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The Swiss, part II
They are the most inscrutable of all the European races. Bret Dawson reports.
 Their appearance would lead you to believe that the Swiss are a stern, sober people, but nothing could be farther from the truth.
In fact, highjinks and tomfoolery form the bedrock of Swiss culture. The Swiss love to play practical jokes on each other, and they especially love to play practical jokes on foreigners.
Here, in no particular order, are some of the most popular Swiss practical jokes:
- Building absurdly long brass instruments.
- Wearing unfashionable hats.
- Scratching expensive cars with keys.
- Fondue.
- Manufacturing and selling cough "candies."
- Coining words like "chronometer" and "timepiece."
- Blowing bubbles in the rennet.
Tomorrow: The Swiss, part III
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^ November 1999 ^
^ archives ^
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