The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1870-11-19 00:00:00

SCENES AMOSGsr FRENCIi ERISONER3.

Herr Waehenhusen writes to the Cologne Gazette respect-
ing the departure of the French troops from Mete ,--" At
the railway station were many touching scenes, for many ad
officer was leaving wife and child, whom he could only con-
sole with the hope of a speedy return. For himself, however,
there was little comfort when he saw the cheerfulness and
thoughtlesaness with which his comrades took their place lu
the carriage. had jokes and abuse directed at Germ my
were common, and not a thought of their own disgrace
vexed them. Many were chiefly concerned for their mis-
trerses, who accompanied them or arranged to rejoin them
In Germany. Of their country and military honour little
was heard. The Alice and Lorraine soldiers, relievel from
their military obligations. were seen in trtops on the roads
with bag and baggage. They, too, were in a good humour.
Many a substitute had only reeved a On rt time, had his
money In Lie pocket, and now returned to his village to lire
In peace anti tranquility. They had collected together, their
backs loaded with outfit and bedding, sang their. lags, and
were silent only when a Preestan column met them."

AN ARTIFICIAL LEO—AND THE IRON CROSS, TOO I
The Oat Deutsche Zeitung gives the following episode
The King, In company with the Crown Prince and several
Generals, lately visited the wounded to the palace of Ver-
sailles, and asked them In his lONIA° manner what their
wounds were. Ile stepped up to the bed of a Silesian be-
longing to the 47th R.giment, whose right leg had been am-
putated, and who had also be, shot in the right shoulder.
On the K leg asking the brave soldier where he was wounded,
he replied In his Silesian dialect :—" Here, your Majesty, I
have lust my right leg, and that puts me out, for now I can-
not march into Paris, and the rogue, have shot me here in
the shoulder into the bargain.' All smiled, while the Crown
Prince said—' Well, my son, you shall have an artificial leg,
and so advance into Paris with us notwithstanding,' The
frank Silesian rejoined—. Yee, your Royal Highness, I be-
lieve that, but I can no longer merit the Iron Cross.' The
bystanders laughed, but the Crown Prince put his hand on
the brave fellow's head and sat,!—' That, too, my son, you
shall have,' and the King nodded approvingly and walked
to, I believe a tear stood MM. eye. Two hours afterwards
All adjutant came and presented our brave Silesian with the
Iron Cross."

A BALLOON COMPANY.

There exists at the present time In Parts two private com-
panies formed for working the balloon postal service. The
directs of one of these compantes was until lately the well-
known M. Nadu, but, be having resigned, two other aero-
nauts. MM. llartois and Yon, have become the managers.
The other company Is under the management of M hi. JIIIOII
uni EtigLne Godard. A third company was started fer the
conveyance of passengers by balloon, hot the uherne seems
to have been abandoned. It is stated In the Paris papers
that M. Godard Is constructing a balloon of silk with a cubic
admeuurement of 6,000 metres, and capable of conveying
twenty persons. The charge for each passenger will be
2,000 francs. One gentleman had arranged with SI Godard
to send off a few days since a balloon which hail been need
In London to niake captive ascents. The object was to
enable ante wealthy foreigners to leave Paris, they having
offered large sums of money for tne opportunity. All was
prepared, the money paid, and the passeneers had assembled,
when, by some mismanagement, the balloon was overturned
by a gust of wind, and, slipping from the net which en.
closed it, ascended by itself, and was totally lost to Parts
ant its owners, falling eventually into the bands of the
enemy.