The New York herald., 1873-10-31
THE LAST ACT
CONTINUED FROM THIRD PAGE.

q.a Carr marcn lfOi Etdti w Nouhoho ""'
at and areary but the sturdy soldiers lifted their
nooted legs well through the mud ana siush, anu
snng the "wacht am Rheln" lor time. NO
s,amn and chill OF the weather. "Ho, hoh-no-o-o-
oh y reared the rough wind. "Ho-o-oh, thou P0me.
rannian or saxon pumpkin all for martial gloryi
one nart of II Is to stick in the mud and have thy
teeth well nigh blown down thy throat"
The streets OF Etan had been lett purposely dark
The night before the Germans marched out ol tnc~
town and now every village along the road showed
some outward sign OF mourning as they went
through. Every beer shop was closed; Few
children ana clodhoppers in blouses looked at the
troops silently as they passed. and when they were
gone every house hung out trlcolored nag sur
by black Grape streamers as sign OF Joy
for the restoration OF French liberty ana griei or
the loss Of Alsace-
OF the German army halted at Connans the night
after they left Etain; but General Manteunel ana
hts stan rode on to Jarny, where they slept at she
Importance. General Lnsingen, who was IN com
mand OF the brigade, took up his lodgings Win nj.
The troops were under arms very early on the
morning OF Tuesday, the 10th September, anu tne
drums began TO beat for the onward narcn saolu nn
after seven O'CLOCK They went away lron oon-
ians with General Linsingen aheao prcclse.y ~
hali-past seven, and as soon as they wele gono
there were ringing OF bells and nring OF cannon.
Al Jarny they halted till General Manteunel got
mp. Jarny Is an extremely pretty village, WIN
substantial houses, fruitful orcnaius, anu gooa
gardens all around; 1t Is a wonderful nghting
country, where cavalry, In which the French were
never strong, could nave lair play
IL was at eight O'Clock exactly that Generai Man
THE LAST HOUSE
which he is ever likely to occupy as master in
France. IL was Count Won Haeseier VINO held the
bride OF his horse as he mounted, while Colonel
Won der Burg on his stately black, sat by silent
and motonless, his right hand planted on his hip
as dsdalnfully as ever. General Manteunel was
dressed in long light blue rock coat, which
covered his feeble legs and knees well from the
wind. and they were iurtner protected by high
sOit boots coming up 70 the middle OF his thighs.
That was the manner In which ne had modined ana
mn q nd "a Ia n n "A
till he presented something OF the groteSque
aspect OF a hummer in carnival time. He wore
white cross round his neck which had unfortu-
natey got turned wrong side upwards, and black
cross upon the left side OF his stomach very low
down. These oddities and forage cap, too large
have ever seen. even on o German Erceliers< in
. Durlesque. AS looked at the small wien lace
OF the famous Prussian soldier, under the big round
extinguisher that covered II In, l could not help
thinking how little lace would remain without the
beard and spectacles. In figure he resempled
weak pair OF tongs, with brass knobs that
had been broken in the middle and i'll mended.
He came down the narrow passage which led TO
senile capers astonishing to behold, and there was
an innexible jerkiness in hts movements like that
Of an energetic Old lady who has just had tea As
he put on a large pair Of gray beaver gauntlets,
which would certainly have slipped OF and re-
NAMED empty in the grasp OF any one who had
shaken hands with him, noticed that he was an
ELceAeraz OF dandy habits whose mind was gwen
over when at leisure, 10 trinkets and vanities. lie
wore large showy ring upon the forefnger, and
another upon the third finger OF his right hand.
Tue Germans marched ont OF Jarny with the
band playing, and Immediately after they were
nags were hung out from every window, as at
other places.
carrying the regimental chest OF the Slxty-fonrth.
About half mile behind walked two soldiers oil the
Saxtyourth regiment side by side and talking con-
They were the advance guard. Next
came half a dozen led horses, and afterwards the
generals and the stan. General Manteufel and
General Lnsingen rode together on one side OF the
road; and almost imperceptbiy IN the rear upon
the other was Colonel Won der Burg on the black
horse, and Lieutenant Colonel Count Won Haeseier.
The dark masses OF the German troops followed,
and SO they rolled on over one hill alter another
towards the frontier with the booming OF JOY guns
upon the breeZes.
the Germans marched through Doncourt, which
=
THE LAST VILLAGE
on the French frontier, without halting, but the
music OF military band played them in aud out
OF Doncourt as elsewhere. and there, also, as soon
as they were gone, out burst the JOY bells
Shortly after leaving Doncourt the advance
guard passed the baggage wagons, which were
then between them ana the led horses with the
generals and staf in sight Behind Doncourt is
about league from the frontier The wind blew
came upon the face like the stings OF gnats The
road was nanked by tall poplar trees. Around
was an undulating landscape, well wooded, and
cornfeds, fresh ploughed, were on either side.
That part OF Lorraine even which Is still left to
i do not think, after all, that the Germans have
much to be proud Of when the issues OF the late
war are iairly considered. They were generally
two to one. and sometimes they were ten TO one
against the French and they beat them. "Ahi'
they say "a nation should not suffer its armies 10
be outwirteo anG oyermatched.n True; but that
ID not question OF military prowess: 1t is ques
lion merely OF good or bad government. Moreover,
Prussia had the three greatest captains OF the age
Frederick Charles. France had only half q dozen
dashlng generals of division. The Germans may
not find II 80 easy TO win that taxrbe game II II Is
played over again, after Bismarck and his company
are no more.
The upsnot OF it all to-day is that old General
has made his rheumatism much worse
and Llnsingen has caught a violent cold In the
head. Colonel Won der Burg has been complaining
of the earache and Lieutenant Colonel Count Won
Haeseler has got the jaundice Thus the inner lie
Of many episodes IN history is much made up OF
ACHES, sNEEzINGs AND INDIGEsTIoNs.
At about half mile from the frontier large
body Of cavalry rode up to welcome General Man
teut1el; They had come from Metz, and their
A STIRRING INCIDENT
enough-was almost the last scene of the grand
drama now about 20 close. little further on
was hooded gig, and in 1t was man who had
brought French nag furled in a black cover.
The hooded gig was drawn into ditch TO leave
the road free, and the man who mad brought the
French flag scrambled up the ditch side and stuck
lt in the ground 1t was but trail stick with
hall yard OF bunting still rolled up at the end OF
Il The French standard bearer himself presented
Dnc OF those extraordinary combinations OF patriot
sm with profit which are only seen in France.
De was the barber who had shaved the Prussian
,ilcers at verdun, and who bad subsequently
T. Alphonse, OF the Rue st. Pierre. When this
standard bearing barber had stuck his
tick into the ground, and himself with
IN air OF defiant dignity beside it,
General Manteunel and his star formed in
inc, with their backs turned to the barber, who
vas extremely well got up for the occasion. and
o0ked like waiter at respectable coffee house
without his apron. Next to Manteunel was Lin
'ngen, next TO Linsngen was Won der Burg and
lext to him Won Haeseler, whose teeth were cnat-
ering with ague. Some 0rderles were in the
litch behind them, under the c0ldly attentive eye
Df the barber.
When the two Generals, the Colonel and the Lieu
tenant Colonel had got into line Lnsingen gave
put the word OF command, and the troops began
70 march past, and band standing In ditch upon
lne opposite side OF the road facing the bar |
ber now played, as though for wager against |
me WIND, the German version OF 'God Save the |
Nlng,n apparently in recognition OF the barber's |
services and as personal compliment to his de-
pertinent upon this auspcious occasion. Indeed
mat was clearly the light IN which the ceremony
Vas seen by the barber, Tor he took OF his hat az
soon as the music struck up and gave the band
master, whose facial hair he had dressed that
morning, gracious nod OF recognition.
Jne infantry marched first, with all their "eyes /
right,n and many OF them with stiff necks also. |