Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1907-04-27
OTTO STEINER WRITES
OF AMERICAN PEOPLE

Otto Helmuth Steiner writes inter-
estingly for The World his impressions
Of the characteristics Of the German
and American people. Mr.. Stelzner is
d student who is acquiring mastery
of the English language by hard ana
patient cork. Aside from the theme
itseK the paper is of interest because
it shows the difficulty foreigner has
in translating his own tongue into
English because of the necessity Of
distinguishing between many words
which apparently mean the same
thing, but are really different. Mr..
Stelzner writes as follows:
Without doubt there issa great diff
ference between characters of differ
ent nations, which has the source par
| ticularly in diversity of education A
principal part besides education takes
usage and custom, which both together
are again basis to the education.
1t is left undisputed that every hui
man character is in itself different
When the theme is brought up Of di-
versity in the characters of nations, it
is understood that am going to try
to compare these both nations in
their differences and peculiarities of
types, all in all--and ! add, in the gol-
den medium.
The equality of the American peo-
pie is called in Germany and other
culture states a healthy curiosity. A
man who had small position in his
native country welcomes It, but he
who had been respected in the old
country does not like such "familiari-
ties.' he wants respect again. every
healthy thinking person is very fond Of
this organization).
But as everything has more than
one characteristic quality the effect of
the equality influences the human
character ideally but unhealthy, too.
Howes err, equality is body in the
United States. Only to the doors of
the society extends the equal; it also
| expresses particularly when business
brings people of different classes.
heights in profession and manner to,
gether. But, as it is known, this loyal
custom does not exist neither in Ger
many nor in another culture state. All
these countries are succeeded more or
less from the spirit of caste.
Money, the principal factor of get
ting social communication in America
compares particularly to the highest of
profession and manner in Germany.
Without regard to the language. many
Characteristic qualities of a German
who just came over to Uncle Sans
country will strike the American as
strange.
The German is, still under the con-
troll of the customs of his town coun
try. Thirst for honor and mark of es-
TEEN, two things which find the source
into the spirit of caste) he SHOWS and
uses often.
Now he starts to work and that
which seems to an American unintelli-
gible is that fact:
He often takes up a work which is
subordinated to his capacity. But,
however, it is to take into account
that he is not able to receive just now
a better paid position because he is
not master of the English language
it can be asserted that he would not
accept a momentary better position, If
somebody won't offer him more than
momentary advantages from pecun-
larry point of view.
His thoughts look forward to the fu-
ture But, such an action arises from
a certain force in things of moral, en-
ergy and character. How could he APP
propriate them. In the period of
youth the German learns in his native
country the notion of compulsion.
He has to go to school, he has to re.
spect teacher and the elder one; he
has to suffer an apprenticeship for
YEARS, in order to learn a certain pro
fession. He gets a very little amount
of money from his parents and as
long as he learns g to years. pro-
fession he does not earn more than he
needs to pay his tobacco. Then he
has to serve in the army and here he
learns obedience in very high de-
gree.
He steps now into the life and soon
1t is clear for him how difficult it is
to force the way through the tight of
people crowded native country. In all
this strive and struggle and necessity,
he learns the idea of all these mention
ed factors.
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