Polk County news. [volume] (Benton, Tenn.) 191?-1983, 1921-07-07
People Have Lost Every Sense of Dignity and Their Whole Charac
ter, French Journalist Says-Country Has Come to
Look Upon Help From Abroad as Matter
of Course

help plying the naivete of the peo-
pie in England and other countries
who send money for the children VINO
are supposed to be dying In the
streets. These advertisements are
only a speculation on the good talth
of the public; and the public who
subscribe are robbed twice over; hrst
Of their confidence secondly, of their
money.
| do not suggest that the commit
tees who insert these advertisements
are not acting in good faith, but that
they are themselves victims to the
explorations of the Austrians ana
journalists in Austrian pay, who are
determined to get as much sympathy
for Austria and as much money as
possible out of the foreigner.
At one time the Austrian was in
need of material help This help was
given him SO generously that he ex-
poets it to so on forever.
Mulcted by Drivers.
What do some guilders, francs, dol
lars or pounds matter to the foreign
er? INA, ia, aber NIT thren Valu-
tent (Well, with the value of their
money! and as the value OF
outside money is better than Austrian
currency, why should not the for
eigner help Austria? At least that is
how the Austrian reasons. He never
asks himself who created this stu
alton in his land.
In all classes you meet the same
phenomenon. For instance, If you
take a taxi, when you arrive at your
door the driver asks you smilin9ly
for twice the amount you ought to
pay. If you protest, he says But,
sir, what does it matter with the val
ue of your money!" So far he Is
very polite; but if you maintain your
refusal, and you only pay the amount
registered on the taXimeter, with
certain tip-let us say 10 per cent
showers of abuse follow you into
your house.
At a restaurant the head waiter is
very cringing when you give your
orders. At the end of the meal, how
ever when you ask for your bill, he
starts by making mistakes-to his
own advantage, of course, which by
chance, you may find out and have
the bill changed. Then you give him
10 per cent as tip. The head waiter
goes away and sends you the service
waiter. Another tip required. Think
ing yourself very generous, you with
Graw from the table when you sue
denly hear the buttons" exclaim:
Damned Frenchie Cor any other ma
tionaity, which this future head
waiter considers YOU'D, not single
heller for a tip"
| must except the large restaurants,
the staffs of which have been en-
ployed before the war in other coun-
tries. These are satisfied with III per
cent on the bill. However, one can
not 90 continually to the big restau-
rants with the present high prices.
You are treated in the same way
by the shopkeeper and other people
who have put themselves into public
service. The method is only varied
according TO the education they pos
sess. In short, the foreigner in Aus
trla must allow himself to be bled
from every vein If he wishes to live
in peace.
since the note of the French gov
eminent, in the name of all the allied
Governments, threatening to withdraw
all help from Austria in the event
of her uniting with Germany, the
hatred felt by the rescued for their
rescuers rises to the surface. Every
conversation between an Austrian and
a foreigner Is full Of underlying Bit
terness. The conversations which
the Austrlans hold among themselves
in public places, regardless OF the
strangers within their midst, are full
Of unlmaglnable insults. Their hatred
does not extend only to the allies, but
there even exists resentment against
their beneiclaries, the neutrals. me