New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-09-04
LIFE IN MODERN GERMANY,
From The Pail Mall Gazette.


twenty years ago Germany perhaps the
worstdressed nation i'm Europe, the long coats
the women, being proverbal. All this is of the
past. Very great attention is now paid by both
sexes and all ranks to personal appearance. while
a general increase OF well-beng, better food, and
better hygienic arrangements is telling upon the
good looks as well physique of the rising genera
ton: Here people are not materialized by great
wealth. and although in our eyes German respect of
titles and military rank may seem ver-wcening
the general contempt of money, merely as money
has something fine about It, The golden calf is not
worshipped on German soil. Learning, official
court to. Small means and a modest living are not
held in degradation. People who live sparingly or
AS we should say, stlngily, are not ashamed of tho
among ourselves. In Germany IL is the man. the
,4ensch the ccsen that is held in honor not the fine
things of this world which lend him fictitious
spendor. In what other country of the world is
the professor, the teacher, and the savant held in
position IN society and that respect IS paid TO the
instructed which is their due. Again, take the
uncompromsing self-denlal exercised by German
men and women IN daily life, French people are as
rgidly economical, but while laying by tor their
children for old always contrive to enjoy the
present. What French people even in the hum
bier 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 cannot afford TO have a
single eNtravagance, and only indulge in intellec-
tual pleasures. The national love of music, htera-
tuIe, and the drama is the bright side of life.
And there is yet one more lesson may learn
from our German neighbors-namely, discipline the
WnlGh every German chlld is taught TO bow
Phicht is Taught in schools as regularly as Il G,
and it is taught after sternest fashion in life. Not
only the young recruit learns it during this three
years enforced military service, but the man of
pleasure, the nofcnSlvc citizen. the mead of
family IN every phase of his existence Were an
Englishman subjected to all the police regulations
ANA state I'M erterence hemming round a German,
he would find life intolerable. This discipline.
there fore, however much may admire IL from
one point of view, and however valuable we have
seen 1t To be rs an element of n nations success,
has dark side. and leads us to consider the draw
backs OF German social life generally. There can
be no doubt whatever that the German diyidu-
atty is disciplined and taxed TO death, and that
Socialism so-called is but another name for wide
spread and deep-rooted discomfort. The limita-
tons pat upon speech and the expression of opinion
must be felt real grievance, while the result is
Il canton, We might almost call il timidity, that
particularly strikes an English mind Nobody ever
seems 10 dream of ventllating public nuisance i'm "A
newspaper, and, alike IN the of social and pol-
itcal expressions, there 10 safety-valve of I'M
limited protest and discussion.
1t TX very difficult Ia get fair question fairly
answered that has reference to any important
the SUBJECTS that are most interesting 20 foreigner,
and, ~ rule, he must Judge for himself instead of
trusting TO information gained from others. have
to the conclusion that the foreigner on German
great artistic and intellectual resources here, there
are checks aud vexations which would render Ter
man life uncomfortable to outsiders. Prince Bis
marck, like an oyerstrict and over vigilant school
master has oVershot the mark and makes hypocrites
of his scholars AT least so must believe. and not
wlthStandlng outward expressions of loyalty, and
an optimism commonly INDUCED in, there is no
country in Europe where great changes are more
ferventiy hoped for and relied upon There is one
point more ! would mention and that is the unani-
mously expressed kindness and admiration of the
people considered individually. toward the French
nation. | have heard thoughtful, highly educated
Germans. men of the world too, express as deep
regret for the annexation of ASace and Lorraine as
the most ardent French patriot could do, and the
general feeling seems to be desire Tor Cancellation
intercourse,