The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-09-09
LUXEMBURG.
DemOlishiBe Works of Defense Curious
scenes aud CONTRASTS.

DemolishiBE Works of Defense - Curious
scenes and CONTRASTS.
1t seems strange, writes a correspondent at Lux
emburg, when there is nothing but war and rumors
OF war, and literally echoes Of war all round,
men hard at work demolishing works OF defense
For over two years the LuXemburgeois have been at
the task but now they seem to have feyersh burst
OF energy. There is actually force OF some two
hundred men empleyed-no light proof OF the
earnestness OF this little State, where statesmen
they spend it. Yet, after all, the workmen look
much like maggots preaching mighty Stlton, or
ike party OF tourists straggIing up che Grand
Pyramid; and If their efforts ever come TO the end
OF those stupendous stone scarps and counterscarps
they Will certainly merit the palm OF perseverance,,
mons 10 all time. Mountains have been scarped
and cased in solid stone and lime, walls and towers
OF Babel have been reared aud engineered to with
stand modern artillery There are magazines for
food water powder, and stores generally scattered
all about the ravines-in reality, vast and massive,
but dwarfed to insignifcance by the towering mass
Of fortfcation around them. There are outwOrks
that anywhere else would rank as fortresses OF the
second class and detached forts that might each 10
isolation stand siege IN force.
II really seems pity 10 see 80 much good human
work being pulled TO piect s. and very hard that the
doing 1t should be charged the shoulders OF this
uDlucky little state. But when the Franco German
nght has been fought out they Will be sure TO a&e
breathing time, or, what amounts almost TO GER
tanty, in spite OF past treaties and guarantees or
neutrality, viii be relieved OF all responsibility In
the matter by one OF the combatants. as yet all
they have done has been TO spoil the continuity OF
the charming promenade that used to run round
the town, and the abstracted stranger walking
win eyes riveted on the opposite heights
may chance Unexpectedly to find himself precipi-
tated down a hundred feet OF cutting Meantime,
the development OF destruction Is exceedingly pic
turesque The brown earth tumbles over the face
OF the artificial rock like Swiss mountain rivulets
falling of the precipices OF LfuterDrunnen after a
waterspout lt comes la jets or bursts, according as
IL is tossed from shovel shot out OF a wheel0ar-
row. and the play OF the brown dust is just grace
ful, barring the effects OF color as the shOwerng
spray OF the Stanbbach. Occasionally there CONES
dirty avalanche; the roar of 1t echoes among the
desc rted casemaes waking painful recollections
the days and guns that are gone.
IA few dbzen roughly drilled Luxemburg soldiers
all who remain now to protect the vast enceiate,
and the oommandant and his dog unbend nightly
with the ministers OF the State at the Cafe Reunion
One barrack Is a straw-hat manufactory, another
dwellings for the working classes, third hospital
for the wounded from the war. The people are over
housed and yet they seem to have hasened TO build
on the raZed Notifications, If TO persuade them
selves against hope that they will never again have
a