LOVE IN GERMANY

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 4264, 26 May 1936, Page 7

LOVE IN GERMANY

1 THE UNROMANTIC NAZIS | Every traveller from Germany brings some news of the changes that are taking place in the status of women under the inflexible rule of Hitler in that country (says the ‘ Melbourne Ago’). The'old symbol of Germania—who used to look rather like an overfed relation of, Britannia —no longer stands for the strong, proud, and independent German woman herself, for such a type of woman, unfortunately, finds little favour in the modern scheme of things. As if they were looked upon only as so many sheep, women are being shepherded hack to the fold, away from the ravening wolves of commercial life. They are robbed of their self-reliance, cheated of their independence, but offered a consolation prize in the form of a monetary reward if they marry. Whilst every normal woman would rather bo happily married to the man of her choice and established in her own home than spending her days toiling in the factory or office, she does not enjoy being deprived of the privilege of deciding for herself in this most important matter. But Hitler, who himself carefully refrains from shouldering the obligations of a husband or undertaking the responsibilities of parenthood, nevertheless has little patience with those —either men or women —who likewise wish to remain single. By every means in his power he induces young men and women to join themselves in the state of matrimony—the latter having to give up anv career —and to rear large families for the strengthening of the nation. I Now, all this would bo very commendable on the part ot Hitler il he encouraged—or even permitted—women to follow the dictates of their hearts, and to choose for a husband a man with at least some measure ol romantic appeal to them. But far from it. ’The mere existence of romance is not acknowledged, lot alone any display of it tolerated. Away with sentiment! What are emotions? ! Something to be ignored, disregarded, ! like the presence of a flea in polite ! society. The only important things 1 are the replies to a kind of catechism | that would make an applicant for chari ity ill a Highland village dodder. I Who is ho? Where was he born? I Who were his parents, his grand- ■ parents, their grandparents, his earliest ancestors? Where did they come from? How many children did they have? Docs he drink, smoke, gamble? What do his sisters, brothers, cousins, do? What ailments does he suffer from, or might he suffer from, if he were liable to the same sicknesses as his mother, father, sister, brother, cousin, uncle, aunt, and so on ad infinitum? What church does he worship in and how many times? Can he read, spell, write, do carpentering, gardening, or bricklaying, or is he qualified to follow some professional pursuit? In short, but among many other tilings, is he a German? These, says Hitler are some of the questions with which a woman must concern herself helore entering upon marriage. Pooh! he says, to such nonsensical ideas as “Does he love me? do I love him? shall we be happy? would 1 care for him no matter what he did, or has done; would he, too, be generous, kind, tolerant, self-sacrific-ing? Have we an affinity of the soul? _ The things to consider, says Hitler, are “ How much does the man earn? Could he support three or four children? (No. never mind that one; leave it to the State!) Is he Aryan through and through, and have all his progenitors been the same? If it isn’t enough, if he can’t, if he isn’t, and if they haven’t been—to the previous questions—then out with him! He is no lit husband for any German woman. As for romantic love, that must have been an invention of the Hebrews, for there is no room for it, officially speaking, in Goimany to-day. In civilised parts of the world, however, there are many people for whom romance in marriage is the most essential attribute of all for personal happiness. What may be described as “ sterling qualities ” scarcely exist for them. Cynics may declare that all romance is illusion, hut the greatest art of the world is founded upon it. And (what every woman knows) great art is certainly needed to make a success of marriage, even more in these modern days than ever before. POETRY OF SOUL. Once upon a time-—and it was not so very long ago—a lull sense of the romantic was a special characteristic oi tiie German people. Let us hope this of soul lias not entirely vanished, but, il it be absent at all, is only lying dormant. For no State decree about what husbands and wives individually shall choose is likely to prove more than an experiment in increasing the material welfare of the masses; certainly never an absolute means for ensuring the permanent spiritual happiness of the individual man and woman. Or at least that measure oi permanence which one’s own imperfection permits. Looking through some old German papers recently, i came across what was considered the recipe for a happy marriage in Germany more than a century ago It is the wedding agreement of a couple who lived in old Heidelbei g about the year 180U, and it consists of ID “ articles of faith.” Romance breathes in every word of it: — Article I.—We love each other ardently; wo feel that, without each other, we could never he happy; therefore we hind ourselves to he true to each other torever. Article 2.—Ferdinand dedicates and consecrates his whole being to Luise, in order to provide her, through tireless effort, with a comfortable and carefree existence. Article 3.—Luise, for her part, will so strive to carry out her domestic duties that the household affairs will always be in a good state. Article 4.—Since in married life trifles often become the source of great strife, we promise always to give way to each other in unimportant things. Article s.—ln matters of dress every detail shall he regulated accordincr to the other’s taste. Feidinand will never dress carelessly, lest he should offend Luise; and Luise will

a void any over-decoration in dress, lest she should have the appearance of trying to captivate strange men. The duct adornment of our bodies shall be cleanliness, since the opposite of that, in persons who must live in close association, rouses aversion and disgust. Article (j.—The imperious world—l will, I insist on it, 1 order—will be struck out of our domestic dictionary. Article 7.—Luise, in company, will never give the slightest impression that she lacks respect for her husband; since every wife who utters remarks that may be misconstrued immediately encourages other men to make advances to her. Article B.—Ferdinand, in company, will always show his respect lor Luise, so that she shall be respected by others. He will never, by flattery or over-politeness to other women, give them cause for even the most momentary triumph over his own wife. Article 9. —We shall be careful in the choice of those around us, and shall never tolerate false friends in tlie house in case—like a snake in the bosom—they should poison the peace ful joy of our union. Article 10.—There will bo no boundary between Thine and Mine. Our greatest possession in common is our mutual love; and this treasure, which in other hearts is so often destroyed by the flight of time, will with us continue to grow, sheltered by his wings, even unto the grave. Ah! For the good old days.