Norwich bulletin., 1910-10-15
A Talk About German Men and Wo-

men.
Editor Social Corner: Life among
the Germans shows a marked differ
ence between them and our own peo-
pie. In German poetry the woman is
an ideal creature, in actual life she is
most homespun: hers has been called
cutting bread and butter exist
ence."
To one who has lived in the heart
OF happy German family. one could
not agree with Barring Gould, who
calls German matrimony a divorce
OF souls; but it surely is a concession
on the one side, and that always from
the ''Ewig- Weibliche"
The German man lacks sympathy
and unSelfShneSS, because the woman
does not bring out the real possibili-
ties in his nature.
she is content to look after his ma
terial welfare, and there seems to be
little mutual interest beyond the chew
ing and eschewing of chicken stews
and fresh bits of leberwurst
Take the Following characteristic
Illustration: A few years ago a Ger
man American returned to his old
home in America, bringing with him
a German wife. She was all devotion
to him, as the women of Germany are
to their husbands: vet in America
this was at times embarra ssing to the
gentleman, who found his own so COM
Portable relationship in Germany rath-
er contrast to the position of the
American husbands. He was constant
" being brought into awkward situa-
tons. Yum Beispiel Gas the Germans
say) one day a party started to
climb mountain, and, warmed by the
exercise, the men removed their over
coats, when the German wife imme-
diately stepped up to her husband,
saying, Give me yours; I will carry
it,, Not here. not in America he
quickly whispered, but the rest of the
company noted the incident, and
laughingly congratulated him on his
wisdom in securing his wife in Ger
many, and thus having insured his
own comfort and ease in married life.
This little event is almost too homely
to contemplate: it quite reminds one
of SteVenson's Travels with a Dom
key we look upon her as a beast Of
burden and almost wish Mr.. German
American had thrown his coat upon
her shoulders and allowed her to be
his ''Modestine" at home as well as
abroad
Is it not a blessing. the German wo-
man is perfectly satisfied with her
lot?
Kingdoms may rise and fall they
are of less concern to her than the
rise and fall of the price of Kalb-
fIeisch.'
The German woman does not work
as we do in America. and the German
servants are shocked when we make
any attempt to do things for ourselves
even to brushing our clothes. In
my own little New England town 1
have a constant reminder of German
customs. Jacob. hale, rudy checked
Deutscher, goes by seated on his load
of hay: at his side, enthroned in ap-
parent bliss and very obvious hay,
grass and stubbla, sits Frau Jacob.
She is his man and maid of all work,
indoors and out.
To quote Barring Gould again: THE
men have excluded the women from
their society. In their clubs and tav-
ems they spend their leisure moments
and pour out their wealth of ideas
among their fellow men, but never in
their homes. Both sexes suffer from
the estrangement. The elimination of
women from society has deteriorating
effects upon mems minds and manners.
1t is this which causes rudeness of
exterior and coarseness of grit in
German men, d rudeness and coarse
ness painfully ever present to the OBJ
servation of foreigner. Women do
not use their education. Their heads
are filed, but it is never used. 1t is
a pity that German men should not
submit themselves to be kneaded and
rolled into shape and gentility by the
tender fingers of their wives and
da lighters. There can be no sWeeter,
more tender refiners in the world than
German women.
However, much writing or speaking
cannot explain nations to each other,
The American girl is considered fast"
IA ''flirt''
European men do not understand her
way SO, on European soil. il is best
to conform to European structures. Our
girls have been accustomed to men all
their lives. and so, natura lly cannot
have the timidity, embarra sSment fear
seen in the German girl -rheu in the
society of men, Fearless, self pos
sessed. she nevertheless loses naught
of modesty or Womanliness. Here lies
the difference not to be understood.
How much the German girl misses.
that makes UP much of the delight
and pleasure of American girlhood,
Our girls are accustomed to atten-
tons, gaIlantries. The German girl
knows only "a form and such a form as
this: Tie young officer a his post
"ie draws himself up in strenge. mil
ildirisch- Haltuns, clicks his spurred
heels together brings his head IL the
level 81 his sword belt. ana II that Is
not devotion. chivalrIc behavior and
splendid respect The world has none
10 show, and You are an irrational and
an eXacl4nS ma lcontent or one thing
We American women are certain: that
We. IN the pride and happiness of our
own broader lives are Wei able to en-
dure the reproach east upon us by
nations unable tn recoguize or give
a higher life to it's women.
GRETCHEN.