The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-10-30


 of the style and the high Ideals which permeate it tend to make 1t story which appeals to the loftier sentiments of mankind. Though 1t is a story of two boys 1t is not written for boys but for men, and in its hero is depicted that nobility of character which every man would wish that he himself had possessed in youth and which he would wish his son to possess. Excellent as the story is it is not free from that weird morbid ness which tinges almost all German lit- erature of the first class-that retrospec- tiveness which broods and preys upon itself until the inevitable end is tragedy Von Wildenbruch could just as easily have made his hero die major general or leading a charge on the field of bat tie as Of fits in the cadet hospital-but that would have spoiled the story from the German viewpoint.
 TyHE colonel sat by himself at
 table close to the window In the
 4 public room of an old inn in an old German town. He was retired colonel with a white beard and red tanned face such as a retired colonel should have. The old town was a favor ite dwelling place for retired officers who, their days of work and fighting over awaited death there with the most hearty and frank good fellowship and met regu- larly once a day at least at the inn to talk over old times and moisten their aging clay. But this colonel was seldom of their company; he was a rather rettr- ing person and seemed to like best to sit and drink his glass, or. perhaps, his bot tie, of wine by himself at an hour when the public room was practically deserted The public room was on a level with the great square outside and, as the colonel slipped his wine, he gazed out upon the center of the town life ruminatingly. The only other occupants of the room on the day and hour in question was the cooper or cellarer. who served the wine (and was not too naughty to drop a remark or so occasionally to his guests) and a lawyer of the town who found the deserted room a pleasant place for an afternoon "smile.'
 This lawyer was afflicted with a very common complaint, one so common that 1t is doubtful if there exists any one en- tirely free from it. He could not see any one gazing intently in given direction without having his curiosity excited to know what they were looking at. On this occasion both the colonel and the cooper were gazing intently out of the window at something in the public square The lawyer walked over and looked out himself. He saw the square deserted except for the presence of two schoolboys, who were standing near the center of the square and confronting each other with menacing gestures. The law yer was disappointed, but, such is human nature, he could not resume his seat un- til he had paused to see if the boys were really going to fight.
 They had evidently just been dismissed from school and each had his satchel of books under his arm They seemed to be of about the same age. but one was a head taller than the other-a big, lanky fellow with a disagreeable expression to his face. while the other was a short, plump fellow, with rosy cheeks. The short one, however. seemed to be full of fight, and was evidently tauntng longshanks with irritating words. At last the eli max came: both boys dropped their school bags and the short one, lowering his head like battering ram, charged at the stomach of longshanks. The colonel, who had watched everything intently, ex- claimed: How foolish of little one, Longshanks will have him in chancery now in no time" And longshanks did. He got a good grip of his arm around the neck of the plump boy and was belabor- ing him soundly on the instant. That little chap is no good" said the colonel, in disgust. speaking as much to himself as to the lawyer and the cooper; The does not know how to fight He lets himself be caught just this way time after time" Then, turning to the cooper, he added: You see, they do the same thing at this same hour every day. But walt a mo- ment-you will see the rest. The little one. is sure to come to the rescue"
 AS the colonel spoke there came run ming out of the public gardens which bor- dered the square small, slender lad who, from the likeness between them in face, was evidently the brother of the plump boy There he comes!" said the colonel, and he took sip of wine and stroked his white beard complacently The slender boy, without moments hesitation, sprang into the fray. Lifting his satchel with both hands, he brought it with such force against the back of longshanks that he was knocked to the very windows of the inn. But he did not lose his hold upon the lad he had in chancery. Then an idea seemed to occur to the new conner. He opened his satchel, took out a pen box and out of the box a pen holder with a pen in it. With this he began to stab the hand which held his brother in chancery so savagely that the big fellow let go the plump boy and started in to whip his slender brother. With his head bare and the damp curls clinging to his pale, delicate face, the thin lad flew at longshanks like fury, raining blow after blow upon him thick and fast, while the plump boy regain ing his wind, sprang to his brothers as- sistance and belabored the enemy in back and sides.
 Longshanks got the worst of it and drew off. He had had enough for the day. The old colonel was delighted, and, calling the two victors to the window, he handed out to the thin boy his glass of wine, saying: -"You are a plucky youngster; there, boy took sip and instantly passed the goblet on to his brother "The little ras- cal" cried the delighted colonel, The passed around my glass of wine without even by your leave. Well, was 1t good ?2 And the boy, as he handed back the ~loss answered that If was and that he