Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-03-20
UNKNOWN INSULTS.
Persons Must BE Carefu When So
journfnR in a Foreign


From Tit-Blts
A short time back a complaint was re-
ceived by the authorities through the. Chi
nese legation that the gentleman repre-
senting her majesty In China had been
guilty Of conduct unbecoming an ambas-
sador and a gentleman; that he had in
suited the Chinese cabinet. Investigation.
however, showed that the only conduct of
which he had been guilty was humping
the table at which he was sitting to en-
phasize a remark, OF course, no notice
was taken of the affair; but all the same,
the diplomatists of China were offended,
for in that country it is an insult TO the
m company to thump the table.
1t only shows how careful one should be
In a foreign country. In England, If a
friend is visiting another and stays to
dinner. he may ask for a loan of a hair
brush without giving offense: but in Hun
garia he may not. To attempt to borrow
that useful article is one of the greatest
insults which can he offered to a Hungar-
ian. and one which will in most cases
cause a duel.
In France there are several insults which
the unwary foreigner may offer without
knowing. For example: he may be visiting
a friend, and may put his hat upon tha
bed. This is a grievous form of insult,
but why it is not known: 1t is a very an
cient one. and SO, probably, results from
an old superstition.
Again. there are two ways of pouring
out wine in France. as everywhere else.
One of these is to hold the bottle so that
Wnlle pouring the thurnb Is racing the
table cloth. The second way is to hold
the hand reversed-that is. with the
knuckles dow~nward-and this is a great
insult to the assembled guests and the
hoSt-a far greater insult than drinking a
health in water, and that is pretty serious
in France.
Germany has some curious forms Of in
suit. To begin with, to offer a rose, or
any flower, without any green or leaves
with it to a lady is to deeply insult her,
though why this should be SO is not known
precisely.
The German students are formed into
corps. some of which are fighting corps,
and others not. Each corps has its dis
tinctive cap. and when a member of one
meets another in the street it is etiquette
not respond a complaint is made to his
corps. and a duel is fought-a real duel,
with sabers or pistols, not the fencing
duel which Is pastime in Germany, Just
as foiling or single stick is. in England.
fol the insult is nearly the worst that can
be offered.
There is one worse, and that is spilIing
or Ticking beer over another student pur-
pcsely. No apology will wipe out this Of
tense: nothing will. except a duel to the
death. a duel which is continued until one
of the combatants is too badly wounded to
continue the fight. A minor insult is to
refuse to drink with a student if invited.
or to refuse to respond with 'Prosit" when
he raises his glass and says. Itch Komme
vor::" but this is more a breach of good
manners than an actual insult.
We might finish with two Spanish ex-
amples of curious insults in South Amer
lea. The first of these Is to refuse to
smoke a cigarette which another man of
fers you after he has had it in his mouth:
and the second is to refuse to drink out
drunk FROM. or. worse still. to wipe 1t be-
fore drinking.