The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1884-02-28
An Observing German.

DIR. MOhr, the correspondent Vi ',O
Cologne Gazette, who assisted at tIe
driving of the last spike of the North.
ern Pacific, has just written n resume 9i
his operations while in this country, IN
which the following interesting crlu-
cisms on Americans and German
Americans occur.
The Yankees this name the learned
Doctor uses for all native or English
speaking Americans have left on my
mind the impression of slimly-bullt
men, with small but firm bones, and
clear, sharp eyes; filled with an enor-
nous vitality and energy, attributable
to the ozone that fills the pure atmos-
phere of America; not nervous as we
Germans are; able to look beyond their
own surroundings; very apt to believe
and to say; but restless, full of ferment-
ing energies, unable to lounge and to
appreciate the enjoyment thorough d1-
gestion affords. They are unable to do
this, say, for physical reasons also,
and not alone because they suffer from
a lack of stored-up "reminiscences on
which the European feasts in idle
hours. But they are healthy to the
core, full of self-control, cold-blooded,
and fully conscious of their power and
their mastery over their surroundings.
The German character alongside OF
theirs looks somewhat slow-moving
and lazy, and on the other hand, the
American character is devoid of re-
pose, eccentric and turbulent, showing
the truth of the Italian axiom, ''Furia
tedesca." This is shown in the differ
ence between Germans and Americans
when boarding the steam-cars. This
is done in the New World in such
quiet and matter-of-fact way, even dur
ing the last second, for everybody
knows the timetable, possesses cor
rect timepiece, and is therefore fully
master of the situation. There is no
loud talking, no ringing of bells, no
sounding of whistles, no pushingA
Without any ado, at the right moment,
the train begins TO move without caus-
ing any excitement either among the
train officials or among the public.
The political freedom under which
American men are ripcning | should
not like to consider in a light altogeth-
er unfavorable to the new political life
we Germans are now enjoying. l have
found in the New World Il great deal
of self-laudation and ignorance of the
German political situation; and social
freedom, which is in America far great
er than in Germany. has its peculiar
disadvantages and expressions. But
our own national greatness and liberty
is new thing. while the Americans
have enjoyed theirs for generations,
and have taken it into their flesh and
blood, feeding at the same time from
an apparently inexhaustible dish, while
we poor devils are crowding around q
poor. small plate, stepping continually
on each others toes in the attempt to
get our spoon in. Unler such cireum-
stances it is, of course, an easy matter
for them to talk big. to live and let
! live, TO first ruin the competitor and
| then help him on his legs again, to re-
ccive hospitality every foreigner, be-
! cause his coming there means an in
| crease of National prosperity, while
with US the increase of population
means smaller bites all around. Where
there are so many treasures waiting
to be found nobody needs to remain
sticking to the place where he slipped.
and there is no lack of willing hands to
assist him. On the other hand, the
German element, Notwithstanding
many excellent qualities, is rather Grip
pied in mind, and given to small ways,
full of little jealousies, and inclined to
belittle everybody, especially those who
prosper in life, and ever ready TO kick
| those who are down. We Germans
have been used at home to crampcd,
suffocating room, and find it hard to
get accustomed to the invigorating,
fresh atmosphere of American life.
Compared to the German-American,
the native American is really splen-
did fellow, with 4 simple mind and a
bio heart, as | have had occasion to OBJ
serve a thousand times during my trav-
els in America A far better tone pre-
walls in American society than in our
own, and if this fact is not SO generally
known and appreciated, it is due to the
rather sharp line of demarkation be-
tween the native and the foreion-b born
element, the Germans especially being
very slow to subject themselves to the
process of transformation. Even the
best of German society in America is,
rs rule, far too informal and bolster
Gus to suit the American taste.
But the Yankee is no artist, and for
good reasons. He is engaged in q hard
struggle with the untamed forces OF
Nature, and his life's battle. although
far more glorious and far richer in re-
suits, is considerably harder than ours.
This struggle in which he never rests
or falters, fills him with q high degree
of self-esteem and this he shows in his
manners and in his dress. The latter
the American, indeed, considers of far
more Importance than the German, or
even the Englishman, does. And not
the dollar, as is claimed SO often, is the
ideal of the American-for it is so Of
ter thrown away, continually risked
with great boldness, and given with a
free hand for public purposes the
succcss-the satisfaction of having suc-
ceeded in doing something replaces
for the American the refined enjoyment
! s.s1.i- - ..s..j G6ss.; {. J.; ;i;t.