New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1879-10-08
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Berlin Letter.
Irregular Correspondent
Berlin. Sept. 2nd, 1879.

befllns Sept. ina, 1919.
Nine years ago exactly tonight
the heights around the fortified city
of Sedan, in France, near the Bel
gian frontier, were redeemed with
the glowing watchfres of over 200,
600 victorious German troops, and
as King William of Prussia, with
his Staff, rode through the lines OF
his invincible legions encompassing
the foe in the town below, he was
greeted by loud and enthusiastic
shouts which sounded the death
knell ofone Empirer and heralded
the birth or regeneration Of another.
On the End, Of September, 1870,
the COMMUNICATING nations OF
Europe entered on distinctly new
and hopeful phase of existence with
the House of Hohenzollern at their
head, and that day, therefore,
throughou all Germany, but espe.
cially in Prussia, has come to be re.
garded as the most solemn and sig.
nificant festival in the whole nation.
al calendar. Here in Berlin itself
the day has been celebrated with no
abatement of the usual observances.
The eager money-changers forsook
the Bourse, the schools were closed,
a solemn litugy was recited in the
Cathedral, the citizens ran up many.
colored flags above their dwell.
lings, and We're treated to patriotic
music from choral band stationed
high upon the town.house tower;
the streets were thronged with holi-
day makers, monster military con.
certs have been inaugurated, and
even as write the night air is deaf
eningly alive with the clang of brass
and the noise of exploiting rockets,
bearing no faint resemblance to the
roar Of those multitudiorous guns
which nine years ago to-day engirdl.
ed the city of Sedan, bringing in
evitable doom to the Man Of Des-
ting and nearly 100, 900 brave troops
commanded by a Marshal of France.
But the leading feature in to.day's
festive programme was undoubtedly
the gread parade, when the Emperor
passed in review the united garris-
ons of Berlin, Potsdam, and Span.
dau, forming the army Corps of the
Guards. Ever since the fateful End
of September, 1870, a military de-
monstration Of this kind has signal
lied each anniversary of that day.
At early morn the streets here began
to echo with the tramp and clang of
troops marching to-. the parade
ground south Of the city. The En-.
peror's Palace, Inter den Linden,
was early beseiged by an enthusias-
tic crowd which had gathered to
| witness the ceremonious reception
Of the various colors and standards
BY detachments of the various regi-
| ments. These honpred symbols,
when not in use, are deposited in.
| His Majesty's apartments, where
they are displayed as the most pre-.
cious and suggestive ornaments that
can strike the eye of visitor. Much
enthusiasm was created by the ar.
rival of Prince William, eldest son
of the Crown Prince (who but lately
finished his studies at Bonn), at the
head Of a company of the sFoot
Guards, to fetch away the riddled
and ragged colors of various regi-
ments, and the old Emperor's fea
lures beamed with visible satisfac.
ton as he beheld his martial grand
son proudly STEPPED off by the side of
the helmeted men chosen to guard
the boarded treasurers. Marching
without confusion, all the regiments
had converged from every quarter of
the parade. ground, and shortly after
nine the whole corps of Guards were
standing marshalled like a couple OF
broad and massive walls to receive
the Emperor. The troops, as usual,
were marshalled up in two long and
PARALLEL Arguments; the Infantry
all in front, the Cavalry, Artillery,
and trains behind. The day was
autumn. like and lovely the sun be-
ing unclouded enough to make the
FURNISHED helmets aud breastplates
of the Cuirassiers seen in the dis.
lance glitter like a silver sea, and
there being enough wind also to
cause the black-and white pennons
Of the Uhlans to stream away while
the soldiers stood forest.like and
mot!onless. Punctual]y upon the
stroke of ten His Majesty, in car.
riage and four, drove on to the field,
accompanied by the Empress, and
Crown Prince. Immediately mount.
ing, the Emperor, followed by a
numerous and brilliant suite, in
which the uniforms of almost every
civilized country, not excluding
China and Japan, were visible, con.
tered up to the right Of the Infantry,
when.the whole line presented arms
and burst ont into jubilant music.
And as the Emperor slowly rode
along the front, casting a keen eye
on the bearing of his favorite troops,
they vented their enthusiasm for
their beloved chief in loud and loyal
hurrahs. His majesty having passed,
each regiment, with muto and ma
chine like regularity, broke into col.
umn and began to take up its ap-
pointed position for the march past.
Having inspected the whole Of the
Infantry on the field, the Emperor
rode back in similar manner along
the front of the Cavalry and Artil.
lery regiments, after which he con.
tered to the salutlng point and the
march commenced. This was done
twice by the whole corps, the first
time by the infantry in columns Of
cOmpanies in omen order and tho