"E. A. WINTERSTEIN, FIRE EXTINGUISHER" "He lived decently like a man,  dealt with success as a sovereign person,  and bore a bitter smile that betrayed disappointment." "When a store in Brussels burned down,  he could not be found." "He was considered a deserter." "His belly was slit open by crafty devils." "And there he was." "His helmet was of no use to him now." "His blood-starved brain was barely present." "All the beauty in the world was of no use to him now." "Education is of no use to me now,  but only operas, to the value of 60 motorised divisions." "Thus we praise the noble servant,  fire extinguisher Winterstein." "He directed his jet of water at those aggressive flames." "Yet his chances were slim,  for new flames continued to rise." "More than he was needed, many were active on the other side." "Many said:" "It is thus, because we feel thus." "Winterstein answered:" "One doesn't need a brain to feel,  fingertips suffice for that," "I'm about to squirt water at you all." "To which they replied:" "He squirted." "That costs 80 Marks." "Or did he perhaps not squirt?" "So poor Winterstein had to pay." ""This fire is cold", said he, and shot his jet at it whilst his skin peeled." "For of course, the fire was nourished by cold, yet did not consist of cold." "Just as a paper tiger,  although it is a paper tiger,  is also a tiger." "Blaze, blaze and blaze some more,  for the army of peace is coming to beat you to death." "You should gnaw away at this army!" "He was judged and impaled,  all the beauty in the world was of no use now." "Yet there's countless panoramas on the banks of the Nile,  a crystal clear prospect:" "banks, banks, nothing but banks." "Now Winterstein was converted." "He knew that every step forwards is paid for with a step backwards:" "the path, namely, to barbarism." "He had just one desire:" "to escape barbarism." "Only thus can one hope that inhumanity,  which is what Winterstein feels when he asks, "what is inhumanity?",  only thus might inhumanity so suffuse itself that it turns into humanity." "Mankind has a brain." "But for what, if he doesn't use it?" "Winterstein learns to use it." "One day that old fire flares up again." "Can it be doused?" "Too late!" "Winterstein's brain is of no use now." "But at least he tried." "Film fans will remember him,  as they do Gable, Cooper and Flynn." "The German public admires his daredevil in 'Jekyll and Hyde',  his judge in 'The Nuremberg Trial'," "Hepburn's partner in 'Adam's Rib' and 'Woman of the Year'." "Following a heart attack, Winterstein was true to his character in old age." "He took his leave unobtrusively and in seclusion."