The New York herald., 1877-12-26


preaching crisis In view OF what Is about 10 happe
the New YoRx HERALD despatched me here TO collec
all the information that coua be obtained the sui
jcct. Finding the mission bestt With difficulties
owing to the fact OF my being stranger. i hav
sought and procured tho aid OF spectator Of and to
certain extent In. the events that have mar
rated. This gentleman Is an exiunctionary who ha
had the best opportunities Of asccraining tho view
and opinions OF the leading persons involved in then
and who is actually engaged in writing a history o
them from notes taken from day to day. He ha
taken so much interest In the task assigned mo tina
no mas been induced 10 furnish me with q brief alb
OF the conversations which he hao had In refer
TO the subject OF this article with the
whose names figure in my introductory sketch
He has prsfaeod them with brief personal notices
which cannot fail 70 enhance tho Interest with which
thoy will be read.
II is useless 10 describe the Kings Seathres famiiia
as they from the egies on his coins, and the lead
ing characteriscs Of which The length Of The nose
and the beard. The eye is purblind and without cx
preston the top OF tho head fat at least appears
SO, for but few people II, owing TO His Ma
jesty's height The King is forty-two years OF age
He Is admirably constituted for the role OF neutral
sovereign for which, by the By, he carefully cdu
Gated. Utterly devoid OF mit.ry tastes, he has en-
poyed tho leisure lett him by his royal snocure IN
that branch OF which interests his Brussels
subjecss-buiidne HE is no general remarked
Prince Fritz OF him, "hs is mcrey an architect y
His father left him 500 000f. income and bis
mother, daughter OF Louis Philippe 100000 Tho
Queen, his wife, an Austrian archduchess. brought
him half million, making altogether OF private for
tune. 1900, 000E year. He does not the less for
that desire to hold on TO the $500, ,oooi which
Belrium aItova him n civil list His lead npp pecu
laitles great taciturny and a horror Of gloves.
The visits OF Major de irritate his
Uc usually sends him 10 President Of the Council,
NJ. Maou, who opposes TO the pressure OF his oxgen-
cics the force OF inertia After this thero usually
comes letter from Prince Fritz, u copy Of which
Major de sommerfed Invariably receives. When be
does not write tho Crown Prince comes himself TO
Brussels. Tho King then makes IL point of showing
himself everywhere in public with him. in order TO
create belief in the Intimacy which exists between
him and the imperial family.
AN INTERVIEW WITH THE KING.
The following Is bref epitomc OF u conversation
which the ex-functionary to whom have referred,
and whom the better to preserve his incognto we
shall designate MS Count NJ. recently had with the
King. with whom by the nature OF his service be is
occasionally brought in relation:-
Count M-Perm,t me TO remark TO Your Majesty
tuut pIeScuCc ucEo VI hthJoI uc oOmmcTielu,
his interference in the military affairs Of tho country
made the subject Of strange commentaries abroad.
Tho KiNG-What do they say?
Count M.--That tho Belgian army Is being gradually
transformed into German corps.
Tho KNG-At tho commencement or my fathers
reign 1t was said that the Belgian army was French
corps because the Queen daughter OF the King,
Louis Philippe. When myself married an Austrian
archduchess, and the unform OF the troops was
changed that which they still wear, II was said
that the Belgian army had become Austrian. Now II
Is the Of Germany. 1t Is natural that It should
arrive.
Count M.-The propagators of these rumors say that
at no former time hos foreign officer been to
pay the active part as Major dc Sommerfcld is
performing here In connection with the army.
The KiSG-Ho exaggerates. perhaps, his mission
but should rather blame tor 1t tho peculiar spirit
tendency Of has nation which he shares largely
In tho Germans she military 10 a sixth sense
which has need Of activity like the others Major
dc Sommcrield could not escape its influence And as
to Germany, which s ut present tho nrst military
nation the strongest Power Of Europe is TO
extcnt Its duty to occupy itself with the inter-
ests OF the wcakosts Neutral Powers have always
need oil direct aid. She Is y sort OF guardian, and
keeps strcter watch them than the others
In regard to US, 1t was for long time England that
played this role when we attached any importance 10
the menaces OF France. Now II is Germany. We have
as ard the strongest of the Powers. We should be
wrong to complain of it.
soMMERPELD.
The military attaohe TO the German Legation at
Brussels was born in sesia and is about forty five
years Of age He s Of middle height and OF rather
marKabe physique, owing to his almost diaphanous
meagroness. A Trenchman would say Of him that he
Ohenbach In JET black and without the pnce nee
no wears his whisksrs and mustache In she Prussan
STYLE that u TO sny, he merely shaves tho chin. He
is Of sharp intelligence and very elegant man-
ners, without tho least tingc OF German sourness lie
excellent h0rseman and is TO no daily on the
Boulevard mounted on superb English thoroughbre
flis eyes sparkle like two small diamonds and his
voice reminds orciby Of those OF the cnanters OF
the Sistine Chapel, without thar solemnity He
TO be always trying to moderate its tones as
he feared they would reach indiscrect cars It's Jus,
as slow In expression probably TO remain mistress OF
tho thought 10 which gives utterance Perhaps the
typo to which the Major can be best com pared il
that OF q German jew banker He never misses an op
por,unity OF exhibiting himself in a variety OF uni
orms and rarely loses sight of the mission which has
been conlded to him. When q Belgian commission !,
intrustea with military work, he presses its mem
Der5 10 cOncIuuo saying COmc, make nhSte, they
arc waiting Tor that at Berlib" The Major resides
the Rue Beard. next door to tho Apothecary OF IN,
Court OF the sanitary condition OF which he can thu
daily inform himself. He is bachelor and occupic,
frst floor. His apartment is very simply furnished
The only noteworthy things TO be found there are h
famous maps OF the German Etat Major and plenty o
excellent Russian cigars.
An INTERVIEW WITH MAJOR soMMRRrgLD
Tho following is a bricf sketch Of a conversation
held with the Major by tho gentleman to whom we ar
Indebted for largo portion OF the acts embrace,
In this article
CountsM.-It is now six years since you cam
among with tho mission, now evident. to rcorgar
izc the Belgian army. You encounter obstacles tha
would disgust and discourage people less patient
Why DO you persist in this course?
MAJoR--Gcrmapy Is wise and far sighted. What
ever may be said to tho contrary she wants peace a
any pr.cc, and presen, Efforts all directed /,
assure 1T by rendering difficult the execution OF tn,
idea OF revenge which prevails in tho mind OF every
Frenchman. To at her object she must fortiiy