IN THE WRONG COAT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXIII, Issue 194, 31 August 1901, Page 4

IN THE WRONG COAT.

la regard to forms and ceremonies of every-day life, such as the taking eff of hats, bowing to strangers, &c, the German is much more particular than the English, who, beciuse of their omission to say "Qocd morning" ob entering a pnblic room or to bow when taking a seat at a hotel dinner table. are sometimes described by chavuiniit Germans as devoid of manners. To, what lengths this panctilionsness may run in official circles, w illsssrat d by she following story. It appears that at Spandau, the fort i ress town, not far from Berlin, where Prussia's war oreasores of coin are Stored for future use, if oesded, the registrar is obviously of opinion that persons duly united in wedlock must mend their ways after matrimony in regard t* their c'othing, whether they have time to do so or not. A working man recently went to his office to notify the birth of a child. The official in question refused to accept the report en the ground that the workman was in his working attire, and not in Sunday black I The labourer mtaraliy did not see the thing from the same point of view. Time being money to hitn, it. was obviously a loss of money to him to be obliged ta go to the registrar during his hours of work to perform this citizen duty, and he did not see why ha should Jose more by having to deck himself oub in his Sunday clothes far an hour in the midst of his morning's work. He accordingly did not go again to the registrar. The police retorted by fioieg bin 3s. He appealed to the Courts, bat the judge took the view of the official, and ha has had to pay his money. At Bpandau, therefore, fathers have to pnt on their but clothes when they report the births ef their children ; on the other baud, it is said that an officer of the,army always goes in his undress " working" costume, and not in fulldress with helmet, ha. The opei atives cannot oosiprehend the registrar's distinction, nor the decision of the m»gietiate.