The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1881-09-07

dIre aRteIIigtnter,


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From the Pail Mall Gazette.
Twenty yeaH ago Germany was perhaps
the worst-dressed nation in Europe, thu
long coats, muiIlers, and long hair Of the
men, the dOwdiness of the women, beinl
proyerbial, All this is Of the past Very
great attention is now paid by both sexes
and all ranks to personal appearance
while general increase Of wel.king, bet
ter food, and better hygienie arrangements
Is telling upon the good looks, as well rs
the physique Of the rising generation.
Here people are not materialized by great
wealth, and although In our eyes German
respect Of titles and military Rnk may
seem Overwhelming, the general contempt
Of money, merely Us money, has something
fine about II, The golden calf is not wor.
shipped on German soil. Learning, Off
Cial, military and professional position are
paid supreme court to. Small means and
modest living are not held in degradation.
People who live sparingly, or, MS we should
say, stingily, are not ashamed OF the fact,
and are not socially inCoveniencel by it. ~
among ourselves. In Germany tits the
man, the meiSch, the weeR, that Is held in
honor, not the fine things OF This world
which lend him fictitious Splendor. In
what other country Of the world Is the pro.
lessor, the teacher, and the savant held in
such esteem? German teachers have a
recognized position in society, and that ri
spect Is paid to the instructed which is
their due. Again, take the lncOmpro.
missing self-deninl exercised by German
men and women in daily life. French peo-
pie are US rigidly economical, but while
laying by for their children or Tor old age
always COntrive to enjoy the present
What French people, even In the humber
ranks OF life, spend on eating aud drinking
Is enormous, Doubtless such good fare
and good wine have much to do with their
inability and high spirits; but the Germans
cannot afford to have asingle extravaganza,
and only indulge in intellectual pleasures.
The national love OF music, literature and
the drama Is the bright side Of lie.
And there isyet one more lesson we may
learn from our German neighbOs- |
", discipline, the incubation Of duty, the
almighty "Pilicht," before which every
German child is taught to bow. "Phichth |
Il taught In schools us regularly Rs A i G, |
and II il taught after sternest fashion OF
life. Not only the young recruit learns il |
during the three years enforced military
service, but the man OF pleasure, the inOl.
iensive citizen, the head OF family in
every phase Of existence. Were an Eng.
lishman subjected 70 al thepolce regula.
tons and State Interference Sheinmihg
round German, he would find life in.
tOlerable. This discipline, therefore, how.
ever much we may admire II from one
point OF view; and however valuable we
have seen II TO be a. an element OF q ma.
tons success, has dark side, and leads lis
toconsiderthe drawbacks OF German social
whatever that the German individuality IL
disciplined and taxed to death, and that
Socialism sO-called is but another name for
u wide spread and deep rooted discomfort
The limitations put upon speech and the
expression Of opinion must be Ielt as u real
grievance, while the result " d caution, we
might almost call II n tinidity, that par.
strikes an Engllsh.mihd. Nobody
ever seems to dream of Ventllatlng pub
lie nuisance in newspaper, and, alike in
the case Of social and neutrality-suspicious.,
there Ia no Rafety.valVe OF unlimited pro-
test and discussion. ..-
1t Is very difficult to get fair question
fairly answered that has reference toanyim-
portant social or political matter. No one
talks readily OH the subjects that are most
foreigner, aud, ~ for rule,
he must Judge for himself, instead OF trust
ing to INFORMATION gained from others
have come to the conclusion that the for.
eigner on German soil has much the hest Of
It, and that, III spite oithe great artistic and
intellectual resources here, there are checks
and yexatiOns which would render Ger.
man life uncomfortable to outsiders Prince
Bismarck, like an overstriCken and over.
vigilant school master, has overshot the
mark and makes hYpocrtes NJ hIsscholars.
At least 50 | mutt believe, and, notWith.
standing outward expressions OF loyalty, Il
and an optimism commonly INDUCED in,
there II n'ppuntrY In RnFpIe WheEe great
changes are more frequently hoped tOrand
relied upon. There Is one point more |
would mention, and that Is the unani.
nously expressed kindinesS and admra.
lion oil the people, consideredindividuality
toward the French nation. ! have heRFd
thoughtful, highly educated 0erinanS, mel
81 the world too, express as deep q regret
f0r the annexation 81 AlsaCe and II.n:1.IIaiine
rs the most ardent French patriot could
10, and the general feeling seems to he A
leaiTe for Cancellation and friendly Inter-
sONiSes tffrH u. 81 - A-" I'D