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Show WHY HE GOT NO ANSWER. Traveler Learns That Policeman Was Stickler for Etiquette. The policemen of Montevideo are mostly of Indian origin. They are always courteous and polite, but they are great sticklers for etiquette. Through ignorance of their customs a foreigner sometimes finds himself In an embarrassing situation. One day last summer a well dressed American gentleman stepped up to a policeman in the Plaza Independencia and said, in good Spanish: "Will you please tell tme where the Calle Rincon is?" The policeman looked haughtily at the stranger, and turned away. The American tried again, with still more courtesy. "Would you be so extremely kind as to accommodatingly tell me where the Calle Rincon is.'" To his astonishment the policeman retorted: "You have no manners, sir." Needless to say, the American was quite abashed; but he had to find the Calle Rincon, so he put the question ques-tion to a Spanish youth who was standing near. The youth answered cordially, and went some little distance dis-tance to direct the stranger properly. After the American had thanked him, he asked: "Why aid the policeman refuse to answer me?" "Because," replied the youth, "when you addressed him, you neglected to take off your hat!" Youth's Companion. |