It is natural enough, perhaps, that Parisians should be irritated
with Germans, but the mode they are adopting to express their hatred is at once childish and disgraceful. The clubs, the mer- chants, and the tradesmen are combining to expel all clerks, waiters, and shopkeepers of German origin. Even clerks in great establishments are dismissed, and half the hotels will be ruined, for Parisians make bad waiters. The authors of the movement say the Germans are spies. If they are, they are invaluable to Faris, for the temper and defences of Paris are the only things about which Bismarck and Von Moltke made mistakes. But they fought against France ? Quite true of some, and they did their duty when called on by their own country to keep their military oath. To prevent them in consequence from enriching France by their labour is absolutely puerile, besides being wickedly unjust. Grant that "Germany has plundered France," is that a reason for plundering poor Johann Muller, who wants France to be rich ?
Previous page
