The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1870-09-10 00:00:00

SCENES OF GLORY.

"Wherever I go, War, that double-faced denies, Is still
before me, presenting now the glorious and now the hideous
aspect of his dual mask. On the field of battle the wild,
triumrhant frenzy of the conqueror is chetmored by the
despair of the vanquished, the groans of dying meu. Torch-
light processions, enthustastic meetings, and the hymn of
praise on the one site are balanced by shame, sorrow, and
despair in the other ; the misery of one nation weighs
whist the joy of another, the shout of the viztor
against the widow's tear. Even here, in little, quiet,
stagnating Carlsruhe, there is no escaping from this
twofold sight. la the garden before the Schloss are
drawn up fonr trefoil orns, captured in a sortie at
Strashurg. There they stand, wreathed with laurel,
a grim trophy won trom a hostile race. Groups of
cit,sena other round, nurserymaids with their Infant
charges, staid householders with their portly spouses, rich
and poor, young and old, peer into the pooling mouths of
brass, read the inscriptions and the names of the guns, smile
complacently and nod ponderous congratulations to each
other. The seutry, pacing to and fro, brings his heel down
smartly on the gravel, and looks as proudly conscious as if
he hod taken them all himself. The soldiers of the Guard,
lounging ahout, condescendingly deign to explain to a chosen
few the names anti Mel of the various parts of the guns—the
nursery maids, I observe, being generally favoured In this
respect—and give their own improved version of she c
tore in an offhand ;it...m.1...a style, implying that the
capture of cannon is an everyday occurrence, and
that the wirier is only really comfortable when
engaged in some similar exploit. The officer passing through
the gate adds extra swagger to his military gait ; mai every
man who wears a uniform thinks that at least one inch has
born added to his stature by the presence of those four brass
gone Turn for a moment front this scow of military glory,
and look at those two women crossing with weary steps and
downcast eyes the corner of the Ph, z —one young, one aged,
both dad in deepest mounting. Who are they, think yon °
The mother and sister? or did the younger woman hold a
nearer and dearer place in the heart of forms poor fellow
whose bones are mingling with a foreign ,''r What a jar to
their acutely %tittering nerves must be the light latichter ant
congratulations of those gathered around the gullet What
ears they that France has fallen before the German anus
What can compensate them for their woe? What can their
opinion be of the pomp end circumstance Of glixious wart"
—.V etrApaper Correspoildrnt.

IN EASY CIRCUMSTANCES.

"The very may circumstances in which deposed or abdi-
cating potentates contrive to pass the years of their retire-
ment ban often been the subject of remark. Should the
name of Napoleon 111. be added to this list it may comfort
those who sympathize with lion to know that he will he no
exception to hie predei,vors. It is now no secret in
Amstetillim that his Imperial Majesty about a month back
placed £400,000 in Dutch railway 1,1145, upon the dividends
of which, with other investments, he and his family may
manage to get on very cdnitortady. Tho denouement may
pm stbly seem • little unromantic to the thousends who have
spent their blood in the Imperialia emus., cheered by tie
inspiriting addresses ot their leader and the conviction that
they followed a man whose motto was "Mort on victorieus;•
but infer all they deserve their disappointment for having so
mistaken the spirit of their age."—Pal Mall Gazette.