The Florence tribune., 1898-07-16
INTERNATIONAL INSULTS
Careful Conduct Is Necessary
 Among Foreigners.
Small Brooches of Etiquette Give Of- fense in France and Germany The English Not So
 Particular.

A short time back complaint was received by the authorities through the Chinese legation thnt the gentleman representing her majesty in China had been guilty Of conduct unbecoming an ambassador and a gentleman-that hs had insulted the Chinese cabinet. h. vestigation, however, showed that the only conduct of which he had le6n guilty was dumping the table al which he was sitting. 10 emphasize 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 10 the assembled company to thump the table.
 It only shows how careful one should be in a foreign country. In England if friend is visiting another, and stays to dinner, he may ask for loan of a hairbrush without giving offense; but in Hungary he may not. To attempt to borrow that useful article is one of the greatest insults which can be of fered to a Hungarian, and one which will in most cases cause duel.
 In France there are several insults which the unwary foreigner may offer without knowing it. For example, he may be visiting friend, and nay put his hat upon the bed. This is grievous form of insult, butwhy ii is not known; it is a very ancient one, and so, probably, results frcm an old superstition.
 Again, there are two ways of pour ing out wine in France, as everywhere else. One of these is to hold the bottle so that while pouring the thumb is facing the tableeIoth. The second way is to hold the hand reversedNthat is, with the knuckles downward-and this is a great insult to the assembled guests and the host--a far greater insult than drinking health in water, and that is pretty serious in France.
 Germany has some curious forms of insult. To begin with, to offer a rose, or amy other flower, without any green or leaves with it to lady is 10 deeply insult her, though why this should be so is not known precisely.
 The German students are fornedinto corps, some of which are fighting corps, and others not. Eaeh corps has its dis tinctiTe cap, and sllen a rsT1ggr.os one meets another in fhe street t is eh- quet;e for each to dof his caps Should the other not respond complaint Is made 10 his corps, and a duel is fought n real duel, with sabers or pist0is, not the fencing duel which Is paattne in Germany. just as foiiing or slng.e- stick Is in England, for the insult is nearly the worst that can be offered. There is one worse, and thet is spill ing or nicking beer over anotheretudent purposely. No apology will wipe out this offense; nothing will except a duel to the death, or duel which is contin.
 ued until one of the eombatants is too badly wounded 10 continue the fight A minor insult is to refuse 10 drink with a student if invited, or 10 refuse | to respond with "Prosit'' when he raises bis glass and says, @Ich Komme vor;
 but this is more a breach of good man. ners than an actual insult.
 We might finish with two Spanish examples of curious insults in South | America. The first of these Is to re fuse to smoke cigarette which another 1 man offers you after he has had it in hi;
 mouth; and the second is to refuse drink out of the same glass that a mar
 has just drunk from, or, worse still. tC
 wipe it before drinking-London Tit | Dits