New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-06-14
GERMAN COUSINS
Still Another Study Of the En-
pire of Efficiency.

GERMANY AND THE GERMANS
From Az nm, AMERICAN S,,,N POINT I,i ST or or
6o2 Charles Scribner's Sons.
Having seen England and the Eng
Nlish with American eyes, and turned
his observations and judgments into an
exceptionally interesting book Mr..
Collier went TO Germany and applied
the same process TO the empire. It's
Emperor and its people. The American
point Of view. be it observed at the start.
is inclined To be somewhat prejudiced
against Germany and all things Ger
man. wherefore il behooves us To state
that the author endeavors TO be consci-
entlously impartial, and that he recog-
nizes the prejudice in himself whenever
it lifts its head. which is the truest
way Of profting by ones experiences
abroad. Here and there Mr.. Collier
comes near to cOntradicting himself
but only because nations constantly
contradict themselves in their daily life
as in their national characteristics, get
ting along quite comfortably the while
with these Inconsistencies. apparently
even unaware Of them. II is somewhat
unreasonable i'm Mr. Collier. for in
stance, TO quarrel with some OF the I'M
lovely outward proofs Of German thritt
while praising its purposes and results.
Thrift never makes for the Graces of
living. as may be seen elsewhere than
i'm Germany, in our own New England
life that is passing. for instance. And
If German bureaucratic arrogance pro-
vokes the American. the German Is
likely 10 stand aghast at the deliberate
insolence of American car conductors.
not TO mention our policemen and those
who wait on us" When Paul Bourget
visited us for the purpose of gathering
material for his book on America, his
first observation was concerning the
incredible insolcnce" Of American ser
wants. Worth noting. in this connec-
ton. is the fact that the tables have
been turned between US and Europe
within the last fifteen years. Where
once the Old World came 10 criticise
us. and We read the criticism with re-
sentiment, we now go abroad TO criticlse
the old World with, no doubt. similar
results in the reading over there. II
all depends upon the point Of view.
All this by the way. however. In the
things that matter, the things educa-
tional, industrial. commercial and ad-
ministrative that have given Germany
the place il holds I'm the twentieth cen
fury Mr.. Collier sees clearly and sums
ND fully. His admiration for the
Kaiser. TO whom he gives most Of the
credit for what has been achieved, -
unboundcd his tribute 10 Bismarck Is
no less unconditional. He discusses
German political parties and the Ger
man press. the army and the growing
navy, devotcs chapter to German
education, and presents the American
point of view of German social lie.
manners and the status of German
Women. Berlin. a model city so far as
| its administration is concerned, Is sun
decidedly raw" when the lights begin
! To shine upon its night life-which, by
| the way, is true also Of world-city
| nearer home, its greater outward de-
/ cency" notwithstanding. Throughout
| the author reflects remarkably well the
impressions received 10y an American
in Germany. where he finds so much to
admire and commend, and so much
more. as elsewhere abroad. 10 rub
him the wrong way" which is the best
word to express the feeling familiar
To all of us who have been abroad,
whether It be in England. Germany, or
elsewhere in Europe.