Daily camera., 1898-03-10
UNINTENTIONAL INSULTS
Careful Conduct Is Necessary
Among Foreigners.
Small Breeches Of Etiquette Give Ol.
fense in France and Germany
The English Not So
Particular.

A short time back complaint was
received by the authorities through the
Chinese legation that the gentleman
representing her majesty in China had
been guilty of conduct unbecoming an
ambassador and gentleman-th he
had insulted the Chinese cabinet. In
vestigation, however, showed that the
only conduct of which he had been
guilty was thumping the table at
which he was sitting, to 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 to
the assembled company to thump the
table.
1t only shows how careful one should
be in foreign country. In England
if friend is visiting another, and stays
to dinner, he may ask for a loan of a
hairhrush 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 may put
his hat upon the bed. This is grievous
form CT Insult, butwhy it is not kncwn;
it lisa very ancient one. and so, probably,
results frcm an old superstition.
Again, there are two ways CT pour
irg out wine in France, as everywhere
else. One of these is to hold the bottle
so that while pouring the thumb is
facing the tabiecloth. The second way
IS to hold the hand reversedHthat is,
with the knuckles downward-and this
is 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 rose,
or amy other flower, without any green
or leaves with it to 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 figh ting corps,
and others not. Each corps has its dis
tinctive cap, and when member of one
meets another in the street it is eti-
quette for each to doff his cap. Should
the other not respond complaint is
made to his corps, and due is fought
"a real duel, with sabers or pistols,
not the fencing duel which is pastime
in Germany, just as foiiing or single
stick is in England, for the insult is
nearly the worst that can be offered. :
There is one worse, and that is spill
ing or hicking beer over anotherstudent
purposely. No apology will wipe out
this offense; nothing will except duel
to the death, or a duel which is contin-
ued 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, "1ch Komme vor;"
put tNlS is more IL Uitdcl VI SoOel Hldll-
aers 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
man offers you after he has had it in his
mouth: and the second is TO refuse
drink out of the same glass that a man
has just drunk from, or, worse still. to
wipe it before drinking.-London Tit
Bits.