The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-05-25
views FROM A GERMAN sPIOM.

pendicular mirrors, parallel with the easement,
project into the street. yet with certain unob-
trusiveness OF angle that enables them to re-
fleet the people who pass without any recpro-
cal disclosure OF their own. Tho men and
women. hurrying by. not only do not know they
arc observed. but what is worse. do not even
SEQ their own reflection in this hypocrit,cal
plane and are consequently unable through its
aid to correct any carelessness OF garb, gait. or
demeanor. At fret this seems to be taking an
unfair advantage Of the human animal who in
variablv assumes an attitude when he Is con-
scious OF being under human focus; but I OBJ
serve that my neighbours windows. right and
left. have n similar apparatus that this custom
is evidently local one. and the locality il
German. Being an American stranger.
am quito willing to leave the morality
OF the transaction with tho locality. and
adapt myself 10 the custom. Indeed. / had
thought OF Offering 1t. ngurativey rs an excuse
for any unfarness OF observation / might
make in these pages but my German mirrors
reflect without prejudice selection, or comment,
and tho American eve. fear. Ia but mortal.
and like all mortal eyes flguratively. as well az
in that literal fact noted by an eminent scen-
tifc authority. Infinitely inferior to the work Of
the best German opticians
And this leads me to my fret observation.
namely that n majority Of those who pass my
mirror have weak eyes. and have already in
voked the aid OF tho optician. Why are these
people, physically in all else so much stronger
than my countrymen. deficient in eyesight2
Or. to omit tho passing testimony OF my spion.
and take my own personal experience. why
does my young friend Max-brlghtest Of all
schoolboys. who already wears the cap that de-
notes the highest class-why does he shock me
by suddenly drawing forth pair Of epectaces.
that upon his fresh rosy face would be an OBJ
vious mockinR imitation OF the Herr Pdpd-if
German children could ever. by any possibility.
bo irreverent7 Or why does the Fraulein
Mario. hs sister. pink rs Aurora. round as
Hobe. suddenly veil her blue eyes with
golden lorgnette In the midst OF our poly
glot conversational Is il TO evade she direct,
admirinR glance OF the impulsive Amer-
can? Dare l say moi Dare 1 say that
that frank. clear. honest earnest return OF
the eye which has. on tho Continent. most I'M
fairly brought my fair countrywomen under
criticism. is quite as common to her more care
fully guarded. tradition hedged German sis
ters2 No. II is not that Is ii anything in these
emerald and opal tinted skies. which seem so
unreal to the American eye. and for tho first
time cxplnin what seemed the unreality OF Ger
man art Pin these mysterious yet restful
Rhine fogs which prolong the twilight and hang
the curtain Of romance even over midday
Surely not. Is it not rather. oh, Herr PROBES
sor profound in analogy and philosophy-is 1t
not rather this abominaple black letter this
elsewhere discarded. uncouth. slowly decaying
text known ne the German Alphab t. that plucks
out the bright eyes OF youth and brlstles the
gateways u your language with cRerdur dc
hiss Of splintered rubbish Why must hest
tate whether il is an accident OF tho printers
press or the poor quality Of tho paper that
makes this lettera" r. ora"tP Why must |
halt In an emotion or a thought because S" and
]" are 80 nearly alike? Is 1t not enough that
/. an impulsiye American. accustomed to do n
thing frs, and reflect upon Il afterward must
gropo my way through blind alley Of substan-
tives and adiectiyes. only to find the verb OF ac-
ton in an obscure corner without running my
eyesight In the Eroping2
But dismiss these abstract reflections for a
fresh and active resentment This is the nth
or sixth dog that has passed my sDion hGr-
messed to a small barrow-likc cart and Juggling
painfully at a burden so udicrously dispropor-
tionate to his size. that 1t would seem a bur
| lesquo but for the poor dogs sad sincerity.
! Perhaps because | have the barbarians fond
ness for dogs. and for their lawless. gentle
| loving uselcssness. that rebel against this un-
natural servitude. II seems as monstrous ms n
| a child were put between the shafts and made
| to carry burdens: and have comb to regard
| those men or women who In the weakest per
functory way affect to aid tho poor brute. 10y
| laying idle hands on tho barrow behind. az
| would unnatural parents. Pegasus harnesseC
to the Thracian herdsmans plough was ne
| more OF Dissertation. l fancy the poor dos
seems to feel the monstrosity OF the perform
| ance. and. In sheer shame for his master. for
givingly tries TO assume IL is play. and | hav,
seen a little "colleY running along. barkina
and endeavoring 10 leap and gambol in the
shafts. before q load that any one out Of thi,
| locality would have thought tn direst cruelty
| Nor do the older or more powerful dogs seen
| TO become accustomed TO II. When his cruo
taskmaster halts with his wares. instantly tn,
| dog. either by sitting down In his har
ness, or crawling over the shafts, or b,
some unmistakabe doglike trick. utterl,
scatters any such delusion or even tho habit o
sorvitude. Tho few ot his race who do not worl
in this ducal city seem to have lost their demo
cratic canine sympathies. and look upon hin
with something OF that Indifferent calm will
which yondcr officer eyes the road mende
in the ditch below him. He loses even the char
acteristics Of species-the common cur an,
mastin look alike In harness-the burden level
all distinctions. have said that he was gener
| ally sincere In his efforts. l recall but ono in
stance to tho contrary. I remember youn,
colley. who first attracted my attention by hi
persistent barking. Whether he did this. IA th
plouGhboy whistled. for want OF thought" o
whether it was a running protest against hi
occupation. could NOT determine. until on
day noticed that in barking he slightly tire,
up mis- neck and shoulders and that the two
wheeled barrow-like veh ice behind him. hay
ing its weight evenly poised on the wheels b
tho trucks in the hands Of its driver. enable
him by this movement TO ounningly throw tn
centre OF gravity aud the greAbr weight on tn
mana fact which that less sagaciOus bruta neve
discerned. Perhaps l am using a strong eS
preston regarding his driver; 1t may DO thu
the purely animal wants OF the dog. in tue wa
Of food. care. and shelter. are more bountifull
supplied In seryitude than in freedom: be
coming valuable and useful property. he ma
be cared for aud protected as such-nn odd r.
collection that this argument had boon use
forcibly In regard TO human slavery In my ow
country strikes me here-but his picturesqu,
moss and poetry ara gone. and cannot hel
thinking that tho people who have lost this gel
tile. sympathetic. characteristic hgure froI
their domestic lifo and surrounding have n,
| raA IL.