Faces and phases of German life

Preface

During the past ten years, until June 30, 1908, when by one Act of Congress twenty-eight consulates, among them that at Freiburg, Baden, Germany, were abolished, it was my good fortune to be stationed in charge of a public office in a foreign country; and many have been the types of individuals, good, bad and indifferent, that have come under my observation. A few of these ''Character Pictures," as I shall call them, I have noted here.

In connection with each character sketch I shall study also some phase of German life, giving a description of the country, its inhabitants, its government, the habits and customs, in fact anything and everything that may serve to explain the preceding character ; and I hope that thereby the book will be rendered more valuable and more interesting to the reader.

I have endeavored to be truthful and accurate in my descriptions of this remarkable nation, and in every respect unprejudiced ; but I am w^ell aware that there may be some who, having travelled abroad and acquired their own opinions from unpleasant experiences, may differ with me. But to these I will say that a consul has exceptional advantages over other

PREFACE.

residents because of the many dealings, the correspondence, etc., with the authorities, the business people and citizens generally; and if he himself is familiar with the language so that he can converse with them, read their papers, attend their meetings, and can, so to say, be one of them, his insight into foreign affairs and foreign modes of thinking becomes as a matter of course all the more accurate and reliable.

As with the best of intentions inaccuracies may nevertheless occur, any reader will confer a great favor upon the author by writing him, and so helping to make a possible second edition an improvement over the first.

I am indebted to Dr. Susan S. Sheridan, Director of English in the New Haven High School, who carefully read the manuscript. Theophilus LiKi'eJi.d.

New Haven, Connecticut, January, 191 o.

Contents

PAGE

MR. ANDROS, The Terribly Afflicted Man 9

General Comments 14

Part II 68 The German Notary 1Z

CASE OF MR. DARDANELLES. Part 1 79

Part II 84

Burials in Germany 91

MR. EPSON, The Tramp Professor; or, A Rolling Stone Gathers

No Moss 91

The German Courts 103

Judgment of Oaths 106

The Poor-debtor Landlord 108

The Non-paying Tenants no

Penalties for Perjury 112

Imprisoned, though Innocent 114

The Swindling Widow , i iS

CONTENTS.

PAGE

The Teweler's Oath 120

The German Prisons 121

Capital Punishment 123

Strange Sentences 124

The Dead Father 126

Rescued 127

The Unborn Burgomaster 128

A Variety of Troubles 129

Uncertain Nationality * 131

MR. FRANK, The Hospitable American, or, A Friend in Need is a

Friend Indeed 135

German Women 138

Frauenbund 140

German Men 141

German Peasant Woman 143

Marriage Endeavors 146

Leap Year Proposal 149

A Postmaster's Daughter 152

The German Cook 153

The German Woman 155

MR. GORDONE. The Man Who Brags 157

The German Soldier 160

The Soldier's Duties 167

The Silenced Power Behind the Throne 171

Power of Literature 174

Prepared for Peace 176

Military Discipline 178

Courtesy of Army Officer 180

Consular Protection 181

Two Alsatians 183

The Deserter of 1870 184 i

A Yankee Trick 185

In Haste 187

European Unrest 189

MRS. HADDOCK. The Unhappy Woman; or Be it Ever so

Humble, There's no Place Like Home 191

Sample Letters Received 501

CONTENTS.

PAGE

Language Lessons 203

The German Post Office 204

MR. INMAN. The American Cowboy. Part 1 211

Part II 217

The Unwelcome American 218

The Aida Encore 219

The Noble American 220

The German University 225

Municipal University Celebrations 229

The Americanism of the German University 231

The German Professor 2^3

University Customs 236

University Prison 244

Universities of Germany 246

Student Duels 250

Description of a Duel 255

Student Clubrooms 268

Student Kneipe 270

Student Societies 279

MR. & MRS. JASON. The Discontented Couple. Chapter 1 281