IN GERMANY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 121, 19 June 1909, Page 3

IN GERMANY.

SOME STRANGE CUSTOMS OF THE KAISER'S COUNTRY. Germany is very much in the public eye at the present moment, and everyone is familiar with her great military strength and the rapid strides she is making in navy-building and airshipconstruction. Of her domestic conditions, however, and how they contrast with our own, there is little general knowledge here in England. In the country districts' the' German people are steady and hard-working, and save money during a month or two at a time. But they arc rather like a great many of our own Lancashire operatives (says a Home paper), in that as soon as they have a nice round sum saved they go off to the nearest city, or some iholiday resort, and get rid of it in about one-twentieth part of the time it took to save it. They have no fear of 'becoming paupers in their old age, however, because of the pension fund towards which tihey are compelled to subscribe a certain portion of their wages each week. DANCING OUT THE NIGHT.

. In many large cities, and notably in Berlin, there is not much to be said in favor of the younger workers of the community, especially the unskilled. Instead of going to bed at a reasonable hour, they go off, after supper, to one. of the numerous ballrooms and dance the night through, drinking—a very light beer, it is true—most of the time.

In the morning they have an air of lassitude, and arc by no means sprightly about their work. In the workrooms of the large shops at ineal hours you will find the girls snatching the repose they ought to have had the night before; and even the domestic servants are permitted to indulge themselves in tin's way. Under German laws, certain minor offences are dealt with in a way that should commend itself to our own lawmakers.

For instance, a man when under the influence of drink is rather noisy, and, perhaps, breaks a widow. He is escorted to tllie nearest police-station, where his ,name and address are taken, after which be is conducted home safely. Next day lie receives a- little account, as: Damage to window. 10 marks; line, 10 marks—total, "ill marks. He pays', after which no more is heard of the matter. OBEDIENCE AT ALL COSTS.

riu> system would hardly be wor able here, because we have none of tliat police espionage by means of which the German authorities know practically every movement of cnTiras and foreigners alike. " For certain offences, again, the German policeman can administer summarv justice in the street. Suppose a man .spits' on the pavement the policeman stops him and-demands 2s, for which he offers a receipt. If the offender is a foreigner who does not know the power of the law in fieriuanv he may be tempted to spit again in defiance. All right. The guardian of the law will remain quite .imperturbable but the stranger will ta'e 2s more lo pay. |

In this country, people who reside n boarding-houses or furnished apartments generally escape all taxation; but tlrs is not so with the Kaiser's subjects. 1„ Germany, even bachelors have to pay taxes, and the foreigner .who is only mi the country temporarily hag also to'pav a share, and a substantial one, too " Of course, you may protest that you are only m the country for a couple" of montins, and refuse to pav. You -will receive fl visit from one or more offiwho will seal your boxes, vour : dressing-case, and yom- handle \rnl I dare you to open any of thcm,"nndcr dire penalties, until the tax has ],cc» paid.

Among fiorman students, a "rent many are «>rious. hard-working ™, mi , men. But there is also a curious ~ll' viva] among them i„ o, e f l)rm of vari . 'ii's students' societies, and in |]„. nio ,t se;ect of these duelling is still carried «ii. With these students the highest possinlp ambition is to got some nasty soar on the faro in a fight with broadswords, and frequently the.* bonis end fata II v.

1 Unliving among students )ak „ s n peculiar form. Yon nmv be sittin'.' quietly in a cafe, having some refresh inent. when, looking up. v o„ (,„,] some great, hulking fellow staring at you. Tf you have the .tcmeritv'to meet his rude stare unflinchingly he will presently inoint to your glass.' This Na M order to einiity your glass' at a draii"ht as a s-ign that you have no dci,-,- < ,|V,, M ,| aud if you refuse it will be 1,:,.;.,| |, v 'I s challenge. '

[■'lOlfT on UK Cl'T. If an Englishman finds liimsdr i„. volved in such an all'air, la. ha,l hcitor choose to light witli pistols, as lie is not likelv to stand much chance with the broadsword against a (Icrman student unless' he has had verv considerable training in this art. A refusal'to fight would lead to osti-i----cism from all society rccognisiii" the Herman gentleman's code of'honor. Xo doubt this stupid practice would have dieil out long ago but for the fact that Idle Kaiser and most of Hie liHicst Ministers and ollicials of the country arc members ,>f students' societies, and those duelling oifs.