The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-01-10
SUSPICION TAXES
 HOLD OF BERLIN Dismal Picture Of The German
 Capital NO PROSPECT FOR ROYALTY Mutterings of the Middle Classes Por- tend Grave Results in German Empire According to Mar
 quis de castellane.
NO PROSPECT FOR ROYALTY

Paris, January 9.-Important persons well acquainted in court and diplometiC circles as well as being close social ob
 servers have written me from Berlin:
 "It is difficult to give an idea of the
 omnibus atmosphere which envelops al classes of society here at this time The aspect of our city has completely chang ed: the arrogance of title is belittled and almost entirely absent, as Is respect for same.
 ''No more luxurious equipages, no more powdered valets, no more gaudily colored , liveried Tyrolean footmen behind the grand broughams-they all seen now the relics of another. forgotten age! No more Emperors No more courts
 And in contrast with this, the people of the middle or lower classes, as they pass before a police or military station, instead of saluting with respect the army as formerly, now give look of disdain that reflects a sentiment of contempt Seeing this. one feels, as something real popular anger that is ready to break out
 AS night falls. one notices a number of young fellows in greatcoats slouch- ing and crouehing along the walls of the houses, afraid of being recognized. In word, Berlin has all of a sudden be- come filled with a strange, wild fear. Emperor, Deputies, nobes, bougeois. tradesmen, workingmen, everybody, sems to be afraid. It is just as if you were among a people who at any moment might throw themselves one upon an- otheri To say all in one word, from the very top to the bottom of the social lad der no one seems to be now respected.
 ''If l am not making a great mistake, Germany is on the verge of a great revo- lutionl Whose fault is it?"
 Just before the Franco German war in 1870, the most illustrious leaders of the sllk-dynastic, anti-military party pro- claimed that the military spirit in France would have to be suppressed or killed.
 They wanted France to have an army, oh yes-but what an army! One not worthy of the name And they reasoned by impossible logic that if France were attacked it would then be sufficient time to arm and resst-companies of mex perienced play-soldiers to repel invasion, To what ends all such nonsense brought us is well known.
 If one compares what went on in France then to what is going on in England to- day, it makes one reflect.
 For four years the English government practically abandoned the famous "two- power standard they had so long con- sidered as an inevitable principle of pro- lection. Are they at last about to restore it again?
 Are they going to make the great effort which the situation seems to demand to restore the "two-power standard by the expenditures of millions, never more to abandon it? Or will the radicals, with more or less peaceful minds and lacking foresight, content themselves in these for mer dangerous illusions.
 Prime Minister Asquith recently said some inspiring things. He spoke of the marvellous development of the Ger man navy and of the measure which his government proposed to take in 1909 to maintain for the English navy the su- premacy which is now being threatened. But while he was speaking the Liberal press throughout the country made a great cry and demanded greater econo- mics in the naval expenditures
 This places the English nation in the position of not being equal to the Ger
 
 assuring to Germany a triumph in the monotonous though artful, campaign she wages against the French alliance.
 These Uptopian ideas are shared by the First Lord of the Admiralty, MT Me Kenna, who declared in a recent public address that it would be much better not to construct too many new and expensive battle-ships, as the progress and develop ment in naval armament is so rapid and
 i. 1-<- -IzA.
 To try to justify their want of fore sight, the Liberal Minister and his polIti- cal allies have run about everywhere averring that Germany is not meditating or even considering an offensive war.
 These were the very words used by the Opposition in France rom 1866 to 1870, and which brought about a disarmament and stripped France of her power
 It is possible the English believe that the formidable maritime armaments and naval preparations of Germany are mere ly for the defensive Germany has nc reasoA to fear the aggression of England The English fleets in case of war could not enter the German forts even ap- proach her coasts; could not storm or destroy them. It is,-then. not only an op- perfume time, but an absolute necessity for England to take decisive steps for her protection.
 TO lovers of historical looks. and they are legion in America. I would like to call attention-to the publication of sensa- tional book It is from the pen of the famous Duchess deDino. whose wit and cleverness and beauty have shone with such brillance over the 18th century and the title Is "The Chronicles of 1881 1862"
 It is nothing more than the unpublished journal of great lady, who became by her marriage the niece of the most Illus trous diplomat De Talleyrand. who also held a high position in the worlds society The first volume, the only one so fal published, takes us to London and pre- sents us to the Court of George ". She pictures for her readers all the celebrated people of that time, so fertile in celebrl- ties, from the King of England to hi: Ministers.
 Wellington, Palmerston, Lord Grey King Louis Philippe. Casimir Perier Monsieur Dupin, the Due de Broglie and Rover Collard-all figure in these pages It is a complete record of English ant French history, explaining in marvellous details the events that have taken place in the two countries
 It is the Princess Antoine Radziwill, c very great lady, who gives us this inter estng publication. She is the granddaagh ter of the Duchess de Dino, and received from her hands this chronicle, and sois from her hands this chronicle. and is sent it to the public. We must be grate ful to her for not having held 1t longer xf Inr farx flxy