Introducing the American Spirit

and Mi

nization from the standpoint of its restaurants; for the appetite is most loyally patriotic. A man may cease to spea

k their native tongue and cling to the faith of their fathers; but I would close all foreign restaurants,

ve in the minds and hearts of many German people in America. Dare I say that possibly much of their patriotism and loyalty i

staurant to assuage their pangs; just as if, did I detect the same symptoms in an American whom I wished to make thoroughly a

Bavarian architecture to the Frankfurter sausages. The menu card was adorned by illuminated, medieval letteri

ts were thoroughly at home. They ate their food happily, praised it discriminatingly, and studied the familiar environment c

loud complaining, and little or no quarrelling with the waiters. The food was accepted in a humble sort of way whether it was satisfactory or not; bills were paid, tips were given in the spirit of meek

not simply because it was food, but because it was a note fitting into the gastronomic harmony. The head waiter and al

the waiter handed him the bewildering bill of fare, he waved it aside saying: "J

g, and the Frau Directorin looked at me despairingly. The waiter was the first to recover his

want lobster à la Milkburgh,

or, informed the gentleman that he could have his lobster stewed

r stew, flanked on either side by pickles and mince pie, while the rest of us were eating our way lei

e was made a horrible example of the fact that we are ill-mannered. The Herr Director insisted that our nation is too young to have any except ba

c persons I knew, but the majority of the people was as alien to it as was our Nebr

hen I want it!" the Nebraskan said, smiting the table with his fist, and evidently

he bill of fare, or in the statute book, or among the laws of the Universe. In that I suppose you Americans all agree;

of our individualism, a rather wide-spread characteristic. I was fain also to admit that our individualism is not always as harmless to others as in the case under discussion. It is

sure," he acknowledged, "we are often chagrined by the 'Streng Verboten' to the right of us and the 'Nicht Erlaubt' to the left of us. We are much governed but we are well governed, and you, too, will some day discover that the

Germany, and he never was gladder to get back to God's country than when he finally set foot upon his native soil. He had many adventures, and as an ex

nd the man told me that I must affix to it some revenue stamps. I didn't w

y it, so I handed him the money and told him in good English to take it and go to the hot place with it. I didn't dream that he understood, but he replied in as good English as I gave him: 'Officials of my ran

n official would show so little dignity." I, too, doubted it; but on

braskan insisted that the state being the creation of individuals, they are of supreme importance, while the Herr Director persisted in his theory tha

ot impress its will upon the individual and make him submissive and effecti

e enough, but you're as sl

y. We were rushed to your crowded subway to take a certain train, although the next one would have done as well. In about three minutes we were pushed out of that train into another,

o now with the two or t

why I had hurried. Perhaps because of the excess of ozone i

e hurry, too, when we must, or when we have a rational purpose. We know that great things cannot be

ards our job a sentiment of love and loyalty which we call 'Pflichttreue,' a word for

the word as l

ing true. Pflichttreue has an ethical signif

rains, as if they were ashamed of their job. With us, any uniform, whether a railroad c

ic for uniforms, which is the reason

peror is of his. He is Emperor by the grace of God, because he believes it is a God-given task to which he mus

nd family," and the Herr Director pulled from his pocket a German newspaper. "Look at this funeral notice. The widow signs herself not only as the widow of a particular man, but as

ed out with school teaching, then I got hold of a good thing in the way of Carborundum and made grindstones. That's what took me to Europe. When that business went bad, I bought ou

d. Because Germany has had centuries of carpenters and tinkers and shoemakers who planed boards and mended pots and shoes

that the state must have this spiritual attitude towards the worker, and treat him as though worthy of his place in the economy of the nation. It is this wise provision for the

meditations by hearing

e, repair a machine, shingle a house and if necessary build a barn. I can play ragtime on the piano, throw a steer or ride a bucking

from his pocket. "It can do sixteen things tolerably well, but it isn'

meant, and after I laboriously explained it to

aw, or a coat-hanger we want that one thing and want it as good as it can be made. We marvel at your adaptability, but we are too thorough to b

American lacks. To him his country was not only above himself but beyond everything else on Earth or in Heaven. There often seems something sordid about our patriotism, something connected solely with the individual's well

is in danger; but shall we be able to fight the long, exhau

ry; but she has not given intelligently, she has nearly pauperized us all by her be

ans to do their work thoroughly, that they must learn to do things well, and exalt the nation by becoming efficient workmen that they may h

nditions under which they have to labor; my fear is strongest when I look into the schools and when I face our youth which comes out of them, inefficient, but above a

arn from Germany to instill this "Pflichttreue," this loyalty to the job. We may also learn the more difficult

pline to the enterprise, the love of fair play, the courage, the faith in God and man, which we possess, and we too ma

y German guests felt that my rampant Americanism had been thoroughly subdued. However they had literally "

st of these people, if not the worst of them, have come here in the last thirty-five years. They brought neither love of their new country nor knowledge of its language

en; frequently they are only the most cunning politicians and one has but scant respect for them. Yet in spite of it all, this is a fairly well governed city and it is quite remarkable that these four million pe

r the language of the people nor their ways, I would rather b

rin ventured to ask, although the Herr Direct

on here, even when conditions s

for justice, and many of us have the New Testament desire for service. These together make a very

hat night had not the Nebraskan triumphantly remarked as we were being shot up to the topmost floor: "Say, I di