Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-05-06
tFoR TEE STAR.
SKETCHES FROM GERMAN LIFE
IX.-PrWssias Military

going 10 oe koidler. Tnere are those,
know, who gravely shake their heads At
what they term monarchical oppression In
keeping standing army that cripples and
eats up the very substance OF the land; but,
however this may be, that army is certainly
a magnificent and well.regulated institu-
ton. The Prussians are naturally gooi SOL
diers, the qualities that make military he
roes being common 20 their race. While
their French neighbors work up wonderful
amount OF enthusiasm over a cause. and,
with all their native bravery, fight most
desperately, they exercise that cool-headed
theory in military tactics which has so OF On
enabled them 10 bear OF the palms OF vic
tory. Their common soldiers, rs n body,
possess both obedience and submission,
qualities universally characterisIIS u sub
ordlnate TeutoBs. Perhaps the
Theirs not @ reason Why:
Theirs but 10 do sn,ldie
spirit animRtes them, however IL is, many
movements In the late Franc S-PruSsian aud
former wars with their inveterate enemy
show that they can bllndly obey a comman
better than any other civilized people. Sew
eral extensive works on the late war have
been recently published In Germany. They
are, presume OF course in great measure,
partial, but without glancing at the reading
matter, study Ing merely the maps drawn OF
movements and noting the positive science
with which they were planned and the dis
pstcn and regulation that drew up portions
OF the army from all quarters surrounding a
city TO be captured, we cannot marvel that
even so great nation as France, with all
her brave and enthusiastic subjects was con-
Inpesceful times it seems very hard for
man TO be Obliged to render TO his country
at least years service, three years II he is
less fayorably situated. No wonder that this
is the great theme in every circle, and that
in families where there are sons growing up
to manhood there is little else thought or
talked Of
WHEN YOUNG MEN SERVE
before they are old enough TO take any very
serious view OF life, before they have mar
ried or formed any business ties they are
apt TO regard soldiers life in peaceful
times as rather desirable one. Lightly
considering the service which they must rem
der, and the loss Of time 10 all their own In
terests, they only anticipate the rollicking
leisure which they will spend with boon
the majority select for the time OF their SER
vice; consequently in the gay professions
which the lower classes make there is moth
b 10 hss toa tosy az any rate
beating drums and flying colors they march
about the streets followed by q decidedly
day is ended up in great hilsrity at beer gar
dens which resound with their spirited sol
dier songs and the laundering notes OF the
favorite "Wdcha am RheiR."
To live In one of
GERMANY's FORTIFIED CITIES,
like Coblenz or Mayence, is little better than
residing within the narrow confines of fort
ress itself. You see nothing but gloomy for
tifcations and hard working military, hear
nothing from the time that the reveille
awakes you In the morning but the heavy
tramp of soldiers to and from their posts OF
duty. In an unfOrtifed town, where only
one or two companies are stationed, there is
just brass buttonism enough TO give spirit TO
the place. In Wiesbaden, during our resi-
dence there, the military was composed OF
cavalry and artillery officers and q few men.
for they dashed around on horseback up and
down The neighboring mountains all the
morning and put in a full attendance TO
every gsyety OF the afternoon and evening
hour. A watering place is by these officers
considered position par excellence, for be-
sides the amusement which il affords they
meet In Its social world SO many foreigners,
ments, hey make themselves very agreea-
bic, decidedly SO If these strangers be Amerl-
Gals.
THE PRUssIANs AS RACE
are people OF remarkable fine physique,
and their officers seem to be the very pick OF
the lard. Walking or riding on duty or In
the ball room, they certainly are maguid-
cent looking men, and IL is only TO be regret
ted that they themselves so thoroughly APP
preciate this fact. Those VINO distinguished
themselves in the late war wear the "Iron
Cross" presented by the Kaiser; this mark
OF honor attracts general admiration to the
wearer. A great many ladies have also re-
ceived this cross for services rendered on
battle fields, in hospitals and elsewhere. To
them no doubt II was more deserved honor
d
rams and honor shovered heroes wear a
string Of glittering medals across half of the
breast from the buttons 20 the epaulette.
trian officers whose blonde beauty is set OF
by Light blue coats with silver trimmings.
PULL-BACK UNIFORM.
The Hussar uniform. requiring an almost
faultless figure, is the finest OF all the varl-
Gus habillments OF the Prussian army. The
excessive personal variety OF these Hussars,
however, ut ter,y extinguishes any admira-
ton with which one may have regarded
them on first acquaintance. They never
appearance, and In crowded assemblies
strut about he peacocks; under no circum-
stances sittiZ down; indeed, in their dress
Hing bur- Land or move o about' AT lille can
Is used py ali officers as head covering for
EenU'al wesl, the massive spiked helmet
dterlJ and invin, ible appearance being worn
OILY on especial occasions.
In order to Keep up this dne and immacu-
late personal appearance every high ranked
called Bedtcnte. They, poor, miserable beings,
are on the very lowest peg Of military pro-
motion, and their arrogant masters make
such beasts of burden OF them that they are
truly to be pitied. They wash AID mend the
linens, brush and keep In order the uniforms
and run abo1t on all sorts Of errands, How
often have we seen them rushing madly
toward the Casino with newly renovated
uniforms over the arm, as IL dire punish
ment awaited them were they nv6 minutes
late. A scared, hyaway looking officers
servant stood near rs oneday while watching
parade. Some one came along and said TO
him, "your master is looking for you"
Positively II that BediesIe had been shot out
OF a cannon be could not have dashed more
wildly 10 The spot, where In at Of rage, bis
master stood waiting TO dismount. This lit
tie trifie entirely turned the tide of favor
against the otherwise bland smiling Herr
Lieutenant. eymc officers whenever they
ride have a melancholy Bediente bobbing up
and down q few yards In the rear. but the
generality 60 unaccompanied.
MONO THE OFFICERS THEMSELVES
IL is curious Ia note the Difference which
the smaller fIy have to show to superiors.
Indeed At r homemade concerts sometimes
have been firmly convinced that the higher
officers paced 30 INCREASINGLY around the sddt
for no other purpose than 70 enjoy having
all Subordtnates wheel around, face them
and make the salute / recollect At one
afternoon concert being damned down In
q seat, with the wall on one side or me and
on the other Q lively little cadet, who posi-
lively Ii he bounced up once did 90 twenty
times, and dropped down into bis seat again
like q jack kn.fe suddenly shut TO, just be-
cause q pozpous officer kept strutting mp
and down that aisle.
The manners Of the rrussian military Are
ctv The military man Of all