The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1904-11-30
THE LAW IN GERMANY.
When 1t Says :, Thing, Take Notice
That 1t Really I1eI1s L.

When 1t Says - In1NE, tisNe NOtics
That 1t Really Ieaas Il.
There l.; 4 law t--c:.Suo1-o,.l Germany
that nobody may scatter paper about
the street. Az English military friend
told me that one day in Dresden, un-
acquainted with this rule, he tore o
long letter he had been reading into
some fifty fragments and threw them
behind him. A policeman stol'ped him
and explained to him quit, politely the
law upon the subject. My military
friend agreed that it was a very good
law. thanked the man for his informa-
ton and said that for the future he
would bear it in mind. That, as the
policeman pointed out, would make
things right enough for the future, but
meanwhile it was necessary to deal
with the past, with the fifty or so
pieces of paper lying scattered about
the road and pavement.
My military friend, with a pleasant
laugh, confessed he did not see. what
was to be done. The policeman, more
imaginative, saw way out. 1t was
that my military friend should set to
work and pick up those fifty scraps OF
paper. He is an English general on
the retired list and Of imposing ap-
pearance; his manner on occasion is
naughty. He did not see himself on
his hands and knees in the chief
street of Dresden, in the middle OF
the afternoon, picking up paper. The
German policeman himself admitted
that the situation was awkward. Ii
the English general could not accept it
there happened to be an alternative. 1t
was that the English general should
accompany the policeman through the
streets, followed by the usual crowd, to
the nearest prison, some three miles
of.
The general suggested hiring a boy
to pick up the paper. The policeman
referred to the wording OF the law
and found that this would not be per-
mitted. Il thought the matter out"
my friend told me, imagining all the
possible alternatives, including that OF
knocking the fellow down and making
bolt, and came to the conclusion
that his first suggestion would on the
whole result in the least discomfort
But had no idea that picking up small
scraps Of thin paper of greasy stones
was the business that I found it. 1t
took me nearly ten minutes and af-
forded amusement, calculate, to over
a thousand people. But it is a good
law, mind you All wish is that !
had known it beforehand"
On one occasion I accompanied an
American lady to a German opera
house. The taking of Of hats in the
German Schauspieihaus is obligatory,
and again I would it Were so in Eng
land. But the American lady is ac-
customed to disregard rules made by
mere man. She explained to the door,
keeper that she was going to wear her
hat. He, on his side, explained to her
that she was not. They were both a
OIL SuOCI Will O1lC <IOtQCl. $OoA tAS
opportunity to turn aside and buy a
programme. Tie fewer people there
are mixed up in an argument, always
think, the better.
My companion explained quite frank
II to the door porter that it did not
matter what he said, she was not going
to take any notice Of him. He did not
look q talkative man at any time, and
maybe this announcement further dis
couraged him. In any case, he made
no attempt to answer. All he did was
to stand in the center Of the doorway
with 4 faraway look III his eyes. The
doorway was some four feet wide. BE
was about three feet six inches across
and weighed about twenty stone. AS
explained, I was busy buying a pro-
gramme, and when | returned my
friend had her hat in her hand and was
digging pins Tnto it. l think she was
trying to make believe it was the heart
of the London M- A 2.