THE LIVING RACES OF MANKIND 



that is, a Neolithic people, to use the 

 scientific term. The Saxous, on the other 

 hand, have for the most part the blue 

 eyes and light hair which are generally 

 taken as typical of the modern German. 

 The Germans, however, are no exception to 

 the rule that all European peoples are so 

 mixed that none of them can be resolved 

 into their primary Celtic, Teutonic, Scandi- 

 navian, or Slav elements. The Slav element 

 is indeed prominent in Germany, although 

 the purely Slavonic inhabitants are slowly 

 but surely becoming Teutouized. Of these, 

 the Letto-Lithuauic people in the extreme 

 north-east of the empire are a sort of 

 connecting-link between Russia and Germany, 

 as they are found in large numbers in the 

 western provinces of Russia. This race may 

 be described as handsome, well built, and 

 fair, with blue eyes and clear white skin. 

 They are mostly Protestants, and bear a 

 great reputation for piety. It is said that 

 nothing is ever allowed to keep them away 

 from church on Sunday. They retain, how- 

 ever, a great number of pagan superstitions 

 which were blended with their Christianity. 

 The Wends of Lusatia are another survival 

 whose name, supposed to mean " Wanderers," 

 has been identified with that of the ancient 

 delicti (Venetians). They still retain the 



old dialect known as Sorb, which, however, is destined in time to give way to the German 

 which they are rapidly learning to speak. In the provinces of Silesia and Poseu there are as 

 many as 2,920,000 Western Slavs, nearly all Poles, with a few of the kindred Cassubs and 

 Mazurs. These last, being Protestants, are naturally more susceptible to German influence. 



About 50,000 Chekhs, on the Bohemian frontier, are under German sway, as are the 

 Schleswig Danes. The French are numerous, especially in Lorraine, where are also a few 

 Walloon communities. Nor must the Jews be omitted, who number about 1 per cent, of 

 the population, and exert a powerful influence on the art, literature, music, and finance of 

 the country. 



Before we can arrive at anything like a correct estimate of the mental characteristics and 

 temperament of the typical modern German, it is necessary to take into consideration the 

 immense influence which the State has exercised in modifying the national character. One 

 of the chief agencies by which this has been brought about is of course the army. Military 

 training is compulsory and universal. The Germans of the upper class devote as much time 

 and serious attention to the profession of arms as English gentlemen do to politics, or the 

 various pursuits of country life, such as hunting, shooting, fishing, or racing. A German 

 officer, as a rule, lives for nothing but his work, and his one ambition is to become as 

 proficient therein as possible. The consequence is that Germany now possesses the finest 

 army in the world. Nor is it by the army alone that discipline is taught; the State controls 

 the education of the citizen, directs the post and the railways, and assists trade and commerce 

 by encouraging technical instruction and subsidising growing industries and transoceanic 

 shipping. Everywhere and over everything the influence of the State makes itself felt. 



