New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-09-09

utpdl tDlt.ihlS VI pSe'''N''
gives credit in large part for the perfec-
ton of this system, which thus far mas
developed no tangible weak points to
the discipfine of compulsory military
service. as well as to the thoroughness Of
German education. Paternallsm has
turned the national talents into practi-
cal channels, centring all ambition, all
aspirations in the welfare, the progress
of the Empire. The growing influence
Of Prussia Is analyzed-in fact, this
author affir1ns what has been said often
before, that. under this influence, the i'm
perial confederacy Is tending more and
more to change into an empire one and
ndivisible. The government Of Prussia
Is far less liberal than that Of many Of
the smaller states Of the union, but, on
the whole, the Germans appear to be
content with the measure Of political
liberty and power they have. In fact.
their interest in parliamentary govern
ment is as yet but small. Mr.. Berry de-
votes considerable attention to the posi-
ton of the German workmen in the body
polite. a position that sets them apart
from their fellow citizens as growing
power with positive aims.
There is a useful digest of the con-
stitution Of the Empire and Of the
ReSchstag, its composition and parties:
the chapter on religion in present day
Germany is decidedly well worth study
ing, and so is-espacially for us in this
country-that on forestry. Compulsory
insurance against sickness. accident in
trinity and old age receives the close at
tention which 1t is beginning to attract
In other countries: as for the admin
istration of law. "the letter is adhered TO
In Germany perhaps more than In any
other country Law and not equity
|. is the fundamental principle under
lying the judgments of all German
courts
The amazingly rapid growth Of the
wealth of the nation has produced q
class of nougedur riches, who are heard
rs well as seen in all the summer and
winter resorts of the Continent. where
they have already made themselves as
cordially disliked as did their English
predecessors In the last century. But
frugality is still the virtue of the mass
OF The German people, a continued meas
ure OF necessity as well as still another
result of discipline: and in the Germany
or the Germans family" has not vet
been 'ousted by smart sets"
In it's rapid development Of its natural
resources. industries, trade and wealth
the little kingdom of Belgium strikingy
resembles the great German Empire.
MT Boulger, veteran whose name car
ries well earned authority, has selected
with unerring judgment those epochs in
the country's earlier history that have
had share in the making of its pres
ent state. His first chapter aptly sums
this up in its title: Belgium. q prod
uct of mediavalsm moulded by mod
ern conditions" He uses statistics far
more freely than Mr.. Berry and, in an
Incidental way. is far more Of q guide
to intending tourists. The struggle be-
tween Walloons and F1emings, which is
that Of France on the one hand, and Of
the Northumberland indirectly that Of
Germany-on the other, but also a bat
tie between liberalism and hidebound
conservatism, is explained at length.
There are chapters on the court, So
ciety and the hdute nObleSse, as well as
upon the common people, their frugal
ways and their amusements. not forget
ting the kermeSSC The chapter on the
countrys defensive strength in case Of
war is less informing than could be
wished at the present moment. A brief
survey Of the grand duchy of Luxem-
burg is included and there is final
chapter on the Congo. The illustrations
picked out" more or less at random
They have been selected with care and
knowledge.
Modern Turkey. the Turkey Of the
revolution of 1908, has been so abun
dainty discussed and described in books
that it would be unjust to expect mucn
that is new from Miss Garnetts pages.
They are picturesque, however, as well
as informing, the author, in keeping
with the brand new constitution, dealing
in successive chapters with Moslem,
Christian and Hebrew Ottomans. Per-
haps the new form of government has
not yet had sufficient time to demon
strate what il can accomplish, but at the
present moment the world at large is
very much of the opinion that in Turkey
plus CO change plus c'est la meme
chose" The author gives to the Turk
at home the frugal, brave, fatalistic
peasant, the praise he invariably re-
ceves from his European visitors, and
points out that after centuries OF
woman stealing and child stealing he
must have a considerable admiXture OF
European blood in his veins. She re-
tells some very interesting Turkish folk
tales, and quotes the patriotic song that
has been proyisorily adopted as the ma
tional anthem. II is taken from the
dramatic poem "Silistria," by Renal
Bey. which deals with incidents Of the
Crimean war:
To the glory Of our country dear are all
our efforts vowed
On the ashes OF her sons Is built each