Landlord

For the convivial Rhinelanders taverns and bars had always been places of communication. Even today master tradesmen meet in pubs to get orders for work. During the French occupation people listened to the latest gossip and scandal about the occupying forces and sounded out soldiers.

In the lively exchange of ideas French terms, such as portemonnaie, were borrowed. People got by despite their ignorance of the language, as an occurrence in Düsseldorf shows. During a visit by Napoleon in 1811, the inhabitants were required to pay homage to him. The cry of "Vive l'Empereur" was conveyed to them as "vief Lampenröhr" (five light-bulbs). This did not seem to detract from the Emperor's pleasure.

In 1813 the medical officer Dr.Wendelstadt described the conviviality of the Rhinelanders as follows:
"I believe I can agree with the general opinion that Rhinelanders are a marvellously jovial breed of people. Where we would have ended celebrations, they start up again. They took turns at dancing, singing to music and party games, making night to day and old folks youthful."
(Medizinalrath Dr. Wendelstadt,  Rheinreise von Mainz bis Neuwied, Hadamar 1812, S. 20)

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