The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-09-30
GERMAN LIFE.
How Things Strike an American.
The Habit of Placing transactions
on a Friendly Basis.
The Caution and the Kindness OF
the Germans.
How they Solve the Problem OF
Social Enjoyment.
The Importance OF the Oath The En-
forced Military supervision-so'
cial Conservatism the Rule
Ideas OF America.

BERLIN, Sept lO,-Ouf menphis pun
lie has become so travelled OF late years
that letters from abroad with view to en-
lightenment would be supertuous, and rs
for the plea Of recalling scenes once WIS.,
tied my conviction is that the most deter
mined sight-seer can not have the regula-
ton Meccas rcappear before his minds
eve without secret sigh minging itself
with the pleased memory as he reassumes
his ION duty" air, and drags around his
heavily freightcd catalogue with an ever
increasing realization Of the disproportion
between life and art.
However. there is always possibility
that personal experiences may borrow
something OF the interest with which they
have expressed themselves in the first in
stance, and with this belief | venture TO
submit few desultory jottings from indi-
yidual observation. Indeed, IL is only TO
the individual in contact with individuals
that the study OF foreign life, with its
daily customs and habits is possible, and
10 him who has passed from extcrnals or
views them al incidental 10 the human
ties than Germany for reaching the points, Of
difference as well rs striking rrsomblances
in the evolution OF the human animal
under different environment. This arises
from the national habit of placing every
transaction upon friendly basis, which,
though bowilderng and often cxasperaling
90 the traveller as well as in many ways TO
the foreign resident, yet Ia the latter the
inconvenience OF adoption with full
privileges In countcrbalancod by the OPP
poriunty thus afforded iOr observing
minutip OF habit and character which can
only be reached by intimate daily assoCia-
ton. Tho whole nation would sccm 10
have formed AN alliance offensive aud do-
fensivc from the caution with which each
one proceeds lest he may collide with his
neighbor, Known or unknown, aud in
making any arrangement for lodging and
such like, there can be- no change for any
reason without involving serious
ostrangpment, and however much the
American business spirit may rebel lac is
forced 10 consider possible complications.
To German the established custom Is
sufficient argument and IL IN considered
deadly ollensc, ior instance, for teacher 10
accept pupil who hasco from another,
while the system OF brow-bcatiEg the shop. |
keepers have managed 10 establish is
simply outrageous. A Bcrlincr does not
dare enter a shop without purchasing aud
ne considers himself irrctnoynbly COM
mittod To. buy something when
once he haa entered the hall
lowcd prec,ncts. Il mattcrA no, whether
the desired article rs To We found or not,
In which latter case no Is expected 10 sub
stitute something within the nngc Of the
stock, aud the penalty for the iransgrus.
sion Of this rule - the angry glanccs aud
vituprfAtions oi the keepers, which the
offender mcckly accepts M his Just pur-
ton. ! often wonder what would become
OF the horde OF professional shoppers who
haunt our stores under this Wgilu" and
how II would be possible to adjus from
the inspection OF a shop window the mo-
mcntuus decisions upon which they are
accustomed 10 oNpond days aud weeks, ns
well ~ the temper aud patience Of the
long suffering clerks.
hut the Germans are certainly the very
kindcsi people IA the world. aud in cast
ing anchor upon a strange shore none
could be- chosen whore generous consider.
alton may morc surrly bc counted upon
and perhaps Il rs wholcHomc iot the cllcu
latng American 20 have the fiction ri
business machinery reDluicly thrust IN
the background and rlu,-Jd over by the
more ngrc able, u dn .r'us, coating OF
love and affection.
The first garment an American must lly
aside when hc reaches the other side l.
that Of the national rush" Tor be- soon
learns that there mon grown up people
will calmly watch his youthful cbu.ltiou
with IN mir oi amused interest, hui not an
atom Of humiliation and the only way 20
grasp what they have 10 give Is 10 adopt
their m0v lvisuply methods. The niii-
tudo toward the American student too. ly
the way. y an irritating one and they have
managed 10 establish reputation Tor
quick work aud little oi 1t.
One locs not live long among the Ger.
mans without arryurata solution NJ their
proycibal knowledge ui enjoying lie.
while tho American b. fppruaChpd ilr his
inability 90 CLEAN nuyadrluair satisfaction
from iho ruuls which hr gives his liIc 81
pn's''sf, auu hvw b. just tir point. the
Nvtmhu rounds uu' h'H existence uui linn,
it, hs Clrnal demands i0 what isdHinctl,
nithinnh.r, while iuu American can CON
cciNu of uu yulunhlr lie deprived a.
any ui tiv discovered means ID
luxury anil comfort, anil We forfeit
our best years Zoo the ipy,nsh F'u4sl
20 complete what Boz has luu
sincc ncorptCd M finished. lar ls II Iron
mo 10 attempt any adjustment ol the hi
reaching question, aH io What extent tlI
discomfort which makes i1r pfusr..s
Wholesome, aud at what U1int one hg
The ngli io fIt down and take his caaH
or 10 enter into tho including disguss o
NJ % whether We ufr hDitrr or WUfs' irlu
the accumulation of rpuyrnirurrs 4
which thc RESTLESS luukrr brain iHmakin
daily additions. lui, t1 return 90 ~
personal equation IhluHh We camp full
equipped With the spirit ui udHpiHhiit,
yet u j. difficult in fuprrr. % sun.r eff Ri,
bcllion against che weary "rul uI ruIIrs
stairs b. which no one ever seems iu hay
thought Of applying lho remedy of a
elevator, aud IL J. easy 20 conceive 90
wrench required 10 diyotcr the aycmg
Memphis mind from Che telephone, ,
which Ne have not bnCn unr sine 90 %
rival. Doubtless O. lew have lc.ur.
siraycd Ia here. but ! question vhoth,
thcy will ever become u portion VI On
duly bread" as.W.th us
However. there h abundant compens
lou IN the stimulus and incxhauiiib.
ssol for the imprmonal life which sul
rounds them nnd Wherein they are en-
doubiclly far In advance Of rs. lloWcyc
] am content that Tor The present the IL
diyidnal Who longs Tor these things shout
SICK tlcf. here, armed with sufficient IN
thuaiasbi 10 make him obliNious 10 phys
cnl liscomforts, while ~ q nation We M
leit 10 boil and ellcTycscc a while Longer
70 inai when our period Of simmoHn
somcs we shall have reduced 10 pctict
sto.,sti.o J.lafia of life Whlth Ne ala