Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-06-14
A REMINIsCENCE OF THE FRANC0-PRUs.
SIAN WAR
TRANSLATED FOR THE STAR FROM THE GKaMAl
OF ALEXANDER WEIMANN

OF ALEXANDER WEIMANNJ
| The truce which North France had concluded
| had not stipulated for the South. wreck of
the French army still held possession OF small
bit of territory on the Swiss border and the
depredations of the Franconians terrified the
department OF Jura. Long stretches Of forest
and mountain gorges formed secret hiding place
for single assassins as we'll as fanatic bands in
| cited by national hatred, and scarcely day
went by in which news was not brought to he
general in command of the murder on the march
OF some poor sick fellow struggling In the rear,
the overthrow of some rider, the robbery Of an
outpost or something of the kind. The iron
general who had in command the German divi-
sion In the department of Jura had ordered the
severest reprisalS to check the outrages in order
to awaken the interest of the province to sup
press these bands. Amongst others, he issued
the following order:
yesterday corporal Of X. Regiment was
murdered on the road from Pontariier to Lous
lie Saunier. AS punishment for this aSsaSsna-
eaa e
village fifteen francs per capita. This contri.
butt n must be raised on the east side of the
province by the X. brigade. On the west side by
district was assigned by the Brigades to
eaca regiment, the regiments divided the dis
cts among the battallions, and in our battall-
tenant Wendt. Wendt was very much out of
humor at the order. Himself raised among far
mers he knew how hard it would be to collect
such an insignificant sum In such times. es-
pec1ally In the villages, and how dreadfully
severe 1t would come upon the poor people to
seize their cattle. lie resolved, therefore to
present himself before the comm ander OF his
battalion: Having done so he declared that he
did not think himself adapted to rightly enforce
such command: that If the execution OF it
were carried out to the letter he positively
could NOT stand the wpnnnp lar, rot on
among the poor women and children that it
would cause. The Major laughed heartily aud
assured him that the order was intended to take
strongest hold on the French in order to check
their sneaktng outrageS; the Lieutenant need
not carry 1t out to the letter and could levy the
amount OF the contribution according to what
De. Wendt was rather better satisfied with this
and In the afternoon marcaed along the road
toward LOuS lie Sauner with seventy infantry
ana ten dragons In order to turn into one Of
those beautiful provincial roads for which
nearly all the departments have to thank their
much abused Napoleon Third.
few statistical hints from the lines of the
command regarding the villages to be f1ned
were given to the young officer, and the first
town he came to. which made quite an ap-
about six hundred Inhabitants The Leuten,
ant placed guards at all the roads leading from
the village, left the detachment under arms in
had the Bai1in Of the Village called OUT II" He
ordered the rather distinguished man who ap.
peared, looking suspicious and gloomy to call
several chdren ran IN e s DreSty
tne village, and In few moments old and
young began to assemble before the court
ticipatton by whispered questions among them
selves: At length the corpulent Citrate ap-
peared-which did not better matters much In
the Lieutenant's eyes-and the assemblage was
Wendt stepped In the midst of the peasants
ana stated briefly that he had received orders
thousand francs; that he would allow the Bal
iii half hour to collect it; that In case OF fail
ure to give the amount demanded he would
s s their cattle; that such fines were being
levied all over the province as punishment for
the murder of PruSSian soldier the day be-
fore. Then he turned quickly on his heel and
"Out with your cartridges. If this battalion
charges 1t charges with loaded muskets."
Breech-plugs snapped back and cartridges
dropped In all along the line.
"Order arms" and he COOlly lit cigar
There was one moment of GREATNESS amaze
ment on the part OF the Frenchmen, there they
broke into groups and held whispered converse
violent, but the Citrate would step between
them and tmperatively quell the excitement.
AT length be turned to the officer. It was
parties that German should be spoken, although
the peasants understood not q word of our
mother tongue.
"Sir," said the Citrate, Gin the very best OF
times this village could barely raise the sum
you demand, now 1t is simply impossible to get
tenth OF 1t. Every Genuine we can possibly
"ise VIII Lon only amount to 1ive hundred francs"
indeed difference. / demand nine thou
sand and you offer FIVE hundred francs? What
90 You mean, sir?" the hot blood mounted 10
Sergeant Bernhard" he turned to an officer
standing near, 'take the section on the left
a ACE a ts al the cattle you can find In the viii
The Sergeant marched OF and the result of
MS work was very soon apparent. great
hitner and yon through the streets. The Curate
with shrug OF the shoulders, turned to the
Baillff. The elders of the village spoke in low
lent. The action Of the soldiers out on duty
evidently tried their endurance to the utmost
AS they comprehended the design in driving out
their cattle their Indignation reached It's height,
and the Bafl1ff, with subdued rage turned to
the officer.
You will take our cattle away from US, Mon
Sieur?"
The distress and Indignation of the pc asauts
deeply touched the SympathieS Of the appar-
entity unmoved farmer In uniform, but yester-
day s assassination and the endless bandit out
RACES called for vengeance and suppression.
Wendt frOwned darkly.
Certainly, Monsieur, he replied shortly.
"Then for heavens sake tell u.s." said the
Balli1 resOlutely, taking new STEP "what Is
the lowest sum that you will let us off with?"
Monsieur" replied the Lieutenant, quietly
ana ana slowly informing every word, this is the
with the elders and then tell me what this fine
appearing village Is In position to raise. II 1t
sufficeS me will accept 1t, II not, will uure-
lentessly drive before me the collected cattle
OF the town. Now. consider this, all, before you
speak. But spare me from further intercourse
with the Curate. / will have nothing to do
with him." and he contemporary knocked the
ashes from his cigar.
But he started the next moment as a shrill
cry OF distress from woman's voice fell upon
his ear. He turned toward thevillage street
and saw young girl OF remarkable beauty
rushing out OF a house from whence soldier
had just driven cow. She burst into tears as
she turned appealingly to the sergeant, aud
then, as he answered with shrug. OF the
shoulders and an 81 cannot understand you" in
bad French, came directly to the Lieutenant.
"NOw, what's to pay" thought Wendt In dis
may, which rather deepened as he saw the
Bailln approach him at the same moment.
Monsieur" said the latter, 1--WE will en-
deayOr TO raise two thousand francs"
81 suppose that will do" replied Wendt,
happy to have concluded SO disagreeable
duty, "but hasten about it, please." He turned
very much relieved at heart, toward the maiden
whose fearful eyes were fixed wlStfully On him.
what can / do for you, Mademoiselle?" he
asked In gentle tone, very much touched by
her grief and beauty.
ION, Monsieur" she cried, her lips trem-
bling and tears rising anew In her great brown
eyes. they have taken away the only cow my
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