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fact； of the two gates quarter of a mile apart it was the more
convenient。 Yet of the crowds that passed； not one attempted to
enter by that gate。 They plodded steadily on under a blazing sun
to the other gate； at which a man stood to collect the entrance
money。 I have seen German youngsters stand longingly by the margin
of a lonely sheet of ice。 They could have skated on that ice for
hours； and nobody have been the wiser。 The crowd and the police
were at the other end； more than half a mile away； and round the
corner。 Nothing stopped their going on but the knowledge that they
ought not。 Things such as these make one pause to seriously wonder
whether the Teuton be a member of the sinful human family or not。
Is it not possible that these placid； gentle folk may in reality be
angels； come down to earth for the sake of a glass of beer； which；
as they must know； can only in Germany be obtained worth the
drinking？
In Germany the country roads are lined with fruit trees。 There is
no voice to stay man or boy from picking and eating the fruit；
except conscience。 In England such a state of things would cause
public indignation。 Children would die of cholera by the hundred。
The medical profession would be worked off its legs trying to cope
with the natural results of over…indulgence in sour apples and
unripe walnuts。 Public opinion would demand that these fruit trees
should be fenced about； and thus rendered harmless。 Fruit growers；
to save themselves the expense of walls and palings； would not be
allowed in this manner to spread sickness and death throughout the
community。
But in Germany a boy will walk for miles down a lonely road； hedged
with fruit trees； to buy a pennyworth of pears in the village at
the other end。 To pass these unprotected fruit trees； drooping
under their burden of ripe fruit； strikes the Anglo…Saxon mind as a
wicked waste of opportunity； a flouting of the blessed gifts of
Providence。
I do not know if it be so； but from what I have observed of the
German character I should not be surprised to hear that when a man
in Germany is condemned to death he is given a piece of rope； and
told to go and hang himself。 It would save the State much trouble
and expense； and I can see that German criminal taking that piece
of rope home with him； reading up carefully the police
instructions； and proceeding to carry them out in his own back
kitchen。
The Germans are a good people。 On the whole； the best people
perhaps in the world； an amiable； unselfish； kindly people。 I am
positive that the vast majority of them go to Heaven。 Indeed；
comparing them with the other Christian nations of the earth； one
is forced to the conclusion that Heaven will be chiefly of German
manufacture。 But I cannot understand how they get there。 That the
soul of any single individual German has sufficient initiative to
fly up by itself and knock at St。 Peter's door； I cannot believe。
My own opinion is that they are taken there in small companies； and
passed in under the charge of a dead policeman。
Carlyle said of the Prussians； and it is true of the whole German
nation； that one of their chief virtues was their power of being
drilled。 Of the Germans you might say they are a people who will
go anywhere； and do anything； they are told。 Drill him for the
work and send him out to Africa or Asia under charge of somebody in
uniform； and he is bound to make an excellent colonist； facing
difficulties as he would face the devil himself； if ordered。 But
it is not easy to conceive of him as a pioneer。 Left to run
himself； one feels he would soon fade away and die； not from any
lack of intelligence； but from sheer want of presumption。
The German has so long been the soldier of Europe； that the
military instinct has entered into his blood。 The military virtues
he possesses in abundance； but he also suffers from the drawbacks
of the military training。 It was told me of a German servant；
lately released from the barracks； that he was instructed by his
master to deliver a letter to a certain house； and to wait there
for the answer。 The hours passed by； and the man did not return。
His master； anxious and surprised； followed。 He found the man
where he had been sent； the answer in his hand。 He was waiting for
further orders。 The story sounds exaggerated； but personally I can
credit it。
The curious thing is that the same man； who as an individual is as
helpless as a child； becomes； the moment he puts on the uniform； an
intelligent being； capable of responsibility and initiative。 The
German can rule others； and be ruled by others； but he cannot rule
himself。 The cure would appear to be to train every German for an
officer； and then put him under himself。 It is certain he would
order himself about with discretion and judgment； and see to it
that he himself obeyed himself with smartness and precision。
For the direction of German character into these channels； the
schools； of course； are chiefly responsible。 Their everlasting
teaching is duty。 It is a fine ideal for any people； but before
buckling to it； one would wish to have a clear understanding as to
what this 〃duty〃 is。 The German idea of it would appear to be：
〃blind obedience to everything in buttons。〃 It is the antithesis
of the Anglo…Saxon scheme； but as both the Anglo…Saxon and the
Teuton are prospering； there must be good in both methods。
Hitherto； the German has had the blessed fortune to be
exceptionally well governed； if this continue； it will go well with
him。 When his troubles will begin will be when by any chance
something goes wrong with the governing machine。 But maybe his
method has the advantage of producing a continuous supply of good
governors； it would certainly seem so。
As a trader； I am inclined to think the German will； unless his
temperament considerably change； remain always a long way behind
his Anglo…Saxon competitor； and this by reason of his virtues。 To
him life is something more important than a mere race for wealth。
A country that closes its banks and post…offices for two hours in
the middle of the day； while it goes home and enjoys a comfortable
meal in the bosom of its family； with； perhaps； forty winks by way
of dessert； cannot hope； and possibly has no wish； to compete with
a people that takes its meals standing； and sleeps with a telephone
over its bed。 In Germany there is not； at all events as yet；
sufficient distinction between the classes to make the struggle for
position the life and death affair it is in England。 Beyond the
landed aristocracy； whose boundaries are impregnable； grade hardly
counts。 Frau Professor and Frau Candlestickmaker meet at the
Weekly Kaffee…Klatsch and exchange scandal on terms of mutual
equality。 The livery…stable keeper and the doctor hobnob together
at their favourite beer hall。 The wealthy master builder； when he
prepares his roomy waggon for an excursion into the country；
invites his foreman and his tailor to join him with their families。
Each brings his share of drink and provisions； and returning home
they sing in chorus the same songs。 So long as this state of
things endures； a man is not induced to sacrifice the best years of
his life to win a fortune for his dotage。 His tastes； and； more to
the point still； his wife's； remain inexpensive。 He likes to see
his flat or villa furnished with much red plush upholstery and a
profusion of gilt and lacquer。 But that is his idea； and maybe it
is in no worse taste than is a mixture of bastard Elizabethan with
imitation Louis XV； the whole lit by electric light； and smothered
with photographs。 Possibly； he will have his outer walls painted
by the local artist： a sanguinary battle； a good deal interfered
with by the front door； taking place below； while Bismarck； as an
angel； flutters vaguely about the bedroom windows。 But for his Old
Masters he is quite content to go to the public galleries； and 〃the
Celebrity at Home〃 not having as yet taken its place amongst the
institutions of the Fatherland； he is not impelled to waste his；
money turning his house into an old curiosity shop。
The German is a gourmand。 There are still English