New-York tribune., 1901-12-29

~ '-4ls 80. u. L. PutnamS Sons.
Dutch = j4dhI5 LEE N = TOWN AND COUNTRY. By P.
q g =. PUtnan's Sons. - fF' '-'
OLD DDTCH TOWNS AND VILLAGES OF THE
- 1ESIRf16-Atits; ~ ~ BY W. J. Tuyn Illustrations
04aTto, Pp xvi. l6o. Philadelphia: j. B. IiTs5in-
eott Company.
1he author Of German Life in Town and
Country" has recognized the impossibiIitv Of
epltomizing in q book Of 300 pages all the sinh
jects which the title of his work suggests He
mas therefore selected-perhaps a little arbi-
uaTliy' but still very intelligently-a dozen
topics Of salient character. Some of these are
of rather general interest to Americans. At
THIS time especially one readily gives attention
to tie question of military service as it is ex
acted in foreign countries. The German citizen
Is hao-e TO the duty of killing his Christian
tor Aeathen) brethren of foreign nationality for
term Of tWenty-eight years, between seventeen
and forty-five, that is Military service is COM
pulsory for all excepting clergymen-actual and
potential-the sole bread winners of families,
and persons who are extremely short sighted
or narrow chested mutlated, dwarfed con-
sumptive or otherwise seriously incapacitated.
The first two years are spent in the active, or
standing, army. After this practical schooling
for war the soldier returns TO civil life and
becomes a member Of the reserve. To this he
belongs for four years, during which, as in the
remaining term Of his military obligation, he is
at stated times called into camp for a short
reIniuiscence of drill and marching. From the
reserve he passes into the Landwehr. on whose
roll he is listed for twelve years. Finally he
reaches the blessed haven Of the Landsturm,
intended only for defence against foreign in
ysders. Sergeants of a certain length Of
vice are acknowledged 10 have claim for
government position, in the constabulary. the
postal department, the customs or the national
railways Hence the stiff, mechanical personnel
and process Of the public services in Germany;
hence also a high sense of duty and honor;
hence punctuality, hence stability.
To the schools Of Germany Mr.. Dawson pays
high tribute. But from his storeh0use of knowl-
edge he might have spared US few crumbs of
information anent the excellent private schools
for girls which abound in Germany, the
exampled facilities for musical tuition, the con-
servatores the polytechnical institutions and
the commercial schools. Touching the question
of popular drama the author indicates curious
condition Of affairs. Such plays The Pride
OF Jennco," say, The Helmet Of Navarro"
are not given in Germany at all Plays of that
class are considered superannuated. This dis
closes a paradOXical trait in the TeUton. He
will endure and, to some extent, even admire
the military and student swash hbuCklers, duel
ling is more common in his country than any
where else; the Germans pride themselves on
having the most efficient lot of fighting men in
the world; everybody who legally do
wears a sword, including the higher postofce
and railway officials. But when it comes to
stage play which is not even real life, and in
which the audience takes no active part, then
the clash Of arms is only bore.
MI Hough is fond Of facts. He reminds US
that although only quarter as large as the
State Of New-York the Kingdom of the Neither
lands with but five million souls, beats either
Austria Italy, Russia or Spain in foreign trade,
and in internal commerce the rate per capita is
only second to that of the United States. Queen
Wilhelmina's East Indian colonies are hve times
as popul0us as the Philippines, and their yearly
imports and exports amount TO Sl6u,Uto,UtO-
In spite Of Hollands great prosperity and the
contentrnent Of her people, the country is slow
Hough rightly remarks. is a phegmatic, placid
body he is tn reverse of uncritical, and this
habit Of his inquire into everything that is
doubtful is in him united with the character
istic Of caution. He is canny. like the Scot
though less enterprising; he is cunning, like the
Yankee, but infinitely less clever when il comes
TO bluff" The Dutchman is great sceptic, in
secular as well as religious matters. This trait
naturally goes hand in hand with intellectually
and erudition strong feature, therefore, is
the great body of reading societies, devoted to
the study OF all branches Of literature including