The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1870-08-04

his horse and equipments |" Frederick composed
French rhymes that moved the sarcasm Of Voltaire,
and having determined ncvss to be taken alive by
his enemies, carried about his person subtle drug
for terminating his existence at short notice Il Is
in ailusion to this MAT Macaulay describes him rs
Z" half Mithridatos and half Trissolin, bearing up
against a world in arms, with an ounce Of poison in
one pocket and quire o. bad verses in the other"
Hard outlines have always marked the character
OF the Hohenzolerns. lie was true typo Of the
house who, the other day at Ems, said to his adju.
tant, wien the French envoy troubled him with his
opportunities, Tell that man to 60 away. I won't
see him again"
The eagles Of the fret French Republic early came
down upon the Rhenish provinces, guided by the
masterhands OF Pichegri, Hocho, aud Morcau.
For the twenty-three years that they lowered over
this devoted spot the inhabitants drank their I'LL OF
the PRIDE pomp and circumstance OF war. Among
these cornnolds and vineyards and amid this beaut.
full scenry and these impressive mementoes OF past
ages and surrounded by clthedras and universities
whose hoary walls rcverberated the founders OF
their cannon, kindred peoples and rival races shed
each Others blood like water, to sake the ambition
and soothe the vanity OF Bonaparte.
Napoleon, on the many occasions when he invad-
cd Germany. led his armies through the gateway
between Mentz and the Moselle; and through this
Il
cold winters night, when he returned from bis
Russian campaign. Thltherward his stricken egions
hurried the next autumn from the disastrous field
of Lei psc, the whole army, as they approached the
ban ks Of the historic river that separated them
from home, rushing pemell to the front and shout.
ing, The Rhine the Rhinei' These provinces
were compelled TO submit 70 change Of rulers
during these terrible years we know not how many
times. Their conqueror, who like Attlla OF old was
to them the "scourge OF God" used them as pawns
upon his chess board throughout this gloomy
epoch and they must have fanced that they heard
the echo ofthe guns at Ligny and Waterloo which
heralded the downfall Of their oppressor.
| As has already been shown the Rhenish Provinces
are celebrated not for war only, though sad to say
| the shedding Of human blood seems TO have been
| their normal condition for many centuries.
Charlemagne was born at AK, and Mary OF Medici
| the unfortunate Queen OF Henry ~. and the conf
dant OF Richlieu was entombed at Cologne, Of which
city Rubens, whose paintings sdorn the galleries o
| the Low Countries was q native. But though this
district has produced eminent scholars diyices, and
professors, that one Of its who has conferred
the greatest boon upon mankind IL John Gutenberg
Of Mentz the inventor OF the divine art OF printing.
| This was the chief sect OF the Hanseatic Leagu
when that ConIederacy, then numbering eighty-hvc
cities was in the height OF its power and prosperity
The ancient waters OF Aixla-Chapelle have bee
ouirivalled by those Of Baden, near the upper Dor
ders Of the district, where invalids, princes, an'
sharpers resort to battle, drink, and gamble while
lower down the valley Cologne supplies the toilet
| OF all nations with its aromatic liquor, though
sooth TO say the streets OF this beautiful cit
are now so narrow and nasty that tho traveller G
sensitive olfactories is constrained to excaim, Eau
| BY the by, Ems IL a sort OF suburb OF Baden, an'
should Napoleon accomplish his threat to TIN
Rhine, It would be signal illustration Of the whirl
igs OF fortune II the black eagle the field argen
should chase the ricolor through the streets OF tn
very town where the alleged cause Of the war
The Rhine Provinces rich in vineyards. TIL
Moselle Is not only famous for It's wines, but It
"bue water" were celebrated in the leecndar
poetry ofthe Troubadours while Bingen, near whic
the Prussinn headquarters are said to be estab
lshed is also noted for the nne favor OF its wines
| and Is made familiar to Americans by Mrs. Morton
and by Longfellow, a. "BInsen, fair Dingen on tn
| Rhine"
| 1t shocks the moral sense Of Christendom, ana
deplorable commentary upon the boosted advanc
| Of civilization in the nineteenth century, TO Sc
these fair hills and valleys and the banks Of thes
lovely rivers stained with blood by bastard Bon
parte in another war OF the Spanish succession.