The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1863-10-17

PEAsANTRY ABRoAD.-Ihave been agree
ably disappointed in the common people of
Italy. Something is to be subtracted from
my favorable impressions on account of
the contrast between them and that most
wretched of all populations, the laboring
classes OF Southern Switzerland. l was
sick at heart at the condition of this PEG.
pie. The women are beasts of burden.
The men are over-worked. The very
children seem prematurely old. ! saw wo-
men at work in the fields even in France;
but 1t was harvest work. In Switzerland
found them digging over dung-heaps
collecting manure in the woods, packing it
in baskets on their backs to the field. I
saw girls Of thirteen and fourteen at work
with teams of bulls, which they were dri-
wing, and in one case I saw a woman
working at cart harness with an ok
Aged people had neither dignity nor Sc
renity. 1t affected my spirits. | dreaded
perceived the change that was to come
upon her-when she should hobble about,
a skinny and eye-sore old bag, unfit 10 la
Dor, but forced to it by the memorable ty-
ranny of poverty! When, then, l had
crossed into Italy, I was as one in new
world. The common people seemed hap
Ply. They laughed and chatted; they re-
turned your greeting with gOod-natured
Kindness. Il there is not a grand future
for Northern Italy, it will be because edu-
cation and liberty are withheld from them,
But they.are noble stock. Their brains
are large and their heads we'll ORGANIZED
They have grand bodies, strong and well
developed. l have not, in all my travels,
seen a common people of such promise
as these italian people. And ! am in
formed that facts do not belle these favora-
BILE appearances. / am bound to saw.
also, that l have been agreeably disap-
pointed in the appearance of the monks
and priests in Roman Catholic countries
AS a general rule, they have appeared to
be clear-faced, intelligent and sincere men.
Only once or twice did we meet the iegen-
Diary type of monk-roand, fat and world
ly. In Switzerland and in Northern Italy
the general impression produced upon me
by the priests has been highly favorable to
them.-Henry Yard Beecfer.
-O-
THE SOLDIERS OF THE POTOMAC A RMY.-
The army is now in fine condition. TIE
men are veterans, with frames of iron;
with s.ldierly habits; with spirit which
is dauntless, and a devotion to their flag
which is the promise of many glorious
deeds. The country has reasontO be proud
Of the Army Of the Potomac. 1t is COM
posed in great part of the best blood OF the
Eastern and Middle States; and the New
England regiments particularly are full OF
historic names. The outdoor life OF the past
two years has given these men magnlh-
crnt hardness of body; they can march
their twenty-five and thirty miles per day
without groaning; they sleep contentedly
upon the ground; and no hardship or toll
can break their spirits. They have ac-
qured the art of making themselves COM
Portable in the field and thus the soldiers
life is robbed of half its hardships.
Moreover, they are filed with soldierly
traditions. The thousands of instances OF
bravery and devotion OF which you scarce
by hear at home, are treasured and handed
from mouth TO mouth in our camps, inspir-
ing all who hear, with the greatness OF
spirit TO do and dare as nobly as their
brethren. Their colors aud their guns are
to these soldiers something as sacred and
as dear as their wives and children. In
battle you see the men watch the flag; they
follow 1t with their eyes; they gather round
It II II is In danger; they die by dozens Ior
the honor OF bearing il aloft in the enelnys
face, and the last thought of the Color
bearer is not for himself but for the safety
0f his precious charge, -CVr.lX Il 1ps1,