Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-11-12

peasants in the German army, the kaiser
declared, is worth all that is expended
for military purposes. without regard to
other benefits. The German race is not
deterforating like the subjects Of some
other nations, but growing stronger all
the time, and the population of the diner
ent states Is being assimilated, gradually
but effectively by intermarriage.
For this the army Is largely Responsible
1t is the general rule to send recruits for
service into other states than those IN
which they were born and reared and IN
that way they come into contact with
other subjects of the empire. learning
much that IS good from them. sharpen
ing their wits and acquiring customs and
habits that are 10 their advantage. In
ducements are offered soldiers to marry
by giving them extra pay and better quar-
tiers and relieving them from certain
duties that unmarried soldiers are re-
uuired to perform. The object of these
inducements is to promote the intermar-
riage of the subjects of the different Ger
man states as far as possible, ana thus
assimilate the various strains OF GERMAN
stock This plan. the kaiser saio. nau
been remarkably successful and geogra-
phical boundaries and racial preJudlces
are being rapidly broken down. This as
similation cannot be accomplished In any
other way so promptly or so tnorousn1
as had been done through the army, ana
been expended for the support OF the
troops. , oho,+
the splendid quality Of the German army,
the personnel of which. he declared. was
the best OF any military organization tnat
ever existed While service might be frk-
some to some men who had no taste TOT
active life and military AFFAIRS ana us
liked the severity of the dlsciphne. ne
asserted that 90 per cent or tne lroops
fo6
aud were glad to perform the service re-
quired of them.
An Ante Bellum Incident.
Mr.. Duncan B. Cooper, who Is involved
in the terrible tragedy that occurred at
Nashville the other day, Is well known
in Washington. and is highly respected.
He is a brother Of the late~Henry Cooper.
who represented the state OF tennessee
in the United States Senate during the
last administration or Zen. GIant, anu
the administration of President Hayes.
Mr. Duncan B. Cooper participated IN
a thrilling little episode that occurred
here twenty or twenty-five years ago The
Rev. ]. r. Paxton. DID,, then pastor OIL
the New York Avenue presbyterian
Church, was delivering q lecture Tor the
benefit of the Grand Army OF 'ne Rspap.
Soldier, or some kindred topic. and the
house was crowded. He began his ad-
dress by saving that the civil war De-
tween the states did not commence at
Fort Sumter. as was generaiiy supposeu
~, that the first battle was fought In a
room in one Of the dormitories at Lafay-
ette College. Pennsylvania That room
he said. was occupied by two young men
WHO loved each other even more than II
,hey had been brothers. One of them
ca me from the north. and was thoroughly
imbued with northern ideas. The other
was from the south. and was equally con-
fiient and jealous Of the justice of his
cause. but they managed to avoid contro-
yersies and never alluded to the politi-
cai situation for fear that their differ
ences OF opinion might disturb their low
ing friendship. But the time came when
they could not conceal their thoughts