So German

Thursday, July 9th., Salzburg.

As soon as we had got into Germany (Kehl I think, about 4.30 a.m. yesterday) the country began to be German, quite conventionally. 

There is no doubt you can get a more intimate and romantic view of a strange country early in the morning. You then know when people actually get up, and what they look like when they are up. Putting bedclothes out at windows. Pensive girls at windows. Men and boys loitering in lanes, and waiting to begin to work. A curious softness and humanness over everything.

Sudden increase in Germany of official uniforms. The railways seem to have got back to decency and efficiency. Munich. Great lakes and mountains east of Munich. Wonderful to regard; and, with thin tapering spires of churches, quite conventionally German. The German of opera scenery. Sunday when we got into Salzburg - Tyrolean hats and garments. It seemed comic - nature imitating art.

To think that only ten years ago I was at the Western Front, looking across to the German lines and damning the whole nation to hell. Such is human nature.

Additionally for July 9th., see 'Parisiennes'

Speaking of 'Parisiennes', I took a turn through the Parc Monceau to the Etoile, and back through the Champs Elysees on Friday night between 9.30 and 11 in order to clear off a headache. Honest lovemaking in the Parc Monceau. In the Champs Elysees, I saw four girls aged 14 or less - one didn't seem more than 11 or 12 being taken about by older women for the excitement of senile appetites. Some day soon there will be a tremendous outcry concerning this procuring of children. The police will become suddenly active in arrests - and then things will settle down again.