The Republican journal., 1876-06-15
A Nation of Soldiers,

| Il Jt
| pes ana eats up the very substance of the land:
! tut, however this may be, that army is certain
| y magnificent and Well-regulated institution
The Pfussians are naturally good soldiers, tie
qualities that make military heroes being COM
| mon TO Their race. While their French neigh
| bors work up wonderful amount of enthusiasm
over Il catise, and, with all their native bray-
cry, tight most desperately, they exercise that
| coo-headcd theory in military tactics which
| has so often enabled them to bear oil the palms
! Of victory. Their common soldiers as a body
! possess both obedience ard submission ouaj-
| ties universally characteristic Of subor'ilna.e
| leuton>. Perhaps the movements in the late
| Pranco-prussau aud former wars with their
| lnVeterate enemy, show that they can bndly
| obey command better than any other civilized
| people.
| In peaceful times it seems very hard for q
| man to be obliged to render to his country at
| least years service, three years if 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 married or formed any business ties, they
| are apt to regard a soldiers life in peaceful
| times as rather a desirable one. Lightly con-
! slderng the service which they must render,
| ana the loss OF time to all their own interests
| they only anticipate the rOlicking leisure which
| they will spend with boon companions 1t is
| this period Of life which the majority select for
| the time OF their service; consequently in the
| gay professions which the lower classes make
! there is nothing to indicate that they at any
rate, regard this as hard decree of their coutl-
| try. With beating drums and tlying colors,
| they march about the streets followed bv o de-
| cldedly ragamuftn though enthusiastic crowd.
4, The day IS ended up in great hilarty at beer
| gardens which resound with their spirited
| soldier songs and the laundering notes of the
! favorite Watch on the Rhine"
10 live III one of Germauys fortified cities,
IA, nr Nav j.
| residing within the narrow confines of Il for
| tresS itself You see nothing bat gloomy torti-
| tcations and hard-workng military, hear moth
| ing, from the time that the reveillc awakes YOU
| IN the morning, but the heavy tramp of soldiers
| to and from their posts OF duty. In an unforti-
| he'd town, where only one or two companies
! are stationed, there Is Just brass buttoniSm
enough to give spirit to the place. In Wiesha-
| den, during our residence there, the military
was composed of cavalry and artillery officers
| and few men. Their duties did not seem to
| be very arduOus, for they dashed around OH
| horseback up and down the neighboring noun
| tans all the morning and put in full attend
| ance to every gayety of the afternoon and even
| ing hour. A watering place is bv these officers
| considered desirable position, for besides The
| amusement which it affords, they meet in il,
social world many foreigners. t. whom, by
| their linguistic accomplishments, they make
| themselves very agreeable. decidedly SO if
| these strangers be Americans.
Inc Prussltns As Il race are a people of re-
| markable line physique, and their officers seem
| to be the very pick of the land Walking or
| riding, on duty or in the ball room, they cer-
| tanly are magnificent looking men. and il is
| only to be regretted that they themselves SO
| thoroughly appreciate this tnct. Those who
| distinguished themselves in the late war wear
| the Iron Gross" presented by the Kaiser:
| this mark OF honor attracts general admiration
| TO the wearer. A great many ladies have also
| received this cross for services rendered on
battle-teles, in hospitals and elsewhere. To
them no doubt, it was Il more deserved honor
| than 10 many Titled officers. Some old veterans
| and honOr-sh0Wered heroes wear a string of
| gittering medals across half of the breast from
| the buttons to the epauete. This looks espec-
tally fine on the gay Austrian officers, whose
| blonde beauty is set off by light blue coats with
! silver trimmings.
| The HusSar uniform, requiring IN aim st
| tau tless figure, is the finest of all the varou.
! hablnents Of the Prussian army. The excess
| slvc personal vanity of these IIussarS however
| utterly eXtnguiShcS any admiration with which
| one may have regarded them on first acuuant-
| ance. They never miss an opportunity to dis
! play their fine appearance, and in crowded as
| semblies strut about like peacOcks; under no
| circumstances sitting down; indeed, in their
| dress uniform it is doubtful whether thev can
| do anything but stand or move about. A little
| cap is used by all officers As q head covering for
general wear, the massive spiked helmet which
| gives tOaa body of men such solderlv and in
Nincible appearance, being worn only on es-
peCal occasions.
In order to keep UP this line and immaculate
personal appearance every hl@h ranked officer
lls S0rl ol Nalel' or as me! are called Beal-
e"te' lheH loor' hllNetabe pellSS' are ON the
very lowest peg Of military promotion, and
thelr arrogant master, make such beasts of bur
zen zen ol theih that they age truly 10 be pIlied.
| They wash and mend the linens, brush and
| Keep ~ osutI thG uhIoiiNs aiiu run ABOUT on
| them rushing madly toward the Casino with
| newly IellpF ateu ulllotHs over lile arm, As Il
ulir uni>.InieI't "M S'i'tu ~ tnth were thex hFe
-nutr - i"'e' y sC,'itU' ny 'H ny looklhS olncers
SUI N,'iI Sto"t nr"t Us @ oiio pay WINE watching
P''t"NN' Ii '' I N''"'I '"Oh5 ',i" S'tu 70 blm
i! !pu :, ''''ul ''5!''ul - iT'Nl'@ lOi Hou' los'Neiy IL
thNI bG@',Htf ma p"eh Shot out OF = cannon,
ne touI' nol nave H'Niieu more WHdly 10 the
sPGt; Mnrlc III " NJ VI Ia9E: Ea master stood
Mn!tlnS 10 uisinou"t' rms Hltie IrIlie ehHfCiy
% H. ~ .''G Wy VI ~ " "S"sl the other"lse
pInhu sliil'!u7 HsiI LLf"'e"''3'' some olhcers
"u'ii' ~ tue9 l'uot H'f y Il lutI"lIchoiY DeUi-
@ st'1 Vo,!n7 ui ,lli! .oNn d +" Harus III the
| Icy puo 'nl 5eu, 'l''l - uIIa'Colnpahltu'
| -Ahiou1 'HV oinVeIs lHtuieeNtS II IS curious
70 uIIc ,iI " llg iie Slhaicr Try nave
| " ShoN " sulrlioiS,, lhotel nI promenade
l@oliOC @ - soN ny 'V' n:''o pttH Htti'iy CON
Nii,tI' Wa. ~ .S'-G "iltVrls PHtt1 80 uhce'S-
isll aI Iou,lu 'Gl no otnyl luIloSe Ihan 10 ENJOY
| H"tlH7 "0It "'iItC' "iiccl "iuunu' Lace lhem
! 'n" i"'Ne 'u0 9"tu'e' ltc9lvct Ill one AFTER
9' m1o.' Il peh5 J""i'neo uo"u III seat
VIZ VII ''G W. i, Gtt 'g st''c p' me tiu on the
1 " NV a., 0 ~ ,,!o "Sit''e'y II he
uo"nJvu uP oi'' it" ~ 'Nt'it1 I'lheH' ana drop-
PA uo"" ,,,to iN Hpa' 'Sain llAg J'eh-Nh.le
>unGe"i! enuI 70, lus, '.""'T a l'?HP'us oHl-
Ncd nv NJ. p"C'h5 "P anu , u4N 0 II li'aI Alst.
Luz n,",itets nt % lile Iu,SEyn hllnHTy are
sainllE pvllgtt. ime hIiIiul! men OF al e'un-
| PruS>lans, men who are 50 staunrh and solid
% i an unG siern lt'u,lenelts "i war, sn9ui1
po,hed manners brilliant conyarsaIion .s, nYn and
gay repartce make them the lions of every bali
room and social gathering, and their society is
universally sou&hI after. toward ladies', Wheth-
@sli"nI rn,,rteo. VI '''S "Ie most
1t is not TO be wondered at that the ambitions
mammas and enthusiastic daughters of other
| lands should regard PruSSian officer as a very
E ho, 'I,' ,, ", .,'.' i.. Il," should be
~ - N ,'i''', &C. li'"lt HUi prs