The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1901-12-12


rlors and statesmen makes a man of
enthusiasm of her most stolid subject.
and we can hardly think of Ger
many without Bismarck-the Iron
Chancellor. Rugged, substantial, like
the very foundation of the en-
plro itself, he stands out man
among men and one truly great. 1t
has been said that opportunity makes
the man, and it is true that he had
many opportunities thrust upon him.
Opportunity may do this, but too many
OF them may cause the downfall of the
most conservative of men, and it was
his ability in great crisis to deal with
that alone that made him the confidant
and chosen counsellor of king. Much
has been written, and much more
might be written about this remarka-
BILE man, and the one chapter alone in
our Chautauqua studies is we'll worthy
of volume.
Germany's system of education is, in
way, inferior to our own, altho she
possesses highly talented men, both in
her schools and universities. OF the
latter she has twenty-five of very high
standard. They aim almost entirely to
the development Of the brain alone,
but in this too they are becoming ad-
vanced, and have already made COM
parsons, unfavorable to themselves, in
which they discern that physical recre-
alton is in itself necessary branch of
education.
In commercial lines in the past fif-
teen years Germany has had wonder
full growth, not due to the cheapness of
the article she advances or exports, but
to the demand for that article what
ever it is at that time. Trade condi-
tions change rapidly, and it is due
partly to the readiness with which the
Germans adopt these new changes that
they have been able to so advance.
Another factor that must be consid.
cred is their excellent technical schools.
They possess superior education, in
dividually, in whatever line engaged,
and their various trades are carefully
learned. This is particularly noticea-
bic of them in England and our own
country, and they are rapidly invading
foreign lands. They possess an excel
lent railway system, and their con-
veniences are far ahead of those of
England. They are taking one
stride at least ahead of America: The
taking up of their railroads by the
state. In Prussia they are nearly all
owned by the government and are un-
der direct control of the minister
of public works. They will undoubt-
edly control the entire system in time.
Would that Uncle Sam controlled those
here. [ think the change would be
apparent in our pockets for one place.
The press shows as marked an i'm.
provement as any other line, and altho
not to be taken as criterion, perhaps,
as it would be in this country, yet it is
decidedly modern in its views. The
papers are violently partisan politically,
and call each other liars and other
endearing terms with the reckless
abandon of Americans.
like the German family. 1 envy
the father the peace and contentment
he takes in his surroundings-the air
of solid comfort he imparts. He makes
you feel that there are things besides
the almighty dollar in this world. The
mother, / respect and admire for her
home-like ways, her love and care for
her family. Our ideas of German
family run anywhere from six to
twenty-six members. They are truly
a prolific people, but what of it? God
likes children and he must love a
nation of them. But after all is said,
Germany is becoming Americanized