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money turning his house into an old curiosity shop。
The German is a gourmand。 There are still English farmers who；
while telling you that farming spells starvation； enjoy their seven
solid meals a day。 Once a year there comes a week's feast
throughout Russia； during which many deaths occur from the over…
eating of pancakes； but this is a religious festival； and an
exception。 Taking him all round； the German as a trencherman
stands pre…eminent among the nations of the earth。 He rises early；
and while dressing tosses off a few cups of coffee； together with
half a dozen hot buttered rolls。 But it is not until ten o'clock
that he sits down to anything that can properly be called a meal。
At one or half…past takes place his chief dinner。 Of this he makes
a business； sitting at it for a couple of hours。 At four o'clock
he goes to the cafe； and eats cakes and drinks chocolate。 The
evening he devotes to eating generallynot a set meal； or rarely；
but a series of snacks；a bottle of beer and a Belegete…semmel or
two at seven； say； another bottle of beer and an Aufschnitt at the
theatre between the acts； a small bottle of white wine and a
Spiegeleier before going home； then a piece of cheese or sausage；
washed down by more beer； previous to turning in for the night。
But he is no gourmet。 French cooks and French prices are not the
rule at his restaurant。 His beer or his inexpensive native white
wine he prefers to the most costly clarets or champagnes。 And；
indeed； it is well for him he does； for one is inclined to think
that every time a French grower sells a bottle of wine to a German
hotel… or shop…keeper； Sedan is rankling in his mind。 It is a
foolish revenge； seeing that it is not the German who as a rule
drinks it； the punishment falls upon some innocent travelling
Englishman。 Maybe； however； the French dealer remembers also
Waterloo； and feels that in any event he scores。
In Germany expensive entertainments are neither offered nor
expected。 Everything throughout the Fatherland is homely and
friendly。 The German has no costly sports to pay for； no showy
establishment to maintain； no purse…proud circle to dress for。 His
chief pleasure； a seat at the opera or concert； can be had for a
few marks； and his wife and daughters walk there in home…made
dresses； with shawls over their heads。 Indeed； throughout the
country the absence of all ostentation is to English eyes quite
refreshing。 Private carriages are few and far between； and even
the droschke is made use of only when the quicker and cleaner
electric car is not available。
By such means the German retains his independence。 The shopkeeper
in Germany does not fawn upon his customers。 I accompanied an
English lady once on a shopping excursion in Munich。 She had been
accustomed to shopping in London and New York； and she grumbled at
everything the man showed her。 It was not that she was really
dissatisfied； this was her method。 She explained that she could
get most things cheaper and better elsewhere； not that she really
thought she could； merely she held it good for the shopkeeper to
say this。 She told him that his stock lacked tasteshe did not
mean to be offensive； as I have explained； it was her method；that
there was no variety about it； that it was not up to date； that it
was commonplace； that it looked as if it would not wear。 He did
not argue with her； he did not contradict her。 He put the things
back into their respective boxes； replaced the boxes on their
respective shelves； walked into the little parlour behind the shop；
and closed the door。
〃Isn't he ever coming back？〃 asked the lady； after a couple of
minutes had elapsed。
Her tone did not imply a question； so much as an exclamation of
mere impatience。
〃I doubt it；〃 I replied。
〃Why not？〃 she asked； much astonished。
〃I expect；〃 I answered； 〃you have bored him。 In all probability he
is at this moment behind that door smoking a pipe and reading the
paper。〃
〃What an extraordinary shopkeeper！〃 said my friend； as she gathered
her parcels together and indignantly walked out。
〃It is their way；〃 I explained。 〃There are the goods； if you want
them； you can have them。 If you do not want them； they would
almost rather that you did not come and talk about them。〃
On another occasion I listened in the smoke…room of a German hotel
to a small Englishman telling a tale which； had I been in his
place； I should have kept to myself。
〃It doesn't do；〃 said the little Englishman； 〃to try and beat a
German down。 They don't seem to understand it。 I saw a first
edition of The Robbers in a shop in the Georg Platz。 I went in and
asked the price。 It was a rum old chap behind the counter。 He
said： 'Twenty…five marks；' and went on reading。 I told him I had
seen a better copy only a few days before for twentyone talks
like that when one is bargaining； it is understood。 He asked me
'Where？' I told him in a shop at Leipsig。 He suggested my
returning there and getting it； he did not seem to care whether I
bought the book or whether I didn't。 I said：
〃'What's the least you will take for it？'
〃'I have told you once；' he answered； 'twenty…five marks。' He was
an irritable old chap。
〃I said： 'It's not worth it。'
〃'I never said it was； did I？' he snapped。
〃I said： 'I'll give you ten marks for it。' I thought； maybe； he
would end by taking twenty。
〃He rose。 I took it he was coming round the counter to get the
book out。 Instead； he came straight up to me。 He was a biggish
sort of man。 He took me by the two shoulders； walked me out into
the street； and closed the door behind me with a bang。 I was never
more surprised in all my life。
〃Maybe the book was worth twenty…five marks；〃 I suggested。
〃Of course it was；〃 he replied； 〃well worth it。 But what a notion
of business！〃
If anything change the German character； it will be the German
woman。 She herself is changing rapidlyadvancing； as we call it。
Ten years ago no German woman caring for her reputation； hoping for
a husband； would have dared to ride a bicycle： to…day they spin
about the country in their thousands。 The old folks shake their
heads at them； but the young men； I notice； overtake them and ride
beside them。 Not long ago it was considered unwomanly in Germany
for a lady to be able to do the outside edge。 Her proper skating
attitude was thought to be that of clinging limpness to some male
relative。 Now she practises eights in a corner by herself； until
some young man comes along to help her。 She plays tennis； and；
from a point of safety； I have even noticed her driving a dog…cart。
Brilliantly educated she always has been。 At eighteen she speaks
two or three languages； and has forgotten more than the average
Englishwoman has ever read。 Hitherto； this education has been
utterly useless to her。 On marriage she has retired into the
kitchen； and made haste to clear her brain of everything else； in
order to leave room for bad cooking。 But suppose it begins to dawn
upon her that a woman need not sacrifice her whole existence to
household drudgery any more than a man need make himself nothing
else than a business machine。 Suppose she develop an ambition to
take part in the social and national life。 Then the influence of
such a partner； healthy in body and therefore vigorous in mind； is
bound to be both lasting and far…reaching。
For it must be borne in mind that the German man is exceptionally
sentimental； and most easily influenced by his women folk。 It is
said of him； he is the best of lovers； the worst of husbands。 This
has been the woman's fault。 Once married； the German woman has
done more than put romance behind her； she has taken a carpet…
beater and driven it out of the house。 As a girl； she never
understood dressing； as a wife； she takes off such clothes even as
she had； and proceeds to wrap herself up in any odd articles she
may happen to find about the house； at all events； this is the
impression she produces。 The figure that might often be that of a
Juno； the complexion that would sometimes do credit to a healthy
angel； she proceeds of malice and intent to spoil。 She sells her
bi