Year: 1871

WAhs


1t is happy circumstance for the
poor soldiers that the scenes of the cam
paign are not all shadows. 1t is too
true, alas that the latter greatly pre-
dominate when we make the final sum-
ming up of events but there are some
bright points among the dark ones, and
the true campaigner generally succeeds
in mingling them into that ctiar- -oscuro
that gives the artist fair subject for his
skill.


The true soldier, as he seizes KNAPP
sack and musket for the tramp, does it
with gay and merry heart, determin-
ing to look only at the bright side of
the picture, knowing full we'll that the
dark one will come soon enough. And
thus with this genial inclination to turn
even hardships into pleasures, he Sc
cures to himself many a jovial hour
where more exacting subjects would ex-
tract but vexation and chagrin.


And thus, when the famous Rhine
guard crossed the waters of that classic
stream, it was with gay and inspiring
songs about the Fatherland, and their
love for it's hills and streams, and the
wives and maidens left behind them.
AS they defiled through the mountain
passes of Alsace and began to spread
over the plains of Lorraine, the distance
from their base of supplies soon taught
them the necessity of making requisi-
tions on the country for their own sup
port and that of their horses, and the
foraging parties sent out for this pur-
pose tell some of the best stories and
give the most characteristic pictures OF
the war.


In these the light predominates, as in
the one that we present to our readers
as the initial of the series. The scene
is laid in the village of Jubecourt, In the
fertile Lorraine and the lovely valley OF
the Mouse. Its rustic inhabitants had
heard of the hated Prussians, but never
suspected the possibility of their vlolat,
ing its precincts and when the word
passed from mouth to mouth that the
Prussians were coming, they ran from
street to street, anxiously putting their
heads together and exclaiming, " The
Prussians the Prussians |"


But on learning that the foreign war
riors came not to destroy, but merely to
be fed, they became calm, and listened
to the needs of the soldiers for them
selves and steeds. They were told what
was required and at what time it must
be delivered, and were promised a fair
price for what they should bring.


The preliminaries were no sooner set
tied between the commander of the
party and the local authorities, than a
deep rumbling was heard approaching
through the street that led to headquar-
ters, as if a cracked frying-pan were be-
ing belabored. And then presently ap-
peared frightful- looking old woman
bearing dilapidated drum, which she
was beating in a most vigorous manner.
With enormous spectacles on the end of
her nose, frousy, unkempt hair, and
toothless mouth, she seemed q veritable
witch. Having reached the center of
the square, she stopped in the presence
of the troops and the assembled rustics,
and, adding her frightfully hoarse male
voice to the harsh discords of her drum,
began to tell them of the loaves of
bread, and bags of oats, and sheep and
oxen that must be forthcoming on the
morrow.


The soldiers grouped around and en-
joyed the comic scene most heartily,
gaining the traditional streak of fat
with uproarious laughter at the extreme
oddity of the tout ensemble. They soon
learned from those who were taking the
matter in more serious mood that the
scene was no uncommon one for them,
for the lady had been the town-crier for
wears, and could put many drum ma
ior to shame by her skill on her favorite
instrument. They christened her the
Beauty Of Lorraine"


But the stern realities of war soon
call the actors on its arena to other
tasks that tax all their manhood, and,
when well performed, cast over their
lives a halo of light that compensates
for all the trials and dangers OF the
strife. The Germans like to consider
this war holy one in defense of their
Fatherland, and have done much to
cultivate the virtues that make true he
roes-bravery, devotion, enthusiasm,
and patience. They even ikened 1t to
the Crusades, and to certain extent
adopted the insignia of those medieval
contests. The attendant emblems OF
every army have been the crosses-the
Iron Cross, the Red Cross, and the
Black Cross. The first the reward of
valor, the second the symbol of devo-
ton, and the last the very sad one that
has marked the grave of so many fallen
| heroes buried in hostile earth.


The Order of the Iron Cross was in
stituted by the Prussians in their strug-
giles with the first Napoleon as the high
est reward of merit from the country IN
adversely, when it had neither gold nor
precious stones to bestow on its heroes.
There was period in Prussian history,
just previous to the great war of deliv-
erance from Napoleon, when the uni
versal cry of the people was "Gold for
Iron p All classes of society freely
gave their treasures to the nation, and
received iron testimonials in exchange
for them the fair ladies of the realm
| brought their golden ornaments to theiill