, 1891-05-20

uncle on to the latter's little scamp bed,
where it's occupant only had time to stretch
his limbs when he quietly and peacefully
breathed his last. and all the doctor, who
was at once sent for, could do, was to de-
clare that the grand old soldier had died
from sudden Stoppage of the hearts action.
This is precisely the kind of death which
Count Won MOltke had lOnged for, and his
cOnntrymen now join in envying him for his
happy end no less than in landing the
results of his long and glorious career. 1t
is pointed out as u curious coincidence
that, like the Emperor William and the
Emperor Frederick, Count Won Moltke died
on a Friday.
Count Won Moltke had reached the patN-
archal age of 81. He was already an old
man, he had passed the PSalmist'S span of
life, when his work was crowned with Visi-
BILE triumph in 1871. II was hardly to be
hoped that he would live 20 years longer
to guard and to guide the En- pire he had
helped so largely to build up. 1t was
hardly to be hoped that during 20 years
the military system of the German Empire,
continually examined aud continually per-
fected, would escape from exposure to the
rude ordeal of war. So it ha+ happened,
however. Count Won M0ltke lived to see
the German Empire not only secur ely e>tab-
lished, but acknowledged to be the central
factor in continental politics. He lived to
forget the days when Germany was, so to
speak, on trial. He lived to see almost all
the comrades OfhiS early struggles emshrined
in history, while he survived, III the active
service of the State, to the very end.
Since the resignation of his position the
old Field Marshal spent most of his time
at Kriesau. His nephew, Major Won MOltke,
and the family of the latter, resided with
him, and during the summer he was huSY
all day long in his grounds and gardens,
paying spt cial attention TO the culture OF
roses, of which he had one of the finest
collie ctiOns in Germany. Accompanied by
his grand nephPws and nieceS, Count Won
MOltke was often seen driving about, and
his friends aud neighbours assembled fire.
queutly under hS hOSpitable roof, for, in
spite OF his ninety years, he WAS the NEST
aniabIe and kindly of hosts, and, once he
threw off his habituAl silence, one Of the
most brilliant of CONVEX satiOnalistS. The
veterans personal appearance was still
strikingly youthful, and no one seeing the
slight, tall figure, the clOse-Ehaven face,
with the eyes Of brightest blue, and The
fresh, healthy complex on, would have
imagined that they belonged to a man of
patriarchal age, AS in his personal habits,
SO in his outward appea rance Count Moltke
was simplicity itself, and when in his open
carriage he drove about the streets of
Berlin his simple soldiers cap and uniform,
devoid of all unnecessary decorations, was
often taken by strangers for the attire of
any simple soldier. But Belliners Eeeded
no decorations to recognise their hero, and
never did he show his face but the men
respectfully lifted their hats, the ladies
bowed, aud the urchins followed him
shouting their emulation :"
The Grand Duke Nicholas of Russia died
on April Is az his residence in the Crimea,
after great suffering. His I'm perial High
ness exhibited signs Of mental arrangement
while commanding the troops manBuvring
before the Gear in Poland last autumn, and
was at ouce sent to the Crimea. He had alrea-
dy been under medical treatme ut for disease
of the face. Iu the Crimea he became at i'll
tervals raying mad, and had TO be placed un-
der the charge of strong b ands. he was
born in 1881, and began his acti We military
career in the Crimean war, when he directed
The work of fortityiDg the eastern front Ofthe
northern side of SebaStopol duling the siege
from October, 1854, to Febru AIRY, 1855. He
received his first Gross Of ST. George for the
Battle of Inkerman. After the war he be-
came chief of the Gu valry aud engineer troops
will TOdleben aS %CoauiutOr. and all the Ia