PLEASANT CUSTOMS

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 59, 11 March 1937, Page 18

PLEASANT CUSTOMS

A new point of, view, is. presented by a writer in "Design" about .social customs in Germany at-present. She says: "I-,confess myself -deeply impressed with.the sacrificial.;.fervour of the -German 'people. - They '.believe in future- honour and:■ plenitude as compensation for presentkpenury as only a sentimental nation,;can'. At.the same time I do not wish; it thought that the German goes , around with a grim-set jaw and the relentless eyeof the sentinel;,- There:; is; much pleasantness in life here, and a camaraderie one does not find in France.I,'for instance. The hidebound conventions of England likewise have no place here. I was at first startled and then intrigued to find that a man may speak to a gjirl in a public place without the formality of an introduction. Should the girl not desire the acquaintanceship she politely intimates as much, and the man as politely retires. It is both novel and wholesome to have a man approach one in the street and say, 'Fraulein, I observe you have no escort. Would you do me the honour to accompany me to some place of amusement.' One. can simply reply, 'I am sorry, but I am on my way to keep an appointment.' No harm is done," and you: walk on pleasantly thrilled at having excited admiration. In restaurants and hotels there is a gaiety and friendliness that one misses in the English-speaking countries. Many of the places have telephones installed so that'lonely guests may ring people seated elsewhere in the room. Possibly it is the inborn discipline in the .German character that permits of such communication without risk of insult." The writer goes on to commend the discipline which is shown in clean streets, absence of raucous traffic noises (would there were such discipline here?) and regularity of building. There were many things which she found commendable though a faithful British subject.