The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-05-20
"DTTCH
Misunderstandings as to National Customs
Lead TO Disa greeable Results.

From the .Ner Orleans Tirss-DemocTdt.
y had a rather embarrassing but some
what instructive experience the other evening. "
remarked a club man Of this city. "A gen
tleman from Breslau, who had just arrived in
New Orleans on a pleasure trip. was intro
duced 10 me by a friend. who had met him
on the cars, and We strolled into the st. Charles
cafe. Going in We encountered another friend.
making a party Of four altogether. and We
sat down 10 chat.
I'm q moment or two the stranger from Rres-
Ian beckoned a waiter and ordered n glass Of
Rhine wine. To my utter amRzement he said not
n word about our joining him. and when the
wine arrived he proceeded TO sip it with per-
feet sang froid. In spite Of all this I saw that
he was unQuestionably a gentleman Of breed
ing and refinement. and while ] was strongly
tempted to order something for the balance Of
the party | refrained from doing so. lest he would
observe. me paying and feel mortified, The
others looked bswlldered and said nothing,
but the friend who Joined Us AZ the door took
early occasion To excuse himself and walk
of He Is a fine type of the oldAchool hos
pltable SOntherner. and ] am sure he felt ex-
tremely indignant az what he considered m
Exhibition Of foreign boorishness.
The fact Is that our American custom If
treating is almost entirely unknown in many
parts Of Germany and elsewhere in Europe.
There 1t would be considered very bad form
10 offer to pay for the Refreshments Of a chance
H'ludlIllHiltF, Hllu oI lIlflu lTfIn bTtslnl
was simply deporting himself according 10 the
custom Of his country When he becomes better
acquainted with American idioSy nCrasies |
am sure he will be covered with chaCrln. After
all, however, treating Is an ldlotic usage. and |
must confess. a private sy mpathy with the for
eign point Of view
That reminds me Of a whimsical little Incl
dent which ! Witnessed IN rs n a Cafs in Ant
werp," said one of the listeners To the foregoing
u was spending a few weeks in The city, and
used to drop IN at a place 10 which : refer 10
read my paper over n glass and cigar The public
room was equipped with a number oflittle tables
on a sanded floor. and ranged along one Of the
walls were several cabinets or lockers where
residents kept their private bottles. The house
supplied the liquor and they strolled in when
ever they felt like IL and helped themselves
10 a nip
"One dav while | was sitting in my ~favorita
corner n stout gentleman. who was evidently
an old citizen, came N With an American whom
he seemed To be showing the sights. The Ameri-
can was erect and slender, with a dig nifed car
They took the adjoining table and presently
the portly native waddled over n the cabinets
and returned with p long-neChed wine bottle
and one glass He poured ont a drink very de-
liberatsly and then recorked the bottle, the
American looking on with an expression of
amaZement Your health, captain. said The
native in French. md raised the glass 70 hs lirs
The Americans eyes hla2ed 'Perdltiou" he
roared, springing 70 hs feet, do you mean to
insult me7' And h. swept tho bottle Of the
there was a frightiul row everybody talked AZ
once and the ccndarm"s rushed in and took
several reams Of memoranda.
The funny part of II was that the portly
gentleman couldn't understand how he had
possibly given offence. | heard him discuss II
still. a profound mystery. only 70 be explained
bv the well known eCccntriCityof all Americans"