Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1871-03-02
Foreign Correspondence.
LETTER FROM BERLIN.

Here in Berlin we know but little more
of the war than you do in Vermont. The
accounts in the American papers are as
detailed and interesting as we find in the
Berlin journals. Our hospitals, however,
are full of sick and wounded soldiers, and
wounded soldiers and officers are moving
about everywhere. Dozens of the latter
may be seen every fine afternoon. pro-
mensding up and down the Linden in gay
uniforms, and with a very naughty air.
1t is very interesting to talk with Ger
mans, and especially with the Prussians,
about war matters. The Germans, in
general, are very courteous, modest and
pleasant people. But the Prussisns have
become 80 much elated with their mill
tary successes, that they are hardly will
ing to acknowledge the right of other
mortals, especially Frencbmen and Eng
lishmen, to any degree Of respect.
Prussia has risen wonderfully within
the last century or two. The lack fha-
tural advantages has made the people
more industrious and frugal. Ii has taken
the lead of other continental powers in
education. It's royalty has honored
science, and its government has carried
it into all departments of society. At the
same time the military spirit of the peo-
pie has been cultivated, and the present
monarch has made his people race of SOL
diers, placing military implements as
we'll as books in the hands of every map,
from peasant to prince, and requiring all
to be thoroughly instructed in the use Of
both.
The Germans have out-liyed their
dreaming period, and are learning to
apply their theories to practice, whether
in handling manuscript or musket, pillow
or powder. Above all, the spirit of
science, in the larger sense Of the word
the spirit of systematic study, patient
Investigation, and finding out the best
means of making available every resource
of the country, whether OF brain or land
or mine, is being encouraged everything
is being utilized, and made to prod
the highest possible value.
Hence, when Austria and Prussia
fought in 1866, Prussia was ready with a
trained army of intelligent men, and be-
fore Austria had time to get herself into
condition for the contest she was defeated.
And so it is with unhappy France to-day.
These things have naturally made the
Prussians arrogant. They steadfastly be-
lieve Prussia is the most intellectual. the
most moral and most powerful country in
the world.
The amount of study which some of
these German scholars have done, and
their knowledge of their own special de.
partments is marvellous; but to get such
knowledge, they have sacrificed that
larger intelligence which belongs to the
we'll educated and complete man, and vet
it would be better for America If we had
more Of such thorough scholars in special
departments of science.
AS to the war, the universal feeling here
Is that the French must not onlv nav the
expenses OF the war, but must give mp
the Provinces Of Alsace and Lorraine
La the North German Congress, held here
in the early part of the winter, only three
members were willing to end the war
without the cession of these provinces to
Germany. These poor fellows have since
-
been subjected to sufficient reproach to
ruin any man. You have perhaps heard
OF the imprisonment of Jscoby, for max
ing speech in Bremen against the an.
nexation of French territory without first
and obtaining the approval of
the inhabitants, on the ground that the
age for making conquest Of countries bvl