The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-10-28
KING o. pavss,A's aso,Mssr.
The Great oreuadiers the Pride of
Freasrick william.

neum remarks tnat tariyle Old his best 10
whitewash the character of Frederick
william I. of Prussia. but not with much
success. II was urged on his behalf that
he was a faithful husband and a patriot:
hut his confluence was constitutional and
his patriotism was a cloak for personal
vanity. Altogether he was one OF the
most repulsive and odious monarchs OF the
18th century. Mr.. Hutchinson. whose in
dustry I'm research Is conspicuous. has de-
picted the man In his true colors. viz. as
a boor. a miser. a liar. a braggart. a cow
ard. a drunkard and totally devoid OF
principle. The author takes as his special
subject Frederick Williams mania or the
subject of tall grenadiers- on these giants
his affections were concentrated. but he
did not neglect the rest Of the army.
Tainted. when serving with the allies in
Flanders, on the Inability Of Prussia 10
maintain wen 15.o0o men without the aid
of foreign subsidies. he replied that he
would one day show that she could sup
port double that number unaided. by rig
orous impressment and INSCRIPTIONS Kid
naming abroad he more than justified his
boast. having by 1910. the year Of his
death, brought up the strength OF his
forces to 80 90 men. During the 2S years
of his reign he impressed or enrolled out
side his dominions No fewer than 5000
men. Yet this for those DAYS formidable
army was never used save once. As the
author says of him:
His army, though always ready 20 take
the neld at eight days warning. was never
used. Often he took up arms. never once.
after the third year Of his reign. when
ended his brush with sweden. did he go
20 war. The yearly visitation OF Hanover
by the Georges filled him with spprehen-
sion and rage when his recruiters were
put out OF the way. as they too often
richly deserved TO be. he threatened con-
disn vengeance. Pot-valiant to the point
of rawin his sword. he flashed IL furi-
ousIy in the Eyes OF his temporary enemy.
and. sobered by the demonstration. re-
turned the blade to Its scsbbsrd unbap-
tized. An open nlesard and a covert cow
ard, he clustered i'm his own dominions.
leased. scoided and bullied his neighbors
sbouts matters too trivial to involve him
in consequences. but could never be per-
suaded either by his impetuous temper
his inordinate pride. or his most cherished
interests. TO make an attempt likely 10
he attended with danger or expense.
But " not fond OF war the king was de-
voted to soldering. and was great at IN
spectlons. on one of these occasions. be-
cause bleeding when heated by passion or
drink relieved him.. he ordered the entire
regiment TO be let bleed on the parade
ground. he himself first submitting to the
lancet. As Mr.. Hutchinson Observes:
NEVER OgIOT0 VI alAFI hh
william cause SO much blood to be shed"
His passion for tall soldiers to
madness THE outward and visible sign
Of this singular form OF dementia was a
regiment styled vsriously the Gr''t Grei-
adiers. the BiR Prussian Blue etc. These
giants he obtained by KIDNAPPING. CT ca
iolery, or In the shape of presents rom
foreign monarchs, not only from Prussia.
but from every country in Europe. Fred
erlck william used TO ssy: He wlo senos
me tall soldiers can do with ne Whatever
ne likes and there IL no u that tris
was the surest road to his favor, ana
monarchs and private individuals We'd
with each other In sending the king of
pru ssia recruits OF abnormal stature.
some private observation-disclosures as
well as subjects-made considerable pc
cuniary profit BY the transactions. others
thus traf1cked in human flesh In order TO
obtain some favor. The KIDNAPPING prac-
tees Of the king Of Prussia's recruiting
agents often got both themselves ana
their master into trouble with the au-
thorities of foreign countries; but their
employer stood by them. and generally
succeeded I'm bullying them out or the
scrape. The stories told in these pages
would be incredible II not thoroughly au-
thenticated. His ambassador TO nglan
BorckeD actively engaged In the practice
of enticing over by false pretenses tai
English and Irishmen to Berlin. where
the were forced to become Prussian
Grenadiers. Two tall men of the English
Guards were Induced to desert and enter
the king of Prussia's regiment of giants.
Peter the Great sent patches OF tall men
10 Prussia as II they were cattle. In GER
man states men living near the frontier
were carried of by fraud, IL possible
not. by force. In France and Holland
man hunters were often at work, but 81
some peril. Two Prussian officers. caught
red handed. were shot by the Dutch fftcr
due trial. In France recruiting agents
were sometimes tortured and imprisoned.
In England one or two were imprisoaei.
But not only by foreign e~overnments vas
this slave trade hampered. In the truf-
sian dominions themselves and on the
frontier the kldnapers were ostcn sum
marily dealt with by desperate if"th-
ants.
Hence ARRAYS with the ~pessantry OF
this country or that came TO he ~ ain est
daily occurrence, and out IT these en-
counters the recruiting clan. W
standing their superiority OF arms ana
training. seldom emerged with whole
skins. Scores bit the dust I'm The hot skir-
mishes which kept the Polish frontier wet
with blood. Hamburgers knocked them
on the head In such numbers. AMI nfA 20
little conjunction, as to forfeit tneir very
chances OF salvation. for when they ASKED
that a Berlin chaplain might oe sent &c
Bltd1h a. t'Rf
fused point lank. alleging as a reason
that they had no scruples In fpeggins foi
his preachers. but they made a devil or 2
row n his officers laid hands on a rassillS
recruit
.'The field laborers OF the Old MARI
moved them down with scythes and hack
ed them TO pieces with billhooks. Th'
people Of Builders. lying In walt behint
dykes and hedgerows. dropped them hk'
cartridges. often killing a brace or so OF
a morning before breakfast. They wer'
the COMMON game. as they were the com
mon pest. OF Central Europe"
The discipline of the Great Grenadieri
was so harsh. nay brutal. their hope o
f~reedom-even though they might be kid
naped foreigners-so small, that they wer'
driven 10 desperation. Twice did they at
tempt the kings life at reviews, often di'
they commit or plan arson and even muir
der was twlce committed i'm order 10 Sc
cure freedom by death. The height %
these giants was a minimum OF six feei
and those less than six feet were cOnSfd