GERMAN'S PRAISE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 270, 13 November 1937, Page 16

GERMAN'S PRAISE.

BRITAIN'S EMPIRE.

ENGLISH GIRL'S FREEDOM.

HER CALCULATING EYE.

(Special.—By Air Mall.)

LONDON, October 23.

As ft contrast to the views of a German newspaper correspondent who, after a flying visit to London, regaled his readers with tales of English dissolution and chaos, the views of another German make interesting reading. Herr Kurt von Stntterheim, London correspondent of the "Berliner Tageblatt," whose book "Those English," is published this week, has been reporting English affairs since 1023. He is married to an Englishwoman.

Herr von Stntterheim think* the English, for the most part, a polite and kindly people. "London," he observes, "is incomparably more polite as a city than Paris. Its courtesy is far more sincere than that of Rome, and much more natural than the somewhat regimental politeness of Berlin." The author does not think very highly of English housewives. He refers to the "tragi-comic experiment in hoilsekeepl ing" that follows a girl's marriage, and remarks that an English husband will put up with things which would lead to a family quarrel in Germany.

He is surprised by the unmarried English girl's freedom. "Flirtation," he says, "is a. recognised institution in English life. In so far as material questions are concerned, the Englishwoman is more calculating than the Englishman. Not heiresses, but 'eligible bachelors' are the golden calves worshipped In the market place." Herr von Stutterheini admires the achievement of the British Empire. "England's ambition," he points out, "is not to be lord over life and death in the Empire, but to be its clearing house. It is a magnificent conception and unique in the history of the world."