The Irish standard., 1905-08-12
Socialism, Ripe in the Ancient Kingdom, Has
Destroyed All Respect For State
and Religion.
In Berlin and Dresden a Church Bell is
Almost Sure to Mean Either the Angelus
or a Call to Mass.

The following interesting letter to
the Western Watchman by the Rev.
DR.. Phelan, the editor of that paper,
was written on the Fourth of July last
in Dresden, the capital of the ancient
Kingdom of Saxony. The letter is full
OF thoughtful suggestions and pictures
in a few words the new Germany with
it's ideals and it's aspirations. The
Rev. DR.. Phelan is close observer
and especially gifted in his ability to
portray what he observes. The letter
is as follows:
This is the Glorious Fourth, and 1
am in the capital of Saxony. 1 was
surprised to see the Stars and Stripes
so much in evidence in the streets, all
the more so because tourists from
America are not now in the habit OF
placing Dresden in the itinerary. Yet
there are many Americans resident
here, and Consul General Gaffney is
a great favorite; and after learning
that the latter was to give grand re-
ception in the evening, saw the rea-
son for the display of American flags.
Besides, this country is one of those
monarchies which exist solely by the
suffrance of the voters, and merely
until these can agree on some form OF
popular government. The king is the
merest figure-head, and, the best of it
is, he fully appreciates the fact. Poor
man! He is trying his best to make
himself popular. He walks through the
street accompanied by his children.
He rows in the Elbe and goes in swim
ming at the free public baths among
the poor of the city. They took sides
with his wife, ascribing her disgrace
full flight with the tutor of her chill
dren to desperation brought on by his
brutal misconduct. I learn that this
is not just view to take of her esca-
pade. The king is a weak character,
but is not bad man. He goes to the
sacraments and on the morning of
her flight they both went to the Altar
together. It was not her first offense,
by any means. Now that all the facts
are known, they claim that she was
crazy. Well; leave it so. The poor
king lives a lonely life, and has his
poor, terribly orphaned children al
ways with him. The pepole of the
city miss the court functions, and
want to know why, if the king will not
take back his wife, he does not marry
another and give them some court
balls They do not see what business
the Pope has meddling in the political
affairs of Saxony. Still thoughtful
people pity the king, and they tell me
he is growing in popularity. His
brother, the priest, never visits Dres-
den, and devotes himself scrupulously
to his professional duties in the Uni
yersity of Freiburg. There are 10000
Catholics in Dresden; while their
number in the whole kingdom is not
more than 100000. There is titular
bishop here. The Court church is the
only one in the heart of the city; but
there are four others in the new quar-
ters of the town. There are ten priests
connected with the church; but they
are mostly engaged looking after the
scattered groups of Catholics in the
interior of the kingdom. They seem
to be very busy and devoted body Of
men.
l was anxious to visit Dresden and
Saxony; because I wanted to study
the social side of life in this Oldest
and most Protestant country in the
world. I find that there is very little
Professionalism, or, in fact, any other
kind of religion left among the people.
The great majority of the childfen
born in Dresden, Leipsic and other
places in Saxony are illegitimate.
have been told that this is true of the
whole country; but can scarcely con-
vince myself that matters are that
bad. They tell me that marriage sci,
dom takes place before a child is
born; and these girl mothers are not
looked down on in any way. The