FRENCH ANTIPATHY TO GERMANS.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 3344, 20 December 1883, Page 3

FRENCH ANTIPATHY TO GERMANS.

The French have decidedly got <• German spy ” on the brain. Every route, throughout Burgundy in particular, is so strictly watched that not a single stranger —no matter to what nationality he may belong—can travel the country without being subjected to all kinds of petty annoyances. _ A few days ago two yonng English artists were out on a sketching excursion in the neighborhood of Beauno,where they had been sketching, vineyards, when after a day , spent among the hills they came down in search of refreshments. On arriving at a small village near, they were surprised to find themselves becoming the objects of universal interest on the part of the villagers, and by the time they had arrived at the little cabaret they had attracted the whole population after them. They entered the refuge, however, and called for a pitcher of wine. Immediately the cry of '• spies” was raised. “They are German; don’t you hear their accent ?” The woman of the house, pale with rage, emerged from an inner room, and having gazed earnestly at the younger of the two travellers, made him a low, mocking courtsey, and exclaimed, “ Good day to you, mein herr! What a fine young man you have grown since the war! You didn’t promise to become so stout when you were billeted on the Cheval Blanc here!” Of course the words were greeted by a tremendous uproar, and shouts of vengeance were uttered against the thunderstruck artists. There is no knowing what might have been the result had not the brigadier of gendarmes belonging to the place appeared in time to rescue the travellers.