The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1914-12-31
LUXEMBOURC
Chautauqua Paper By Uncle John

the little Grand Duchy OF Luxembourg. NOW as
have already written several papers about this
try, it will be impossible for to write another
without repeating few things have said before,
because this little country is small that it takes
better than am to write three papers on three
different subjects. However will do the best
can. glad, however. that the present critic has
never heard one of those subjects before. Luxem-
bourg. as you know, is very small part OF Europe
wedged in between Belgium, France and Germany.
The population, according to the last census, is
$4,000. and all Catholics. The country is very in
dependent. Its ruler is the Is year old Grand
Duchess OF Nassau and is greatly loved by all the
people. 1t has its upper house of representatives
the same as the United States. All the members of
that body elected by popular vote. Now you
must understand that voting in Europe and voting in
this country is vastly different. For explanation,
they have governors, like governors sherifs in
city or town elections There are only the mayor
and the aldermen to vote for every two years. and
every man has the privilege to vote county cleo
tons but when it elect man to represent
them by the government it is far different than in
this country In this country there are thousands
and thousands of men voting for candidate they
have never seen, or perhaps never heard of. Some
body will tell them to do and that settles the mat
you can 90 tnat KIND OF business
at least have heard that anybody tried to do
so. At government election, every four years, only
those men can vote who pay 20 marks. or in other
words, dollars taxes. There rich farmers and
business men who pay perhaps 20 or more dollars
taxes. If they have who are of age they are
entitled to vote; and I sure you will agree with
me when say that these farmers and business men
know what they are doing. They will go together
good man they have known all their lives and as
as two times two is four he will he elected. OF
course, there sometimes several candidates in the
field and money is spent freely beat the farmers
but they can't change the vote. As said before,
believe the result would be far different in this
country if they would use the same method Lux
embourg has fine university, a seminary, several
colleges, half dozen normal schools and several
agricultural schools
Every city and town has one or more schools &C.
cording to the population and every child must go
to school, their parents will be punished. If any
boy girl has desire for first class education
and their parents too poor to send them to the
normal school or college, the at the
omendation from school superintendent will provide
the necessary funds for his her education. Of
you understand that this money comes from
young people along in life.
Luxembourg is rich in mineral; it has several big
copper mines, and the biggest iron ore mine in the
world, where thousands of natives have employment
the whole year, and these companies will not hire
any outsiders if they help it, 1t is true the
wages are low, but so is everything else. You can
buy more with dollars in Europe than you can buy
with rs in this country.
Three railroads crossing this country but
they are built and owned by the German govern
ment. All the officials Germans. One railroad
straight from Berlin to Brussels, and that's
why the German troops went through Lux
embourg and Belgium to reach Paris, but they made
big blunder and it cost them dearly. They could
just easily have gone through Lorraine, and there
would perhaps be different story to tell, who
knows, perhaps it was Gods will that it should be
so; who tell?
No where in the whole world you find such
beautiful roads as in Luxembourg. They all
built by the government and solid as rocks it
rain for IA days steady as it stops rain
ing the roads dry. They cost good deal of
money but they are worth it, and believe the time
will come when you will see such beautiful roads in
this country, but enough have good roads,
they must be attended to the as railroads are.
How long would railroad last if there were no
section boss with several all the time to mend
broken places. The with good roads, they
must be looked after all the time. Land in Europe
is high the soil is very rich and the farmers raise