Hitler's Table Talk

BOOKS FOR BOYS—FOLK DANCES 317
world's most brilliant parody of a society that was in process of
becoming extinct. At bottom, the Spaniards' habits of life have
scarcely changed since then. Daniel Defoe's book gathers
together in one man the history of all mankind. It has often
been imitated, but none of these desert-island stories can compete
with the original. One Christmas I was given a beautiful
illustrated edition. Cervantes' book has been illustrated by
Gustave Doré in a style of real genius. The third of these
universal works is Uncle Tom's Cabin. I could also mention
Gulliver's Travels. Each of these works contains a great basic
idea. Unfortunately, we have nothing of the kind in our literature.
In Germany, besides Karl May, Jules Verne and Félix
Dohn are essential. All those reach a fairly high level.
When I was a young man, there was a book that had an
extraordinary success. Its title was Old Heidelberg. Such works
can contribute enormously to the publicity of a city or a region.
Bremen and Spessart had the same thing happen to them.
But it's a disaster when a city-dwelling poet sets himself to
sing of the beauties of mountains. People who really belong to
them don't lend themselves to dramatic presentation. Their
songs are heard amongst themselves. What other people sing
doesn't really belong to our folk-lore. At one time I bore a
severe grudge against Hagenbeck for having made fun of our
customs. The dance we call Schuhplattler is the most virile
imaginable. It has nothing to do with the dance that our
trumpery mountaineers perform under that name. It's really a
pity we haven't succeeded in popularising it by means of the
theatre. The Americans have devised a dance with clappers
that's really worthy of the stage. It's a dance that owes nothing
to Africa, but everything to Scotland. We, for our part, have
only been able to make fun of Schuhplattler, and for that we have
idiots to thank.
It goes without saying that the North Germans can't assimilate
our folk-lore.. Do you know anything more ridiculous than
a Berliner in leather shorts? A Scotsman can be received in
London, in the best society, dressed in his national costume—
but anyone in Berlin who put on a Tyrol costume would give
the impression that he was going to Carnival. It was with great
reluctance that I had definitely to give up wearing leather