Leaves from a Madeira Garden 



the English community, to which the German 

 language and German middle-class manners are 

 unpleasant. But every year the German flag 

 becomes a closer rival of the English on the 

 vessels calling at the port, a phenomenon 

 doubtless to be observed elsewhere. And it 

 is said that the small import commerce of the 

 island becomes Increasingly German, a result 

 due to superior methods of business and to 

 our stupid retention (alone amongst civilized 

 nations) of a non-decimal system of weights 

 and measures and currency. The Portuguese 

 importer knows what a kilo is, and finds it 

 no great matter to turn a quotation in marks 

 Into terms of mj, even If the German shipper 

 does not do it for him ; but a quotation of 

 so many tons, hundredweights, quarters, and 

 pounds, at so many pounds, shillings, and 

 pence per ton, is a problem which no foreigner 

 can be expected to grapple with. But one who 

 is not engaged In business will properly speak 

 with diffidence of such high matters. 



If the German visitors diminish, there Is no 

 doubt that the English increase. The old 

 days when families came here for the winter 

 and rented Quintas and set up house are past. 



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