A BOOK OF THE DAY

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 7265, 22 October 1910, Page 9

A BOOK OF THE DAY

(BY '-LXBEB.") >BItMAXY AIM) THE GLJTUAXS. My German Year.” By Ida A. H Wylie. London: ililJo and Boon, Ltd. Wellington: Whitcombo and Tombs, Ltd. Of books on Germany, it might be thought wo have had ot Into almost a surfeit Political and statistical studios by Messrs El Us Barker, and W. U. Daw-son, allegedly humorous books such ns “Gotty in Germany,” "colour books" depicting some of the quaint cities, aud, of course, books bu the Kaiser's army and navy—surely, it may be thought tho pile of latter-day literature about tho Teuton and his country is sufficiently high without any further addition. And yet, I venture to say that even those who iuuvo read a good score or so books on modern Germany will _ find very' much that is new in Miss Wylie's brightly written and essentially readable volume. There is this one new feature in it, that its author does nob attempt any general survey of Germany or description of Gorman life. She confines herself almost entirely to life as uhe saw it in Karlsruhe, tho capital of ikulea, a town of something over 100,000 inhabitants. And a very pleasant plaoc she found it. Much more than in England do tho German provincial cities each possess a special cliaracter of their own, and it is in the smaller towns, in the miniature capitals, that the German is best studied, working and living as ho does undisturbed and uninfluenced by tho foreign stream which flows past to tho great cities.. North and South Germans. Very cleverly -does Miss Wylie hit off tho differences between tho Prussians and the South Germane. Sho scoffs at the prevailing English idea, that tho Prussian is "a tail, fierce-looklng individual with a monstrous Kaiser-mou-stache, an insolent stare, and excessively bad maimers . . . .the sort ot person who pushes ladies off the pavement, and is generally notorious as a swaggering, spurt-licking, Schwert-rasselende bully,” and that tho South German is a sentimental, long-haired person, with a passion for music—and beer. Hero is a quotation from her corrected impressions :

The Prussian is perhaps more correct, more tenacious with 'the forms juad ceremonies; at the end of the meal he will shake your hand, and wish you "Gesegneto Mahlzeit" -with a deep bow; tne opinions ho expressed are strongly conservative and imperial. Tile South German, on tho other hand, skips over formalities if he ,ca,n do so with safety—espeeial- - ly i: you are a foreigner; his manners are easier and lighter; ho has liberal, even mildly deinocratio tendencies; you see, in a word, in every detail, tno far-off glimmer of the characteristics which go to make up the genuine people at the South. . . I have noticed that the North German, though he is loud in his contempt for his careless, devil-may-care compatriot, is quite ready to join in his devil-may-care ways on the very tirst opportunity that offers. Certain it is tnat the Prussian ofhcors who are "commanded" to South German regiments never want to go back to their native soil.'" They grumble at what '-hey call the "slovenliness" of the South German soldier, and the mora easy-going discipline of his officers, but" there is a. mildness in tho atmosphere,, a warmth in the Bhine wine, and a cheery, happy-go4ucky air about Dveryonc, which even the stern dis-cipline-living Prussian cannot long l-esent. ... Social Life. Miss Wylie's pictures of German social life are often most piquant. Much has been written, ailxmt the hard and fast lines which encompass the various sections of. German society. In a chapter headed "The Magic Circles," Hiss Wylia. sketches, with much pleasant humour, tho conventions and unwritten rules by which German society is governed. Tho task of a hostess, inust be somewhat arduous, for every German .and every Gorman woman, belongs to a "Kreis"— u. circle—and there are as many circles as thoro aro professions. There is the exclusively Court Circle, tho Aristocratic Circle, tho Military Circle, the Official Circle, the Law Circle, the Musical Circle, tho Art Circle, the Learned Circle, tho Commercial Cirole, the Jewish Circle, and so on, ad infinitum. And they are all independent, all moro or less exclusive. ... A lawyer's friends are lawyers, and if an officer or a professor drifts into his "dUuiers," ho' is, and remains, an outsider—almost a foreigner. The professor clings to his colleagues, and has no interest for anyone else, and his wife must chocse her woman friends from the same circle. . . . If you : are inviting officers, it bodes ■well for you if you can get them all . out of the' same regiment If .you give a mixed party', you will see at once that the mixture is a failure—that, in fact, the guests do not'miy. Tho situation is still more marked when officers and civilians are invited together. In a moment the "Gesellschaft" divides itself into two distinct camps, the civilians keep to one side of the room, tho officers to tho other, and nothing on earth will bring them, together. . . . The Favoured Aristocracy. Unquestionably, to a foreigner, there Is something peculiarly snobbish in the reverence in which, especially in North Germany, the aristocracy is "held. . Soys Aliss Wylie : The nobility is an openly privileged class—not only in .society, but in every branch of State business. In the army the titled officer has always a greater chance than his burgherlicher comrade, and plain Lieutenant Schmidt knows that unless he manifests exceptional abilities he is fairly certain to stumble at the fatal "Major's-corner," as it is called; that unless ho has been proved worthy of having the patent of nobility conferred on him for that purpose, ho will never be able to hold a high. post. And in every case where the State is concerned tho same rulo holds good—family before overything. No matter how poor the family may-Tie, so long as it is honourable, it can always reckon on the support of the roigning House, and, in fact, of everyone belonging to the mighty Brotherhood.

The Aristocracy ot Genius. As against this mucli abused Kasten?eist, this spirit of Caste, this snobbish and unjnst elevation of mere- birth privilege, must bo set an hereditary' indifference to -wealth. In Germany at least aristocracy of genius ia ' a reocgu.ieed institution. The nobility shut thoir doors against the wealthy .parvenn, they ning them wide open to the Genius. Tho rich .Tow will be passed over, but the poor musiciau, {he struggling painter, if he po&soss the divine spark in his soul, can hope for the highest

privileges in tho land, and not hop© in vain. I know of cases without number where untitled painters and musician.-. pea-ants' sons some of them—have, been the gucs-ts of and intimate friend.s <,f the Grand Duke, nail have associated in the very circle, »;>:■«•, had they been the richest merchants, they would have been, ignored. Tho spirit which animated tiie old nobility in their patronage

and love of genius exists to-day, and is one ot the many reasons why the spirit of Art is at home in Germany,

whereas in other countries it is more or less a pampered exile.

Another point, upon which the German noble differs greatly from his English prototype is that "wealth has played no part in his making—he is -poor, and his life is one of extreme simplicity." "When," says Miss Wylie, "ho has the advantago of wealth, his inherited taste and culture arc allowed full play, though they scarcely ever lead him to extreme luxury, and never to ostentation, lie dresses well, but simply, and his whole life continues to bo marked with a certain dignified quiet." The Simplicity of German Life. An excellent feature in German life, especially in the smaller towns, is its extreme simplicity. There is none of that stupid desire to appear better oft than people really are, none of that wretched pretence at "smartness" which is so deplorable a feature in English middle-class life. If the family iucomo be small, the family ,is not ashamed of the fact, but tries to live within its means. Dressing for dinner, except on quito state occasions, is rare; there is no absurd outlay on costly refreshments. But there is good music, and plenty of it, and dancing—"everybody in Germany dances passionately"—and a general air of genuine, if homely, hospitality. (I wonder, by the way, what would bo thought in Germany of the idiotic practice of many New Zealand hostesses in getting a full report of some trumpery "afternoon tea" written up for the daily papers, and of the equally ridiculous custom of recording what Miss This or Mrs That wore at this, that, or the other small social function!) Miss Wylie gives a charming account of a Tanzerei, or informal dance, voi'2 of all ostentation and pretence, Tho supper is frugal—cold meat, ham, sausage (Miss Wylio avows "a

shame-faced liking for German sausage, which is made of gee-gee and bow-wow, as every Englishman knows!") and Italian salad, cheese and pumpernickel, washed down with wholesome, if 60niewlat sour, light wine. All through German life, simplicity and economy are encouraged. Even amongst the officers this is so. Miss Wylie .tells how one young officer,, in . a orack Berlin regiment, managed to live on an allowance of £3 a month. He ' washed his own handkerchiefs, and cleaned hie white kid gloves with benzine,; and lived on ifood which would-make a. British workman sorry for himself. The German Soldier. Miss Wylie has a great admiration .for the German soldier, and his powers >of endurance, and, aboveall, for his so.briety and orderliness, not only, on duty, 'but in his amusements. When the Kaiser Parade took place at Karlsruhe, a whole Army Corps—3s,ooo men—were stationed in and about tho town. "Then, were no cases of drunkenness or rowdiness—a church festival could not have Ibeen more sobor." As to tho two years : which tho ordinary working man spends with the troops, they are, according to •tho author, the happiest and healthiest of his life. Certainly at no other time is ho so well clothed, well fed, and well looked after. I am speaiuig now of the ordinary private—Froiwilhger.", The Einjahriger that is'to say,, the "educated man, who has passed a certain examination and need only serve one year, has, however, some 'bad moments, for tho "under officers" not seldom take a 'pitiful pleasure in exercising their temporary authority over their, social suE' oriora. It is only verbal ill-treatment owover; for the brutality with which the German soldier, is supposed to bo treated is, according to Miss Wylie, a •mere' fable. Compulsory Service, As to the value of compulsory military (service, Mis's Wyiio is insistent. That the two years with the troops is beneficial for the common man is undeniable. At the beginning of the | military year you can often see a crowd of sloppy, underfed, bow-leg- . led round-shouldered youths being marched off from the station by an "under officer," and a few months ■ later you will see the same party in uniform, straight-built, well fed, healthy, respectable-looking fellows, who are being taught to live morally and physically a, decent, useful . life. If eternal peace were 6ignea to-morrow by all the nations, and Germany's Army forced to disband, it would bo a national disaster—the finest school in the country would bo closed. . . . Everybody who can serves his time—it is regarded as something as natural as daily food—' and outside the officers and "underoffioers" thoro is no professional army. There are no hired soldiers; each citizen brings a short time out of his life, and sacrifices it to his couutrv, and receives in return a physical and moral training which should fit him all the for a citizen's career.. This seems to mo no more militarism than compulsory education. The German Woman. In successive chapters Miss Wylie tells us much that is interesting about tho German students—their duels, their beerdrinking competitions, and so forth, being included—about German education, the theatre and musical life, sport and pastimes, Christmas festivities,_ and family gatherings, and acts, in fact, as a most agreeable cicerono to all the most agreeable 'features of Teuton . life. In tho chapters dealing with the German Woman, single a.nd married, she dispells several age-worn English illusions, indeed it is verj-'evideut tlia.t she holds the mueli-soc-ftod at Hausfrau in tho highest esteem. The old idea that Kinder, Kirche, and Kuche—Children, Church, and Cooking—summed up the

whole gamut of a German, wife's existence is asserted, and fully proved, to 1m a grievous mistake, ft is true that the German wife often makes serious sacrifices in. order to help her husband, dressing shabbily, cooking meals, nursing and dressing the children, going without every iuxurv in order that tho husband may represent his name and position, fittingly at Court functions and m Society, but, says Miss Wylie: She is reallv her husband's helpmate, and this, together with the trust and confidence he gives her in return, is all the happiness she asks of life She knows that he, too, has his hardships to bear, and she is proud that she can take her part in them. She has, in fact, won the right 'to share everything with him, both joy and sorrow. She is generally a much better educated woman than her English sister; she is courageous, loyal, industrious, filled with the sense of her responsibilities, determined, and clear-headed. She is the woman to whom a. man can turn in time of difficulty and trial with tho knowledge that ho will find in her a sturdy comrade, ready to share every burden and sacrifice. She is a lineal descendant of file women who. in the great davs when Germany was struggling for her freedom, sold their wedding rings and wore rings of itou that tho Fatherland might not lack tho means to carry on the conflict.

With women such as Miss Wylio depicts the German woman as being, iu?ed there bo any wonder that the nation has made such great strides?

Germany and England Miss Wylie's final chapter deals with what might be called the Anglo-German question. Hero are the opening sentences : In the six years which I have, spent almost uninterruptedly ni Germany and amongst the German people, I have not once had to defend my nationality, or heard a singlo word which could wound my national pride. Those who have lived a great deal abroad will understand that this is a big statement, and it is all tho bigger because in those six years the tension between the two countries has been acuto and the war clouds have hung heavy on the horizon.

On the one hand I read of nothing hut hatred, jealous}', and rivalry; on the other I experienced nothing but .Idnd'ness, courtesy, and good will. I do not think my experience is exceptional. English people with open minds who live in this country have only affection to express for their German, hosts, and they in turn are invariably popular and welcomed in every circle of German society. The old dislike for the Englishman has long since been swept away, and as . individuals the two races agree admirably. Why not then as nations? For the answer that Miss Wylie gives to her own. question I must refer my readers to the book itself, to the many merits and to the distinct charm of which I fear I have done scant justice. It is in every way a most interesting work. ’ A number of well-chosen illustrations, mostly from photographs, but a few from original water-colour drawings, add greatly to the general attractiveness of the book.