GERMAN GLUTTONY.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16472, 15 March 1919, Page 10

GERMAN GLUTTONY.

The modern Teuton is the L greatest irencher-man of all nations, and a glutton to boot (writes Henry de Halsalle in the "Daily Mail," after quoting classical authority for a belief that the ancient Germans had similar qualities). As he will himself remark, "1 must eat till it hurts."'These-facts we should bear in mind when, from Central Europe, we hear the wail that the German people are "starving." This "starving," we should also recollect, was a perpetual lament in Germany a few months after the outbreak of war, and the Germans have "starved" ever since,, though no German newspaper -appears to have recorded one solitary death from actual starvation. Eating in Germany, besides being a pleasurable necessity j would seem also to be a pastime; hence the continual "snacks" eaton between meals by both sexes. At any place of amusement, by day or night, you could witness this ceaseless munching of sandwiches and cakes. Even at the Berlin Opera the German —expensively dressed Frau and Fraulein —will nibble \ something or other in the way of comestibles. Oranges tised often to be in evidence in the stalls. . not quality," is the motto of the Teuton as regards food, [f his appetite fail him to tho extent of his not being ablo to help himself, twice from every dish, he has dire misgivings as to the stato of his health. A good story was told bv a resident Englishman in Berlin who had occasion to engage a charwoman. Said she, "I shall come at 6 in the morning, ana as that will be very earJy I shall feel hungry. Sc> you must let mo have coffee, liam,' and bread and butter directly I arrive. At half-past 8 I shall waDt some more ham and a glass of beer. At half-past 10 it will do if you give me some bread and dripping and some coffee. My dinner-time is 1 o'clock, and I shall want some soflp, and meat and vegetables, with beer nnd coffee." At 4 o'clock I don't think I shall need more than some coffee, or tea, and bread and butter and a sausage SJandwich might be enough for me at 6. But at 8, you know, I shall cxpoct a good supper. As for payment, my charge will be 2s Gd." "And if I should ask you to keen on eating all day," rejoined the Englishman, "how much would you . charge then?" He might have further enquired if the lady would also have liked to eat all night—in accordance with the practice of so many Berliners, whose unflagging voracity is suggestive of disease.