The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-05-25
FORETGN ITEMS.


tory of the world when what is called good
society" does not come out well. Its ten
dency Is to prefer the political calm necessary
to the quiet enjoyment of the pleasures OF
wealth and high social position to the turmoil
and agitation out of which ofttimes proceeds
an improved condition for those who cannot
be considered good society. The feelings and
utterances of this high class in France at the
present time show its peculiar characteristics
in concentrated form. The nonchalance
with which the high-horn idlers at st. Ger
main contemplate the struggle going on out
side the walls of Paris is noticed with disgust
by others besides the Communist Journals A
naughty indifference is, however, by no means
the only unbecoming state of mind with
which they can be reproached. The ''repose
which marks the caste of We're de Vere' does
not in the least prevent that caste from be-
traying very strong passions and using very
strong language when its interests are inter-
fered with. A correspondent of the Iadepen
dance Beige, writing from Versailles, says
u"fhere are here three currents OF opinion. That
emanatiDg from the Assembly is most open to con-
ciliatory proposals; the second proceeding from
the Government, is also disposed to many conces-
sons Dut as time goes on It believes more and more
have not spoken. 1t Is perhaps better to veil our
disgrace; Tor certain reactionary, sanguinary and
unpatriOtic fury is a national disgrace. / cannot
peat to you what hear. You could never imagine
the violent language Of the drawing rooms, and the
that often feel compelled to undertake the de-
tense Of the Parisans, and breathe more freely in
the obbies OF the Assembly even when they full
Of deputies of the Right"
"A petition now before the German Reich
stag pleads for the preservation and restora-
tion of one of the most venerable relics of
German history and architecture, the ancient
Imperial House at Goslar in the Harz. This
is, as the petition sets forth, one of the very
few remaining edifices of the eleventh CEN
fnru ha inta of fvvo
hundred years from 1850 to 1858, it was in
habited by ten or eleven successive German
Emperors; it is, further, the birthplace of q
| German Emperor, and no less than twenty
three imperial assemblies have taken place in
it. The whole expense of the restoration is
estimated at only 10000 thalers. There is
hardly any doubt of the favorable reception
of the petition.
If the late war has indisputably estab-
lished the superiority of the Prussian school
! ing of officers, It's lessons are by no means
! equally favorable to the asserted necessity of
full three years training to the men-from
a military point of view. We have failed to
notice any difference in the bearing, disci-
pline, or fighting of Prussians and South
| Germans. Yet the latter do not receive
nearly as much military schooling as the Prus-
slams. The Badanese, whose army most re-
sembles the Prussian, having been since 1866
remodelled on the PrusSian SYSTEM and since
then constantly under the. command of a
| Prussian general and War. Minister, keep
their men with their regiments only twenty
seven months out of the thirty-six of nominal
service. The Wurtembergers and Hessians
| limit the period to about two years out of the
three, and the shortest training of all is al
| lowed in Bavaria, where frequently eighteen
months, rarely more than twenty-one, out of
the thirty-six are considered sufficient. And
yet these Bavarians have been pro-
claimed by the Prussians them
selves to be models of courage, endurance,
and discipline. The great benefit of short
| service to the country is thoroughly appreci-
ated by the South Germans. Not only is the
army expenditure brought down to COM
paratively low fgure-tne men on long fur
Tough receiving no pay-but the labor diverted
| from productive employment is likewise re-
duced to minimum, furloughs being SO
| regulated as TO dismiss the men at harvest
time and recall them when agricultural work
is scarce. The favorable results of the short
service system cannot be otherwise than
| satisfactory to non-military countries like
ourselves. Of course where the army is used
as in Prussia-not merely as an arm OF
defense but as school for inculcating sub
mission and obedience in civil matters, other
considerations come into force. Still the
time was when Prussian Liberals would have
used these facts as arguments for claiming 9
reduction OF the military eStaoilsRment In
order to return to the country thousands OF
bands able to enrich it by productive labor
and to ease the taxpayer of a large proportion
of his annual burden.
Another centenary looms in the distance:
that of Nicolaus Copernicus, the astronomer
born on the 10th of February, 1873. Taking
time by the forelock, the inhabitants of hi'
native town, Thorn, in Prussia, are already
preparing for the great event. Nor will the
''Society of Friends of Science" sat Poser
allow itself to be taken by surprise. Foul
special points have been decided upoI
already. These are the preparation of al
accurate prize biography of the deceased
the publication of monumental album,
medal, and an ecclesiastical commemoration
TO take place at Thorn. The biographies ar
to be finished by the 1st of January, 1872
the most successful writer to receive five
hundred thalers They are to be writer
scientifically" to be based upon authenti
documents, and, above all things, to prov
incontestably the much-questioned Polisl
nationality of Copernicus. So that the can
didates will have to start somewhat weighte
by a condition which may make their Who'll
labor futile in the end.