The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-05-22

came the fashion for officers of the
guards to wear patched gloves. But
not old ones-oh, no. They bought new
gloves, made holes in them, and had
them patched in precisely the same
places as the emperor"
THE OLD EMPEROR.
"And you say the old emperor intend
ed well In his policy. and was merci-
ful where a mans honor was not really
concerned?"
Certainly. / will give you an in
stance. A reserve officer who was pro-
fessor at Bohn was set upon by stu
dents. The reserve court of honor
found him guilty because he refused
to light every one of the "a students
who formed the club. The poor fell
low was a married man. 1t was too
much to expect. One of them would
have been sure to hit him. The mat
ter was referred to the regulars and
was on the court Now, be sharp with
him. said the colonel, because the en-
peror likes to grant pardon. That is
well enough, said to myself; but SUPP
pose the emporer is in a bad temper
and l and another young officer pro-
nounced in his favor Then the colonel
began to rage, and all the other officers
condemned the man. The emperor par
doned the professor; but what a farce
is such a court. And the reserve courts
are more stupid even than the regular
ones. One word more let me say;
dueling would stop were it not for the
emporer. True, he has put some limit
to 1t. Permission has now to be granted
by him before a duel takes place. But
will the fact that he is now the licenser
of duels tend to bring them into dis
repute? 1 say the officers do not want
them. have been sent as second 80
times, and every time 1 have arranged
the matter. They are sick of dueling,
and they detest the court of honor"
80 o. RESERVE COURTS.
"And the reserve courts" 1 asked,
how do they operate"
well for one thing the retired Off
Ger, who is at all independent or pro-
gressive, finds himself set round about
by informers. He may be summoned
for almost anything. The code of
honor, you must remember, is not q
written one, and anything savoring Of
disloyalty may be enough to strip a
man of his uniform and brand him in
the eyes of his fellow-c citizens. [ will
give you two cases. There was a may
or in, a town of Pomerania who was
accustomed to let the town hall free
ly to all who applied for it. He let ii
to the social-democratS amongst 9TH
ers For doing so he, being a reserve
officer, was brought before the court of
honor, and ordered to take off his uni
form. Another old officer, a member
of the Reichstag, opposed an increase
of the army in a speech to his constit-
uents. 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 a false
code of civil life. The professor and
the university men who have served
as officers put their rank first on their
cards and their profession next. That
is nothing much in itself. But You will
understand that such a code of honor
as 1 have described is not desirable
in civil life"
But tell me-" said sis 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 be-
ing made with the doctors. Many of
these have served in the army, so that
there is nucleus to work upon. He
also wants to introduce the courts
amongst the official and professional
classes generally. OF course If that
happens, no man will be able to call
his soul his own"
will he succeed?"
"Ah, you must ask some one else that
| question:" said the lieutenant with a
| 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 sue
| cession, Ell? There are those about
him who hold that such is not the en-
peror's view"
THAT will do, Mr.. Rhein," I said
Remember that we do not challenge
one another in this country"