132 HISTORY AND ETHNOLOGY. 



The German People. 



The German people live along the Rhine, the Weser, Elbe, Oder, and 

 the upper Danube, in a dense mass. Further over beyond this natural 

 district the Germans have mixed Avith other European stocks: thus, towards 

 the East, between the Oder and Vistula, with the Slavonians : towards the 

 Adriatic Sea, Avith the Slavonians and Latins ; toAvards France, Avith the 

 Franco-Latins. Within the limits above mentioned the pure German 

 genius noAV displays itself ; not animated, indeed, by southern fire ; distin- 

 guished by no elasticity of disposition nor of character : by no nicety of 

 taste ; but Avhich, nevertheless, is elcA^ated above that of other people by 

 many other fundamental traits. One of these distinguishing characteristics 

 is the love of libertv, Avhich, no matter how oft it may be smothered, 

 always burns again afresh. To this is joined a strong moral sense, from. 

 Avhich proceed a deeply implanted love of truth and rectitude, unshaken 

 fidelity, veneration for the female sex, attachment to the ruling princes, which 

 qualities are dignified by the religious fervor perA^ading all the feelings of 

 the Germans. Another characteristic of the Germans is their profoundness 

 of thought and love of research. The efibrt to discover new things and 

 improve those already knoAvn to them proceeds from this, as Avell as the 

 propensity to travel, Avhich carries the German into foreign lands, where he, 

 by his versatility of mind, easily accommodates himself to Avhat is strange, 

 and adapts foreign habits to his OAvn disposition. To conclude, steadfast 

 courage, great perseverance, and cheerfulness are associated Avith these char- 

 acteristics of the German. 



Diverse as is the configuration of the soil of Germany, so different also are 

 her stocks of people, in their external appearance, their occupations, their 

 manners, and their lano-uao-e ; althouo-h- the German fundamental traits above 

 referred to ahvays predominate. The Germans are generally divided into two 

 principal groups : in the north they are large and fair ; in the south, some- 

 Avhat smaller and darker. Their language is divided into the soft sounding 

 loAv or broad German, the harsh middle German, and the sharp sounding 

 high German. In religion, science, and art the Germans stand upon 

 a high, if not upon the highest eminence ; as respects husbandry and 

 industry, Germany rivals other lands ; her commerce, also, is in a flourishing 

 condition. 



After these general characteristics of the Germans, Ave will consider 

 more closely some German stocks of people, with reference to Plates 2 

 and 3. 



Wirtemberg and Badeti. In general the inhabitants of Wirtemberg and 

 Baden are strongly built and well formed ; the handsomest and healthiest 

 of them are found in the SchAvarzAvald (Black Forest), and in some of the 

 north-Avestern valleys of the province of Alp, especially in the hilly parts, 

 and also in a fcAv small districts of the lowlands. Their kindly disposition 

 is characteristic, and attendant on this a quiet, domestic, industrious, honest, 

 religious feeling, a conscientious thoroughness, heartiness, poetical turn of 

 304. 



