one of the strangest parts of herzen’s memoirs is him describing the way urchins in different countries react to foreigners in 19th century Europe, if the street children recognized you as a foreigner based on your clothing they’d follow and taunt you, often throwing things too
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In some places he describes this being encouraged by the local shopkeepers, who would cheer the children who were harassing the “filthy Frenchman” or the “German pig”. You’d have to swat at the kids with your cane and then they might get violent in response
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If you traveled with a parrot in France you were at risk as being easily identified as an Englishman and set upon by a mob of urchins
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Replying to @lionel_trolling
European countries used to have national costumes or dress patterns in a way they don't really anymore. I was just looking at some home movies of a european vacation in the 1920s and its very striking.
8:51 AM - 26 Oct 2020
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