The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1891-07-18
MAX GINsBURGER IN EUROPE.

MAX GlNsBURGER IN EUROPE
Nancy, It's Customs, and Its French Gar
risOn.
Strashourg. It's Customs, and Its German
Garrison.
The Great Cathedral and its Wonderful
Clock.
The Battlefield of Woerth and its Monu.
lnents.
STRAsBouRG, ALsACE, June 1S, 1891.
DEAR SENTINEL Leaving Paris on
the morning of the 18th of June, at
$50 o'clock, we arrived at Nancy at .
o'clock.
Nancy is a beautiful French city OF
about 10000 inhabitants, and having
three hours lie-over, we took in the
city. Here and there we saw immense
structures, and being told that they
were barracks, and obtaining permits
sion to enter one, we found hundreds
and hundreds of the young and vigor-
Gus men Of the country, going through
the manual of arms. They are what
are termed three-years men, who are
required to become soldiers. These
men are compelled to waste three years
of their lives at a salary tf five and a
half cents per day. / asked why there
were so many troops concentrated here;
and answer was that this is near the
boundary line of Germany; hence the
massing of troops Again our hearts
yearned for the glorious old flag, and
we said ''long live young America -
There was in progress what they term
a Fete (Festival), in the public Park.
Flying overhead were the French and
American flags. Fully 10000 people
were congregated. On the grounds
were booths Of every description. Here
were the old French women with their
little white caps, and girls with frocks
to their knees; the old men and women
singing and dancing, the young nioy-
ing themselves in every imaginable
way. This. they told me. lasted 3Odays.
Leaving Nancy we arrived at Stras-
boury at 10 o'clock P. NJ. the same day:
and being fatigued, we retired. About
six o'clock in the morning we were
awakened by the tramp of men. Look
ing out OF the window OF our hotel, |
beheld a sight which at first I could
not realize; I thought it was a dream.
Marching by were regiment after reg
iment Of infantry; then came cavalry :;
then artillery. l asked what this
meant-if it was war? | was informed
that the German garrison at StrasbOurg
was only 10000 men ; that it was a
possession taken from France. and near
the frontier; that this was simply a
parade. It made me sick, as | stepped
out. to see the private salute the cor
poral. the corporal the sergeant, and
SO on till it reached the highest rank.
Wherever you go, there stands the
sentry. nevery saloon, hotel, or other
place of amusement, is seen either the
private soldier with his bayonet, Or
the officer with his sword all this in
time of peace. In every town, village
or hamlet throughout Germany, where
I have been, you find the soldier. Just
think of it. Germany, to-day, has con-
stantly under arms one million OF men.
It is not that they desire war, they say,
but to prevent it; for with such a stand
ing army, they hold in fear the balance
OF Europe.
After leaving Nancy, where I saw
the French soldier, and coming here,
where l find the German, did not Won
der at the easy victory gained by Ger
many in their last contest. The French
soldier is small in size, poorly clad,
and looks gloomy; while the Germans
are nearly all large, robust fellows, we'll
clad ,and ''every inch soldiers as an
Englishman who was with us expressed
it.
Strasbourg is city Of about 10000
inhabitants. Right through the city,
and almost around it, runs the river Ill.
It would amuse you to see the men, wo-
men and children fishing right in the
middle of a big city. Along the river
may be seen hundreds upon hundreds
of women who have little wash-houses
and wash for the public. Riding
along the main street, I counted 140
washing. Here you will find the wo-
men saving wood upon the street, car
rying mortar, pulling parcel wagons,
cutting stone, and doing various other
kinds Of labor, which is performed en-
tirely by men in our country.
The river Ill is Of great service in
case of war. It is SO arranged that
they can raise the tide and flood the
country beyond the fortification SO as
to make 1t difficult for an army to at
tack the city. A solid brick wall sur
rounds the city, with gates at intervals
to allow people to pass in and out.
When the city is attacked these gates
are closed, and they can resist for a
long time.
One of the great objects Of interest
here Is the Cathedral called Munster,
which has the wonderful clock, sup
posed to be the finest piece OF mechan-
ism ever made. At about ll.30 O'Clock,
A. NJ, YOU see throngs Of people enter
the Church; for at exactly II you see
its working. At one minute to II a
large cock, that stands on the left as
YOU enter, flops his wings and crows,
As the clock begins to strike II, Christ
appears. Then pass the apostles, one
by one, who bow, and Christ blesses
them. After they have passed they re-
turn again, bow, and are again blessed:
The cock then hops his wings and
crows. and all is still. From all over
Europe people come to see this wonder
f,1l clock.