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The Upper Rhine : Mayence to the Lake of Constance
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350

DOMESTIC MANNEES OF THE PRUSSIANS.

Now, tliese same pilgrim processions appear such down-right wickedness and folly to us, that wo never saw from ourwindow tlie sly old gentleman in bis lace-frock accompanyingthe simple train of peasants to the gates of the city, but heseemed to us the archest quack and charlatan that everappeared in the streets of a town; and those poor sickand ulcerous country people, the silliest dupes to he found,perhaps, throughout the globe: so that we could not helpthinking, that though 1 in every 6 of the Prussian peopleis to be found within a school, 1 in every 2 almost of theadult population ought to be locked up inside some lunaticasylum.

If you cite such matters to a German as a proof of theignorance of bis countrymen — despite the boasted educationof Prussia—he would teil you that they are only the Kato-lischers who have faith in such things, and that, according tothe returns, there are threc Protestants to every two Papistsin the country.

We reply, that we are not discussing religious creeds, butworldly wisdom, and that if the people were really in theeducated State that some would have us believe, it would beimpossible, as the above-mentioned conduct is opposed to allreason, for upwards of six millions of individuals (out of apopulation of sixteen millions) to place the least credence insuch impositions.

Even among those, however, who profess to be moreenlightened than their fellows, you find the smallest possibleamount of worldly wisdom; so little, indeed, that a Londonjourneyman tailor or shoemaker possesses a keener know-ledge of life than the most learned German professor.

The simple reason why a London mechanic or handicrafts-man has a quicker perception of character, and is more apt