Excerpt from The Germans

B., like every other human being, does not carry his heart on his sleeve, and he does not turn out his household gods for the inspection of a stranger. He may be worse, and he may be a great deal better than he seems - Oi that his guest cannot judge with any certainty.

Perhaps this sounds very Obvious, but it is sur prising how many people there are who would rightly hesitate to give their opinion on an acquaint ance Of a fortnight's standing, and who are yet ready not only to criticise but to condemn a whole nation on evidence stretching over an equally short period Of time, and based probably on still more superficial observation. This mistake, or whatever you please to call it, is not by any means confined to English people. I suppose it was first brought home to me by an absurd book on England, written by a German after a six weeks' sojourn in my country, during which time he had strayed from one horrible experience to another, under the impression that they were the natural and inevitable experiences Of every one. Of course one is indignant over the consequent criticisms, because they are based on - for us - Obviously false data. But we must remember that in six weeks an honest, painstaking student of national habits and customs can gather together enough perfectly genuine material on which - unless he is blessed with an extra ordinary degree Of tolerance - he will consider himself justified in founding a most condemnatory criticism. I have experienced this, alas! In my own person. A year or two ago I was travelling in England with a German friend. I had been foolish enough to boast to her about the politeness Of our policemen.

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