THE PRUSSIAN BRUTE

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 286, 22 August 1918, Page 5

THE PRUSSIAN BRUTE

SOME TRAITS OF HIS CHARACTER

AMERICAN AMBASSADOR'S

IMPRESSIONS

T'Kaco (o Face with Kaiscrism," llio now book on Germany by Mr. J. AY. Gerard, formerly American Ambassador in Berlin, contains a chapter on tho German national character and on Kultur, from which we give the following extracts.]

.The German, or rather tho Prussian, has been moulded into the extraordinary person that he is to-day by a slow process of education extending through several generations. At Marienburg, on tho Baltic shore of Germany, stands tho aneciont castle of the Teutonic Knights rerestored by the German Kaiser. The Knights at one time conquered and occupied much of the territory that is now modern Prussia. A military religious order, they - attracted adventurers from all lands and their descendants constitute many of the noble families of Prussia. It is this tradition of conquest for gain that still animates the niling class of Prussia and therefore all Germany.

Later through the Middle Ages and as the centra] power of tho Emperor grow weaker and weaker, what is to-day Germany became a nes.t of dukedoms and principalities. Before the French Revolution these numbered hundreds. After the Thirty Years' AVar which ravaged Germany from 1615. to 16-13 extremo poverty was often conspicuous at these petty courts. AVar was. an industry and tho poor German peasants were frequently bartered as slaves to" the wargod, as the Hcssains were sold by their ruler to the British in our AVar'of tho Rovolution. The Germans were then the mercenaries of Europe, savages skilled in war, without mercy towards the towns unfortunate enough to be given to their pillage. There is no more horrible event ill all history than that of the sack of Rome by the German mercenaries in the year 1527.

Tho most awful outrages were perpetrated. Prelates wero tortured after being paraded through tho streets of the Eternal City, dressed in their sacred pontificals and mounted on donkeys. Altars were defiled, sacred images broken, vestments and services and works of art taken from tho plundered churches and sacred relics insulted, broken, and scattered. For nine months the. orgy continued, the inhabitants being tortured by these German soldiers in their effort lo jintl hidden treasure. In fact, conditions in Belgium to-day had their counterpart centuries ago in the treatment of Roman Catholic priests and tho people of Rome. Goetho's Opinion. The great change in Ihe feeling of the country towards Prussia, since the latter's conquest of ihe rest of Germany in 1806 is still, exemplified by ono quotation from Goethe. He said: "The Prussian was born a brute and civilisation will make him ferocious." We all have seen how prophetic was this sentence. Skilled in chemistry, in science, well educated, made rich by manufacturing and foreign commerce, the Prussians of to-day have shown themselves far more bloodv, far more cruel than the German lansquenet of the Middle Ages who sold himself, his two-handed sword, his military experience, and his long lance to the highest bidder.

It was interesting to note the psychological development of tho Germans during the war. For tho very short, time while war hung in the balance thero was a period almost of rejoicing among tho singing crowds in tho streets—a universal release of tension after JO years' preparation for war. • " , Next came the busy period of mobilisation, and 'Jien, as tho German armies swept through Belgium and France, stronghold and fortress falling. before them, there came a period of intenso exaltation and exultation, a period when the most reasonable Germans, tho light of success and conquest in their eyes, de- j clared German Kultur'would now* bo-im-posed on Hie. whole world.

Tho Battle of the Marne ended this period' of rejoicing and, through the winter of 19M-15, when it becamo apparent that Germany would not win by a sudden assault, the' temper of the peoplo began lo change to an attitude of depression. The Cult of Earnestness.

I know of no class in Germany whichreally enjoys life. The counts and Junkers have their country estates. Life on these estates, which are administered solely for profit, is not like country life in England or America. The houses nro plain and, for the most part, without the convenimces of bathrooms and heating to which we are accustomed in America. Very few automobiles are cwned in Germany There.are practically, no small country houses or bungalows, although, at a few of the sea places, rich Jews have villas.

The-wealthy merchant takes his vacation in summer at Carlsbad or Kissingen or in some other resort where his physical constitution, disorganised by overeating and over-drinking, can be. regulated somewhat. Many Germans tako their, familes to Switzerland, where the German of all ages with knapsack and .Alpine stick is a familiar sight. Earnestness is the watchword. It was insisted upon even to a greater degree by the autocracy with the'opening of, tho war! The' playing of dance music brought a'visit from /tho police. Ths theatres at first were closed, but later opened. Only 'plays of a serious or patriotic nature were originally permitted. Dancing was tabooed, but in jho winter of 1915-16 Reinhardt was allowed to produce a ballet,of a severely classical nature, and at the opera performances the ponderous ballet girls were permitted to cavort as usual. ,

As the waiv continued the tasto of the Germans turned to sombro, tragical, r.nd almost sinister plays. Only a death en the stage seemed to bring a ray of animation to the stolid bovine faces of the audience'.

The. German soul, indeed, seems to turn not towards light and gay and graceful things, but towards bloodshed •■'.lid grucsomeuess, gliosis and ■ nivslervt.he effect, doubtless, of the long, dark bitter nights and grey days that ever-' shadow these northern lands.

I think the only time I lost my temper in Germany was when a seemingly reasonable and polite gentleman from the Foreign Office sitting by my desk one day in 1916, remnrked how splendid it was that Germany had nearly two million prisoners of war, and lhat these wmild go back to their homes imbued with an intense admiration of' German kultnr.

I said that I believed that tho two million prisoners of war who had been insulted and underfed and beaten and forced to work as slaves in factories and mines and on farms, would go back to their homes with such a hatred of all tilings German that it would not be safo for Germans to travol in countries from which these prisoners came, that other nations had their own kultur, with which they were perfectly satisfied, and which they did not wish to change for any made-in-Germany brand!