The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1905-01-07
LAWS oBEYED in GERMANY
Where the Smallest Infraction Is Met
with Swift and Severe Dis
cipline.

There is a law throughout Germany
AN excellent law it is-that noDov
may scatter paper about the street.
SAYS a writer in London M. A. r. AN
English military friend told me tnat
one day in Dresden, unacquainted
with this rule, he tore long letter ne
had been reading into some 80 frag-
ments and threw them behind him.
A policeman stopped him and ex-
planned to him quite politely the law
upon the subject My military friend
agreed that it was a very good law
banked the man for his information,
and said that in the future he would
bear it in mind.
That, as the policeman pointed ont,
would make things right enough LOT
the future, but meanwhile 1t Vas
necessary to deal with the past-with
the SO or so pieces of paper lying scat
tered 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 a way out. 1t was that my mill
tary friend should set to work and
pick up those so scraps of paper.
He is an English general on the re-
tired list and of imposing appearance
! his manner on occasion is naughty
He did not see himself on his hands
and knees in the chief street of Dres-
den, in the middle of the afternoon,
picking up paper.
The German policeman himself ad-
mitted that the situation was awk-
ward. If the English general could not
accept it there happened to be an al
tentative. 1t was that the English
general should accompany the police
man through the streets followed by
the usual crowd to the nearest prison
some three miles Off
| The general suggested hiring boy
to pick up the paper. The policeman
referred to the wording of the law
and found that this. would not be per-
| mitted.
81 thought the matter out" my
| friend told me, imagining all the pos
sible alternatives, including that of
knocking the fellow down and making
a 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 off greasy
stones was the business that | found
1t. 1t took me nearly ten minutes and
afforded amusement, l calculate, to
over 1000 people. But it is good
law, mind you. All l wish Is that
had known it beforehand"
On one occasion / accompanied an
American lady to German opera
house. The taking off of hats in the
German Schauspielhaus is obligatory
and would it were SO in England.
But The American lady is accustomed
to disregard rules made by mere man
She explained to the doorkeeper that
she was going to wear her hat. He on
his side explained to her that she was
not. They were both a bit short with
one another.
l took the opportunity to turn aside
and buy programme. The fewer peo-
pie there are mixed up in an argu.
ment, always think, the better
My companion explained quite
frankly to the door porter that 1t die
not matter what he said, she was moi
going to take any notice of him.
He did not look a laxative man al
any time, and maybe this announce.
ment further discouraged him. In any
case he made no attempt to answer
All he did was to stand in the cen
ter of the doorway with a far-awa,
look in his eyes.
The doorway was some four fee
wide. he was about three feet 81,
across and weighed about 20 stone. Al
explained, l was busy buying a pro
gramme, and when / returned my
friend had her hat in her hand ant
was digging pins into 1t. think sh,
was trying to make believe it was tn,