Not only the foreign man, woman and child, but the foreign dog is born good. In England, if have a dog, you spend much of your time is to drag the dog out of fights, to quarrel with the possessor of the other dog, to explain to irate elderly lady that your dog did not kill her. With the foreign dog, life is a peaceful. When the foreign dog sees a row, tears come to its eyes: the dog hastens to find a policeman. When the foreign dog sees a cat in a hurry, it stands aside. They dress the foreign dog – some of them – in a little coat, with a pocket for its handkerchief, and put shoes on its feet. They have not given it a hat – not yet. When they do, the dog will raise it politely when it meets a cat.
One morning, in a Continental city, a fox-terrier came across me.[63] After that I felt its teeth. A fox-terrier belonged to a very young lady. The poor girl was shouting all the way. When she looked round and saw all the things that had happened, she burst into tears. An English owner of that fox-terrier normally will jump upon the nearest tram. But, as I have said, the foreigner is born good. Seven different people were writing down her address.
But I want to talk about the dog. A policeman ran to catch the dog. The delighted dog rushed backwards, it was barking. I told that dog what I thought of him.
I forgot that I was in a foreign land – said my words in English, they were very loud and clear. The dog stood a yard in front of me, it was listening to me with an expression of ecstatic joy.
“Where have I heard that song before? Say it again! Oh! say it again, the dear old English oaths and curses!”
I learnt from the young lady that her dog was an English-born fox-terrier. That explained everything. The foreign dog does not do this sort of thing.[64] The foreigner is born good: that is why we hate him.
Упражнения
1. Выберите правильный вариант:
1. There is a law in Germany that nobody may sleep on the ground.
2. There is a law in Germany that nobody may ask for money.
3. There is a law in Germany that nobody may scatter paper about the street.
4. There is a law in Germany that nobody may dance outside the house.
2. Where was an English military friend of mine?
1. in Dresden
2. in Berlin
3. in Stuttgart
4. in Paris
3. Who is a Cook’s agent?
1. the policeman
2. the travel agent
3. the man who can cook well
4. the military man
4. Why did an American lady disregard rules?
1. Because she did not understand the language.
2. Because she was very proud.
3. Because she did not know what to do.
4. Because she was young.
5. What is a Schauspielhaus?
1. a French cabaret
2. a Russian restaurant
3. an English circus
4. a German theatre
6. Where is Brussels situated?
1. in Belgium
2. in Holland
