The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1870-12-10 00:00:00

THE
_FBEiCH REFUGEES IS BELGIUM.

The Aligemeine joining gives an account of the French
refugee. In Brussels whose number It estimate. at 37,000.
They think themselves under an oblld, In to the Belgians,
and make no compialai et the high prices which prevail

The Belgians are too discreet to burden them with their
sympathies, but a melancholy smile comes over the coun-
tenances of the ladles and girls, dressed In black, if they
hears sympathetic remark on their country. A German
word at the table d hofe, or on the promenads, on the other
hand, gives them a shock. Most of these families have
relatives among the killed, captured, or missing, but they
never utter a complaint or sigh for them, carrying the ab-
sence of sentimentality to apparent stoicism. nay have
unshakable confidence in the future of France—" La Praha
ne p&itia pas." A balloon letter le • godsend to them, and
the numerous French wounded are tike spoilt children
both of the emigrants and of the Belgian public. The
French officers are very reserved, but if they refer to the
war they curse the Empire withal retire/nine confidence in
the Republic. The younger officers, however, hope for •
new weer under the Republic, while some of Bolaine's de-
ride the officers appointed by Trochn and Gamoutta. Tee
B mapartiet spies, Intriguers, and Journalists are not at
all prepo•ussing. Their organ, the GclUio,ll, after tr)ietr
Tours, Angers, Nantes, and Bordeaux, which would not
.olt rate It, is at last shifted to Bniesets, where it displays all
Ito old charlatanitm and unscrupulouenesa It reviles Gam-
belt as "the tyrant of Tours, and scour, s him of aiming
at a dictatorship. tile a favourable sign fur France thist
the public opinion condemns this pernicious literatiire The
writer sees the emigrants shudder when the Ganieis is
fared to them in the urn, a. ti the Beletat a think inch a
ainnilaiona print tesuffernble, while its writers and patron.
have to slink through the streets with downcast gaze. The
Frenchwomen cool their burning forehead and eyes on the
marble &tor of the cathedral praying for good news from
Amiens, Paris, and the Loire, the anguish of swipe.ne teach.
lug them really to pray, and they no longer take into their
hands a Glaulas or Figaro.

WHAT WILL BE DONE WITH IXXLIII3PRO ?
The German Press continues to urge the advantages of
the inuaxation of Luxemburg, and it ridicules the pro-
fessed attachment of the Inhabitants to its Dutch Coo-
nexion, comparing the Duchy with ite succession of rulers
to a coin which hts passed through so !navy hands that its
effigy Is obliterated. "No doubt," simile the Cologne
Vazdtte. " the people wish to remain as they arw—th to. to
remain conneMed with the Z sliverein and enjoy the bless-
ings of C great comm. nwealth, without bedriug its duties
anti burdens, but they cannot expect this blissful condition
to be permanent. Lying between two powerful statee,
their peace and security will be attained by reunion with
the German Empire. The Dutch have nothing to do with
the Duchy, nor wish to have. Tho pr. Tidal that Otrmany
should Duichase Lutemiturg Is generally approved by the
Dutch Press One paper goes so far as to think that the
Dutch thennelvee must deem it a point of honour to pay the
requisite indemnity to the Grand Duke, the King of Holland.
We do not believe the Dutch ate really inclined to practise
such generosity, for the nation Is not one to past unneces-
sarily with Oa money. Nor do we ask for this. The Dutch are
chit fly ;thalweg at this Juncture to be definitively reassured
respecting Limburg. We by no means think it expedient to
leave everywhere open eiumitious of frontier, which sooner
or later might lead us luto the unfortunate path of eorquest.
It Is iumoured that negotiations are going on be:ween
Holland and Prussia."

LT