Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1879-10-29
From Our Regular Correspondent
Our European Letter,
IONDON. Enp Oot M

press of both countries is largely occupied
in discussing the probabilities of war.
Not only the officers. but the official Jour-
mails of st. Petersburg and Berlin treat the
impending outbreak as only question of
time, and regard the imperial embracing
as only ceremonious handshaking before
the duel. The interview of the chancellors,
Bismarck and Gortschakoff, is viewed in a
similar light, while the overlures of the
latter 10 France are considered as full OF
significance. These startling "signs OF
the times are attracting universal atten-
ton and everybody is looking for casus
betli between the two great powers. So
far rs can discern there is no special
cause of any considerable magnitude, but
thousand little annoyances and irritations
on both sides, which, in the aggregate,
may lead 10 open hostiities. Besides,
when kings and cabinets are inclined to
go to war they can always find, or make,
reason for declaring it, as in the case Of
France and Germany. The question why
did the French attempt 10 go 10 Berlin has
never been satisfactorily answered and
probably tho emperor himself had moi
much clearer IDEAS on the subject than the
thoughtless troops that went SO gaily
marching out of Paris, shouting: a Berlin!
q Ber'ini The spirit of war was in the
air, in the hearts of the people, and, espe.
cially in the national assembly. A similar
feeling seems to exist at this moment both
in Russia and in Germany, and under such
hostile conditions there only wants an oc.
casion for war declaring itself. But the
odds are so vastly in favor of Germany
which can place at once 100000 troops
in the field, while Russia can hardly raise
half that number, that Gortschakof feels
the necessity Of powerful ally before en-.
gaging his country in war. In this emer.
gency he naturally looks to France and
begins by lattcring the vanity of the
grande nation, once the chief military
power of the world, and which should
again occupy that proud position. And
France. ambitious of revenge, listens to
the voice of the charmer and dreams oil
recovering her lost Rhine provinces
Meanwhile other powers will have some
thing to say on this question, especially
England and Italy, and if there is to be a
war between Russia and Germany, MOTH
ing can prevent the contlIgration from
spreading all over Europe. 1t will be the
greatest war the world has ever seen. No
peace doctrines or millennium illusions
can stay the tidal wave of blood. What
is the meaning of six millions of men per.
petually under arms if there is to be nc
more war! The more civilized the nations
become the more aggressive and bcliger.
ent they are. Christianity does not extin,
guish human passion. 1t scarcely modilies
human brutality. Moral forces canno,
stand against military forces, and abstract
right opposed to physical might, is 4 baby
contending with Il giant. 81 long as the
arts and industries, the science, education,
talent and revenues of the world are de-
voted to military purposes forming the
principal item in the budgets of all nations
war will continue to be one of the chie1
occupations of man, and greet warriors
will continue to be regarded rs the heroes
of the world.
A paragraph is going the rounds of the
papers to the effect that her majesty the
queen has sgnlied that she regards with
great dsfavor the profession of the Fash
ionable Beauty" If this be really the case
the pets Of the camera will have to amend
their ways, though what possible objection
the queen can have to seeing her lieoe
subjects in the shop windows cannot for
the life of me imagine, especially us al
the ladies in question are staunch friends
of II. r. H., the Prince of Wales Oae Of
the comic papers has droll account of ar
imaginary meeting of the husbands o.
these much bephotographed beauties Mr.
Lanstry, Mr.. Wheeler, Mr.. West, LORD
Dudley, ETC., in the drawing room of the
latter nobleman, They came to the con
clusion that her majesty is quite right in
her views, that they will throw into the
fire all further applications from photo
graphers, and after discussing the nuisance
of every cad having pictures of their wive.
stuck on their mantlepieccs or in theil
cheap mirrors, they join hands and dance
wildly to chorus around IL huge table
Tableau! The article in question is very
funny, and contains many sly hits ut The
discomforts of being married to sensation
beauty.
With Il view of utilizing even the short
sighted, the French minister of war ha!
authorized the wearing of spectaces Will,
on duty by such soldiers AS need them
The resolve is a good one, and moreover
affords useful precedent for many othe
classes besides French military officers lt
follow. 1t would not be altogether mad
yisabc for some of the political leaders Il
Versailles to adopt Il means of increasing
their powers of perception. In course 0
time they might learn to appreciate tina
public opinion of which for the momen
they seem utterly oblivious. Spectacles
if they would clear the moral vision, nigh
be usefully adopted by electors such a
those who lately tried to send Blanqui t,
parliament Even writers like the CONT
dIdeville, who has given 10 the worl,
some anecdotes about the Comic d,
Chambord, might wear sight-cearers, i
they would able him to see the smile
which such recials us his excite; Will
editors who write nonsense which is Jus
reported from the Republigue Francai
about the Observation-Disclosures confurenc,
could he excused if they forthwith adopte,
IA pair. Further afield. there are many i,
other countries TO whom spectacles mich