The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-12-11
PRUSSIA.


PRUSSIA.
--~~~~~~
Statistics OF the Public Dcbt-Pronisate Elk.
penditurc-Pcnny Wise and Pound Foolish
System-Tendcr Care or tho Guelphs-FIrst
Appearance Of an American Prima Donna.
BERLIN, Nov. 10. 1868.
Can the heightened discussion on the Budget be
Of sufficient interest to the readers the other side
of the Atlanticf fear that this question may be
swered in the negative and therefore refrain from
treating you to the endless details which now occupy
the undivided attention OF the Diet Not that the
public debt Of Prussia Is matter OF inslgnifcance
when its territorial magnitude and natural resources
are compared with those OF the United States In
the peculiar way Of the Treasury department OF pre-
senting the etdt TO the Legislature outsider does
not readily obtain . clear understanding OF the
amount OF expenditure and debt Let 1t suffice,
then, to state that the Prussian 6tdt is not sup
posed, 167, 100000 but 23 0o0O O0 AT the close Of
1865 the public debt stood at $50 o00 900, requiring
for interest and amortization 100000 annually.
The provinces since annexed had debt Of H. 900,
OF which 1s0Oo,0 600 found in the likewise an
nexed treasures Of Hanover and Hesse the shape
OF State bonds, Of which the annihation Is pro-
posed This gives, then, an augmentation OF the Prus-
sian debt TO the extent OF 900 consequent upon
Its appropriation OF Hanover. Hesse, Nassau and
Scheswig- Holstein. The public debt OF Prussia has
further increased since the by about 100 900
being correctly stated 357, S57.42l thalers. When
to this is added the aforesaid 90, 0OO 900, also
100000 OF floating debt in Treasury notes. we
arrive at the respectable amount Of 434, 900 600,
still further swelled by 25o0O.CoO Of the late
railroad loan, making in all AGO, ,000 Is this
not bringing Prussia rapidly forward in the race
OF prongate expenditures 1t taxes the audacity OF
the Finance Minister, Herr Won Der Heydt, to stand
up in his place In the Chamber ana defend such
alarming figures, for which he Ia justly held respon
sible by the liberal party, who would willingly force
him into o resignation, upon the ground OF incapac
ty they propose to do In the case OF the intoleant
ana obnoxious exMinister OF instruction. Herr Won
Muller.
is exaggeration to say that in the event OF bad
crops another war or a commercial crisis Prussia
may be thrown into such state Of financial embar
rassment that all its former reputation and fair
credit might vanish and 1t might stand side by side
It il alleged in defence that the minor States OF
the North German Conlederacy are not proportion
atng its newly acquired SUBJECTS has literally made
up for this deficiency out Of her own pocket. This
gives handle to the liberals to say that the smaller
sovereigntes should do away with aping the courtly
pomp OF the great Powers, and. by retrenchment,
place themselves IN position to come up 70 the
captains ONCE and settle.
TO show by what petty means Prussia gives ex-
ample OF retrenchment we may mention once more
abrogation Of the ranking privilege OF the Diet
II is now shown that during the tour months OF
session nfty thousand letters, amounting
only 1000 thalers postage. have been expedited;
that, while millions have been and are Still being
squandered In military donations, new weapons,
&c, these few paltry thalerS would hardly have de-
served mention The true motive Of this penny wise
and pound foolish measure ID rather to be found in
intercourse with their constituents. The Post Depart
ment has, ever since the late reduction Of post
me s ssss with the ludicisl ni peparmens 1
But such surplus funds are appropriated BY
ing manner and treated as regular sources OF reve
nue. to the state treasury The opposition then MAIN
tain that II the Diet Is TO be deprived Of the Thanking
and put the royal family, the clerical, feuda benev0
lent and patriotic i Institutions on tne same IoSng
large number OF her newly acquired subjects we
have frequently shown in former communications.
The Simon Pure conservatives do not wish that the
revenues arising from the conscated property or the
ever plotting Guelphs should now into the Prussan
of the sequestered property shall be entrusted to
cousin OF George Rex, the Prince George, Duke OF
Two OF the representatives from Schleswig elected
TO the Diet, the well known Herren Kruger aud
and ts to whom tbs casa has
been referred will doubtless propose to deprive
them OF their seats.
AS promised forward you details OF the first ap-
pearance OF Miss Maria Caisto miss Caiiste Hunt
ley OF Boston, VINO obtained q splendid SUCCESS NJ
Herr Won Hulsen has the merit OF having raised it
TO Its present position as the first artistic institution
OF It's kind not only in Germany, but upon the Con-
tnent Anxious to make up for the great loss caused
10 the opera by the absence Of the pms donna, Pau
line Lucca now performing at st. Petersburg. he has
managed to I'LL the vacancy by the engagement OF
MISS Maria CalistO, who has recently here from
Milan "Ihis artist says one or the first Berlin
critics. "whom heard in the part or yioetta, In
verds La Traviaa,' Is fully deserving OF the high
reputation for talent and schooling which has pre-
ceded her arrival. n the debutdnte had sung her
I part In the concert room, with the printed music
IN hand, or II she had acted II with the dramatic
skill OF Sarolta Qeavng the latter's advantage OF
figure and toilet out OF the question:, she would have
| gained still more brilliant and complete success.
The general opinion OF the audience IN the
well-dled house was that she sung beauti-
| fully but coldly; and this was indeed the case.
| Her voice. IN purity and silvery clearness.
IL similar TO that Of best s0ngsresses with the
difference only that the soprano Of our American
guest IL far more sonorous IN its lower notes and
capable Of much greater expansion Her information
| IL nearly always pure as gold, and her mastery OF
the pO5fdH,e,te 1nessdre al UOce diatonc ana chr0
matte scales, trls, drpeggidtura, 0rupetf and stao
and merit. We do not hesitate 10 declare that this
Miss Calisto may rival any German cantatrce III
brdrurd. Her dramatic capacity, however, judging
at least from this performance, Is unschooied ana
insufficient: she lacks even the rudiments OF stage
rOntine. Hence her success the evening I'm ques-
ton was solely due TO her fine voice and superior
musical talent"
Tomorrow night MISS Calisto win make her sec
0nd appearance ~ Amina In la Sonnambula,u ana
We nave u from the young and charming lady her
self that In this part, which abe far prefers that
OF Violeta, she VIII have more favorable opportu-
nifty 10 display dramatic talent aud cause the critics
10 modify their opinion.