The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1881-10-08
New Aspects Of German Life.

A correspondent, writing to the Pall
Mail Gazette from Germany, makes the
following remarks:
"FrOm the mere tourists point "a
view I find extraordinary improve
ments, hotels being far in advance of
those familiar to me twenty and even
ten years ago, and much more comfort
being attainable with only moderate in
crease in charges; from an aesthetic
point of view the change is no less great.
and commendable. Twenty years ago
Germany was perhaps the worst-dressed
nation in Europe, the long coats, muff-
lers and long hair of the men, the dowdi.
ness of the women, being proverbial.
All this is of the past. Very greak at
tention is now pal by both sexes and
all ranks to personal appearance, while
q general increase of well-being, better
food and better hygienic arrangements
is telling upon the good looks as well as
physique Of the rising generation. An
in6ltration of French manners as we'll
as of French taste is to be detected ev.
erywhere, while not q few wholesome
practical notions have been gathered
from ourselves. This is as it should be,
and If We for our part would learn 3
lesson or two from our Teutonic neigh.
bOrs in matters of thrift, contentedness.
and also ethics, it would do US good.
Here people are not materialized BY
great wealth, and although in our eyes
German respect of titles and military
rank may seem over-weening, the gen.
eral contempt of money, merely as
money, has something fine about it.
The golden calf is not worshiped on
German soil. Learning, official, mill
tary and professional position are paid
supreme court to. Small means and
modest style Of living are not held in
degradation. People who live sparing-
", or, as We should say, stingily, are
not ashamed of the fact and not social
" Inconvenience by it, as among our
selves.
"What French people, even in tho
humber ranks Of life, spend on eating
and drinking is enormous. Doubtless
such good fare and good wine have
much to do with their amiability and
high spirits; but the Germans can not
afford to have . single extrsvsgance,
and only indulge in Intellectual pleas
ures. The national love of music, liter
ature and the drama is the bright side
of life.
"I'he limitations put upon speech
and the expression Of opinion must DO
felt as q real grievance, while the result
is q caution, We might almost call it 3
timidity, that particularly strikes an
English mind. Nobody ever seems to
dream Of ventilating public nuisance
in . newspaper, and alike in the case Of
social and political expressions. there IS
no safety-valve of unlimited protest and
discussion. All this seems to US strange
| in q country possessing constitutional
government and nominally free press.
"There is one point more I would
mention, and that is the unanimously
EXPIRE ,sed kindliness and admiration of
the people. considered individually, to-
ward the French nation. l have heard
thoughtful, highly educated Germans,
men of the world, too, express as deep
= regret for the annexation of Alsace
and Lorraine as the most ardent French
patriot could do, and the general feel
Ing seems to be desire for Cancellation
and friendly intercourse. The fact is,
the Germans, no more than ourselves,
can afford to miss French esprit, French
vivacity, and the innumerable gracea
and charms of French character %
strikingly contrasted to their own more
solid yet none the less admirable quail
ties. 1t is pleasant to find that tie -
cial relations Of the two nations age b
ing renewed BY travel and other mean
Of intercourse, and that nothing stand
In the way Of true understanding DO
tween French and Germans regarded q
individuals but increaaing knowledge o
one another. At least Co. Judge, hay
ing had no mean opportunity Of form
ing an opinion. In fact, unpleasant q
is the admission, there can be littl
doubt that the French are much bette
liked than ourselves, and not only her
and there, but throughout the lengtl
and hrAAffh ~ thu Vafor1and.0