ENGLISHWOMAN.  I beg your pardon.

American.  The English are very humanitarian; they have a very high sense of duty.  So have the Germans, so have the Americans. [To the Dutch youth] I judge even in your little country they have that.  This is an epoch of equality and high-toned ideals. [To the little man] What is your nationality, sir?

Little man.  I’m afraid I’m nothing particular.  My father was half-English and half-American, and my mother half-German and half-Dutch.

American.  My!  That’s a bit streaky, any old way. [The policeman passes again] Now, I don’t believe we’ve much use any more for those gentlemen in buttons.  We’ve grown kind of mild—­we don’t think of self as we used to do.

     [The waiter has appeared in the doorway.]

German. [In a voice of thunder] ‘Cigarren!  Donnerwetter’!

American. [Shaking his fist at the vanishing waiter] That flash of beer!

Waiter.  ‘Komm’ gleich’!

American.  A little more, and he will join George Washington!  I was about to remark when he intruded:  In this year of grace 1913 the kingdom of Christ is quite a going concern.  We are mighty near universal brotherhood.  The colonel here [He indicates the German] is a man of blood and iron, but give him an opportunity to be magnanimous, and he’ll be right there.  Oh, sir! yep!

     [The German, with a profound mixture of pleasure and cynicism,
     brushes up the ends of his moustache.]

Little man.  I wonder.  One wants to, but somehow—­[He shakes his head.]

American.  You seem kind of skeery about that.  You’ve had experience, maybe.  I’m an optimist—­I think we’re bound to make the devil hum in the near future.  I opine we shall occasion a good deal of trouble to that old party.  There’s about to be a holocaust of selfish interests.  The colonel there with old-man Nietch he won’t know himself.  There’s going to be a very sacred opportunity.

     [As he speaks, the voice of a railway official is heard an the
     distance calling out in German.  It approaches, and the words
     become audible.]

German. [Startled] ‘Der Teufel’! [He gets up, and seizes the bag beside him.]

[The station official has appeared; he stands for a moment casting his commands at the seated group.  The Dutch youth also rises, and takes his coat and hat.  The official turns on his heel and retires still issuing directions.]

Englishman.  What does he say?

German.  Our drain has come in, de oder platform; only one minute we haf.

     [All, have risen in a fluster.]

American.  Now, that’s very provoking.  I won’t get that flash of beer.