THE SAME OLD ADAM

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2398, 2 March 1915, Page 2

THE SAME OLD ADAM

GERMAN WARFARE IN 1870. That the spirit of Germany Las changed but little, and that little for the worse, in all the years that haveelapsed sinco the Franco-Gorman war, is shown in some interesting correspondence published in "An Actor's Notebook," by Frank Archer, written to him by his brother, who was in Paris while the war was raging, and during the time that the city was besieged, and entered by the Prussians. Then, as now, everyone seemed to think that it must surely be the last war, and that it was the more torrible because waged by the most civilised Powers.

On Saturday, September 24, 1870 Sydney Arnold, the brother, in Paris' writes to his mother in England:— "You will have read with regrot the result of Jules Favre mission to tie Prusian headquarters, their, exorbitant and unnatural demands, whioh must have convinced the civilised world of the desire of the Prussians for bloodshed and massacre, and the destruction of Franco. I have no more sympathy with them now. It is Prussia now that is maid™ war, and in tho eyes of God must be responsible for the inevitable horrors that must ensue. . . They are more than ever determined here to defend France sooner thaj. accept the Prussian N terms, which are truly unacceptable. Thus they are urging on this cruel war sinoe France would offer such conditions as a nation could safely and honourably accept." Exaggeration and false reports were even then one of the Prussian weapons of war, and the writer warns his people against believing them "Several reports from the Prussian headquarters will have reached you " he writes, "but they are apt to> publish such abominable lies and exaggerations, which your English paperß liko to colour up. . .• . I read an extract

from a Prussian paper 'which said that they oould see from tho heights the populace of Paris fighting in tho streets. This is one of a hundred lies, Unfortunately too soon believed by the uninitiated. . . . Strange that no man has been found great enough to find a substitute for war. Surely this must be the last of them."

On November 22. 1870, he writes "Little did I think that such a cruel and barbarous war was to lay waste this beautiful country—its towns and villages burnt to the ground, its houses devastated, men and women cruelly butchered, and violated, and every conceivable horrorthat we, when we boast of civilisation, attribute to savages, brought into practice by an intelligent nation now placed by the maxim that 'Right is might,' at the head of Europe, and the world. We know France declared the war, but Prussia prepared for it, urged it, and desired it, and has urged conditions thai will ensure an eternal strife between two great nations."

Writing'on January 5 of how Christmas Day was spent, the menu placed before a party of Englishmen in one of the fashionable cafes was' given. "Wolf cutlet," it reads, "cat with rat stuffing, and sauce. Roast camel and plum pudding, etc.-You will understand from this," he remarks, "that the' Zoological Gardens are now no more." . Of the bombardment of Paris on January 12 he says:—"The tears come into my eyes as 1 write this, for anything more dastardly and cruel than tho bombardment of inoffensive inhabitants I cannot conceive. They have fired upon all the hospitals, which are so well known by their domes and easily recognisable at a distance. Won.en are killed in , their beds, and children in tho arms of their mothers. The old and the infirm, the sick and the wounded, are the marked objects of their cruel, artillery." And to-day we'read of the same • atrocities, of the _ same unspeakable horrors being practised by this nation, whose intellect has soared to the stars, whose gifts to the world of music, science, philanthropy, and literature will stand for all time, but whose hearts belong to the' dim, dark ages of the world's infancy, when mall was but feebly feeling lie was something more than animal.

The Misses Perry (2), Kelburn, arG leaving on Friday on a visit to the Wairarapa, where they will 1)6 the guests of Mrs. John Perry, Sulphur Wells. • ■ Miss Alice Macandrew arrives in Wellington to-day from the Straits Settlement, where she has been spending several months as the guest of Dr. and Mrs. Andrews. Miss Alice Jackson (Stonesfcead, Woodside) has been spending a few days with friends in Masterton. Mr. and Mrs. George Coe and family, who have resided in the Featherston district for many years, were entertained b.y the settlers of South Featherston and locality on Friday evening, and received presentations. Mr. Coe has sold his farm, and has' purchased a property on-the Wanganui Biver. ' Miss Decima Hortcn arrived in Wellington last evening from Gisborne on her way through .to Blenheim. ' Mrs. M'Laren (Hoitiebush, Masterton) is staying at Whare-koa, Day's Bay. . ■ An old resident of Hastings, in the person of Mrs. Ellen M Hainblyn, died on Saturday at the age of 70. She had resided at Hastings for about 40 years. Dr. and Mrs. Gibb went south by the Wahine last night to be present at the marriage of their son 3 the Rev. George Gibb, 8.A., Queenstown. The bride is Miss Elsie Allan, daughter of Dr. Allan, Mosgiel. Dr. Gibb returns- at the end of tho week.

A. demonstration of . kindergarten work, arranged by the of the Richmond Free Kindergartens, is fy) be held in the Palais de Danse on Wednesday, March 10.