Rensselaer Republican, Volume 17, Number 16, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 December 1884 — Policemen in Germany. [ARTICLE]

Policemen in Germany.

What sort of a man is the average German policeman ? Well, he is not very handsome policemen generally are not noted for their beauty anywhere. He is straight in figure, muscular in build, and is evidently selected on account of his physical powers and athletic qualities. Though why he should be required to have these attributes is not very clear, because no man ever thinks of resisting a policeman in Germany—even the few drunken men not being fighters. It is amusing to see a German policeman taking a prisoner through the streets to the lockup. The prisoner neVer thinks of handcuffing his man, nor even grasping him by the collar or arm, and rudely pushing or shoving him along to the stone-house. Such an expenditure of strength and energy on the officer’s part would be useless. For the prisoner leaves all hope behind him when he falls into the clutches of the faithful guardian of the peace, and would no more think of taking to his heels and escape than he would of flying to the moon. So the officer walks along on the sidewalk buried in thought and apparently takes no sort of notioe of his prisoner, who trots along, generally in the middle of the road, perfectly resigned to his fate. The police uniform, too, in Germany, is a striking one. Like everything else, it partakes a good deal of the military character. The head covering is a heavy leathern helmet trimmed with brass around the edges, ornamented in front with a large brass sun and rays, and bearing on its snmmit a brass, knob—the abbreviated spike which graces the top of the military helmet. The clothing of the officers is of darkbine cloth, the coat being cut like the legendary clerical coat, high neck with a standing cellar ornamented with gold or silver lace, according to rank. Brass buttons confine it closely to the body Irom the chin to the hips, and are displaye4 on the large turn-up cuffs and on the rather long skirts, so that the police officer is rather brilliant when the son shines on him. It was Voltaire who said of the English that though they have twenty-four religions they have bnt one sauce. -In France the proportion is reversed.