somo accounts this is a
good custom, favoring early hours in
every way; but it leads to much evil,
which any one in Berlin can mark
without difficulty. The language is,
to foreigner. strangely involved, they
have two distinct characters for writ.
ing, and also two for printing, used
and well understood by all; and their
odd use of the masculine, feminine,
and ncutre gonders, puzzles, while it
amuses. Think Of a speech in which
in the word dog is masculine,
and horse is ncutre; the sun feminine,
the moon masculine, lady feminine,
and girl, accman and Miss neuter
1t is a polite city-a city in which
punctillious politcness joins with true,
heart felt politeness-two very differ
ent things. Here no man enters
restaurant Or cafe, Or any place ofpub-
lie resort, with his hat on his head; it
would be considered rudeness to the
guests assembled. If one in walking
rapidly through the streets chances,
ever SO slightly, to brush against an.
other, the hats Of both are not touched,
but lifted, and "excusc me, air."
s.don't mention it," are out of their
lips on the instant. Should stranger
ask any chance person in the street the
direction to any place, the polite Ber-
liner Immediately volunteers to show
it himself, and actually, in many cases,
will 90 the whole distance, that the
stranger may not lose his route. |
remember being thus kindly accom-
panied, moro than mile, by one
whom had never seen; and in anoth'
er instance nearly the same distance
by another person. If your brother
is spoken Of, it is your herr brcther;"
ifyour wife, "your lady wife" In the
shops customers greet the statesmen OF
women when they enter; do not i'm
mediately begin business, but say a
polite word or two, and then make
their purchases; and always say,
"Ade," I" or goodbye, when leaving
An educated, refined German is,