The Newtown bee., 1897-05-07

one of the 24 students who formed the club. The poor fellow was married man. It was too much to expect. One of them would have been sure to hit him. The matter was referred to the regulars, and I was on the court. Now be sharp with him. said the colonel, because the emperor likes to grant pardon That IS well enough, said to myself, but suppose the emperor is in bad temper and I and another young officer pronounced in his favor. Then the colonel began to rage, and all the other officers condemned the man. The em- peror pardoned the professor; but what farce is such a court. And the reserve cour ts are more stupid even than the regular ones. One more word let me say; dueling would stop were it not for the emperor. True, he has put some limit to it. Permission has now to be granted before 8 duel takes place. But will the fact that he is now the licenser of duels tend to bring them into disrepute? I say the officers do not want them. I have been sent as second 30 times, and every time have arranged the matter. They are sick of dueling, and they detest the court of honor."
 "And these reserve ceurts," l asked, 'how do they operate?'
 "Well for one thing the retired officer, who is at all independent of progressive, finds himself set round about by inform CTS. He may be summoned for almost anything. The code of honor, you must remember, is not written one, and any thing savorlpg or disloyalty may be enough to strip man of his uniform and brand him in the eyes of his fellow citizens. I will give you two cases. There was mayor in town of Pomer- am who was accustomed to let the town hall freely to all who applied for it. He let it to the social democrats amongst others. For doing so he, being reserve officer, was brought before the court of honor, and ordered to take off his uni form. Another old officer, member of the Reichstag, opposed an increase of the army in a speech to his constituents. He was brought before the court and treated in the same way. No one is safe. The whole system tends to keep the military spirit alive where it is least needed and to set up false code of civil life. The professor and the univer- sity man who have served as officers put their rank first on their cards and their profession next. That is nothing much sr ps,k mill nI khok such code of honor as I have des- cribed is not desirable in civil life."
 But tell me,'' I said, ''is the system only confined to the army?"
 ''There is the same thing in the navy and the emperor is trying to bring it into civil life. The first attempt is being made with the doctors. Many of these have served in.the army, so that there is a nucleus to work upon. He also wants to introduce the courts amongst the official and professional classes gener- ally. Of course if that happens, no man will be able to call his soul his own"
 twill he succeed?"
 "Ah, you must ask some one else that question" said the lieutenant with laugh. II shall never go back to the country. Perhaps he will come over here. Why not? Is he not the eldest son of the eldest daughter of your queen That is not the line of succession, eh |! There are those about him who hold that such is not the emperor's view"
 ''Thar will d, MT Rhein,' I said, one another in this country"