The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1879-10-23
OUR EUROPEAN LETTER.
[FRoM our HEduLAR CORRESPONDENT

the conferences which have recently
taken place between Prince Bismarck
and Count Audrassy at Gastein. Sue.
ceeding, as they do, after so brief All ia.
terval, the interviews held In the same
place by the German aud Austrian En-
perOrs, these confidential meetings, one
Of which is reported to have lasted five
hours aud half, may fairly be regard
ed as significant OF further clOseness and
cOrdislity in the relations that have for
some years past existed existed between
the two great Empires Of Central Eur
ope. 1t seems highly probable that an
| intimate mutual understanding, virtu-
ally equivalent to an alliance, may have
been arrived at by William and Francis
Joseph, who are not only connected by
family ties, but by the bonds Of sincere
personal esteem. Aud it may well be
that the details OF the AustrO-G German
programme OF common action TO be
taken in case certain potential contin-
gencies should actually accrue in the
future, have been fully discussed aud
even definitely settled by the German
Chancellor and the Austro- Hungarian
Premier during their protracted tete-d-
tetes at Gastein. An Austro- German
alliance has intrinsic advantages strong
ly recommending Il to the sovereigns
aud the peoples Of both the empires i'm
mediately concerned, while it presents
no cause for alarm or dissatisfaction in
the rest OF civilized Europe. The com
pact, II attained, is not likely to be
greeted with welcome or approval by
Russia, to whose aggressive projects IL
would oppose an insurmOuntable bar
rier; but that circumstances would only
enhance our appreciation OF its value az
a guarantee OF peace, order and progress
TO the culture-loving people Of the Old
World
The retirement Of Prince William, the
eldest son Of the German Crown Prince,
and Her Majesty's eldest grandson, from
the University Of Bonn, was made the
occasion Of a students fete on a grand
scale, in which the native population
Joined with much spirit, so far as the
decoration Of public aud private build
ings aud attendance as spectators in
windows aud on balconies WAS con-
cerued. A procession was formed on
the Alte Zoll, headed by the band Of the
Emperor's Own Hussars, who had
douned the Tegimental dress Of the his
toric DragOous Of Bsyreuth for the oc-
casiOn. Students on horseback followed,
bearing the cross and wearing the uni
forms Of the three principal corps-the
Palatians, in violet, white and red the
Prussians, in black, white and black,
and the Hsnsests, in white and scarlet.
\ file OF open carriages, drawn by four
horses each, followed. The Prince occu-
pied the principal seat in the first car
riAge, aud wore the cOlors Of the Prus-
sian corps. The procession having made
the tour Of the town, the gentlemen,
young aud old, who had taken part in
10, assembled for "commers," in which
Herr Alexander de Claer, a brother Of
Count Moltke's aide-de-camp, presided.
Toasts were drunk with all honor to the
Sslamander " Of German students, to
the Emperor, the Imperial family, and
the Prince. The Prince, who has COM
pleted his fifth term at the University,
replied with perfect self command. He
said Gentlemen. l thank you first Of
all for the salamander you have so
heartily drunk to the health OF my
grandfather, aud then of me, and can
not but express the deep pain feel at
the thought of having to leave your
joyful ranks so soon. thank you for
having received me as q corps student.
| have learned t0 know the spirit ami
mating the fighting clubs as well at
their duel grounds as in their social
gatherings. 1t is good and right
honest German mood, and | will remain
true to the spirit Of this corps till the
end Of my tife." The Academic Rector
| in his address remarked that Prince
| William, during his stay at the Uni
versity, had shown all the good quail
ties by which his ancestors bad become
great. The young Prince will now COM
mence his travels, aud afterward enter
the First Foot Guards.
The result Of an inquiry, instituted by
Committee appointed by the Prussian
/ Hsndelburg, into prison work and its
[ influence upon free labor, has just been
published. Delegates from over hun
dred Chambers Of Commerce took part
10 this inquiry, aud, after holding a
number OF slttings, during several
months, the Committee arrived at the
conclusion that it is impossible TO limit
the work Of prisoners to articles which
would not interfere with free labor, ''sll
that the State can do" 10 the opinion
Of the Committee, being to organize
prison labor in such a way as TO mini
mize the competition with ordinary
trades" Several Chambers of Com
merce having represented that the
wages paid for prison labor were very
low, the Committee state that although
they are nomiually lower than those
given to ordinary artisans, they are in
reality as high considering the quality
Of the work done. In the course Of the
inquiry, statistics were produced relat-
ing to the manufacturing trade Of Prus-
sla, the number Of persons employed in
hand trades being 2, ,24B, ,959, and In large
l---.s...o-fo. L o-o Ocn -. -.