three men on the bummel(三个闲逛的人)-第56章
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paper；〃 continued George； 〃get a good firm to print off so many copies；
have them posted about the towns and villages； and the thing would be
done。〃
In the placid； docile German of to…day； whose only ambition appears to
be to pay his taxes； and do what he is told to do by those whom it has
pleased Providence to place in authority over him； it is difficult； one must
confess； to detect any trace of his wild ancestor； to whom individual
liberty was as the breath of his nostrils； who appointed his magistrates to
advise； but retained the right of execution for the tribe； who followed his
chief； but would have scorned to obey him。 In Germany to…day one hears
a good deal concerning Socialism； but it is a Socialism that would only be
despotism under another name。 Individualism makes no appeal to the
German voter。 He is willing； nay； anxious； to be controlled and regulated
in all things。 He disputes； not government； but the form of it。 The
policeman is to him a religion； and； one feels； will always remain so。 In
England we regard our man in blue as a harmless necessity。 By the
average citizen he is employed chiefly as a signpost； though in busy
quarters of the town he is considered useful for taking old ladies across the
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road。 Beyond feeling thankful to him for these services； I doubt if we
take much thought of him。 In Germany； on the other hand； he is
worshipped as a little god and loved as a guardian angel。 To the German
child he is a combination of Santa Clans and the Bogie Man。 All good
things come from him： Spielplatze to play in； furnished with swings and
giant…strides； sand heaps to fight around； swimming baths； and fairs。 All
misbehaviour is punished by him。 It is the hope of every well…meaning
German boy and girl to please the police。 To be smiled at by a policeman
makes it conceited。 A German child that has been patted on the head by a
policeman is not fit to live with； its self…importance is unbearable。
The German citizen is a soldier； and the policeman is his officer。 The
policeman directs him where in the street to walk； and how fast to walk。
At the end of each bridge stands a policeman to tell the German how to
cross it。 Were there no policeman there； he would probably sit down and
wait till the river had passed by。 At the railway station the policeman
locks him up in the waiting…room； where he can do no harm to himself。
When the proper time arrives； he fetches him out and hands him over to
the guard of the train； who is only a policeman in another uniform。 The
guard tells him where to sit in the train； and when to get out； and sees that
he does get out。 In Germany you take no responsibility upon yourself
whatever。 Everything is done for you； and done well。 You are not
supposed to look after yourself； you are not blamed for being incapable of
looking after yourself； it is the duty of the German policeman to look after
you。 That you may be a helpless idiot does not excuse him should
anything happen to you。 Wherever you are and whatever you are doing
you are in his charge； and he takes care of yougood care of you； there is
no denying this。
If you lose yourself； he finds you； and if you lose anything belonging
to you； he recovers it for you。 If you don't know what you want； he tells
you。 If you want anything that is good for you to have； he gets it for you。
Private lawyers are not needed in Germany。 If you want to buy or sell a
house or field； the State makes out the conveyance。 If you have been
swindled； the State takes up the case for you。 The State marries you；
insures you； will even gamble with you for a trifle。
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〃You get yourself born；〃 says the German Government to the German
citizen； 〃we do the rest。 Indoors and out of doors； in sickness and in
health； in pleasure and in work； we will tell you what to do； and we will
see to it that you do it。 Don't you worry yourself about anything。〃
And the German doesn't。 Where there is no policeman to be found；
he wanders about till he comes to a police notice posted on a wall。 This he
reads； then he goes and does what it says。
I remember in one German townI forget which； it is immaterial； the
incident could have happened in anynoticing an open gate leading to a
garden in which a concert was being given。 There was nothing to
prevent anyone who chose from walking through that gate； and thus
gaining admittance to the concert without paying。 In fact； of the two
gates quarter of a mile apart it was the more convenient。 Yet of the
crowds that passed； not one attempted to enter by that gate。 They
plodded steadily on under a blazing sun to the other gate； at which a man
stood to collect the entrance money。 I have seen German youngsters
stand longingly by the margin of a lonely sheet of ice。 They could have
skated on that ice for hours； and nobody have been the wiser。 The crowd
and the police were at the other end； more than half a mile away； and
round the corner。 Nothing stopped their going on but the knowledge that
they ought not。 Things such as these make one pause to seriously
wonder whether the Teuton be a member of the sinful human family or not。
Is it not possible that these placid； gentle folk may in reality be angels；
come down to earth for the sake of a glass of beer； which； as they must
know； can only in Germany be obtained worth the drinking？
In Germany the country roads are lined with fruit trees。 There is no
voice to stay man or boy from picking and eating the fruit； except
conscience。 In England such a state of things would cause public
indignation。 Children would die of cholera by the hundred。 The medical
profession would be worked off its legs trying to cope with the natural
results of over…indulgence in sour apples and unripe walnuts。 Public
opinion would demand that these fruit trees should be fenced about； and
thus rendered harmless。 Fruit growers； to save themselves the expense of
walls and palings； would not be allowed in this manner to spread sickness
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and death throughout the community。
But in Germany a boy will walk for miles down a lonely road； hedged
with fruit trees； to buy a pennyworth of pears in the village at the other end。
To pass these unprotected fruit trees； drooping under their burden of ripe
fruit； strikes the Anglo…Saxon mind as a wicked waste of opportunity； a
flouting of the blessed gifts of Providence。
I do not know if it be so； but from what I have observed of the German
character I should not be surprised to hear that when a man
