WOULDN'T WED A GERMAN.

Mataura Ensign, 12 February 1916, Page 2

WOULDN'T WED A GERMAN.

PLUCKY GRAND DUCHESS. i.ii'K ix i.rxKMHorm:. Some interesting sidelights on hie in the Duchy of Luxembourg ;n - e given in i recent Kuropean paper. This small State, whose nentralitv was violated by the (>eriuan> at the beginning of the war. possessed an army of a -ingle corps numbering '_'.")() organised men. The r duties consisted of acting a- : i guard of honor to the (irand Duchess .Marie Amelie and maintaining public order. I'heir number included HO bandsinen, who before the advent of the (ierman-n.-td to give peiformnaces in the public squares as well as play at all the official ! cereinones and to-tivals. The invaders have established themselves in the Duchy with utter disregard of the population, which ignores them as far as practical nnd refuse... to have any relai ions wit hj them. The (-'rand Duchess .Man.' Amelie, who was deeply affected by the act of violence perpetrated upon her little kingdom, has kept up a dignified attitude. When the Kaiser spent a few days in Luxembourg he tickle manv elloit.s to witi her sympathy and fnend.sip, but .she ignored his presence until it was lorced upon her, and ilien she refused to receive luni. The (!rau<l Duchess in inking up this att.tudc is quite in nc-or<l with the sentiments () | Iter people, wlio have ahvay- loved and respected her, and these feelings are intensified by h<>r action ot si.em condemnation.

The Kaiser sent his emissary, to ilier her a (■'eruian pr.nee as ;i linsbaud. I iie Prussian papers even had the iinriidence to announce her with me o( the Kaiser's sons. Hut the Kaiser's desire was far front reality. Ihe (hiuhl Duchess emph 11 icillly remised all overtures, and declared thai .lie would never eive her hand to a (ler-

nan prince, if islie had to u:o husbandess all her ;ife. The Crand Duchv of Luxembourg !s----)ccii|)ied by 10.(KM) Imperial (iernian loops. Thev are nearly :ill Iroiu Ihe .andstiirm, and uuard the railways, n-iiUes and towns. There are also SHOD lerinans u-irrisoiieil in ihe principal own. Luxembourg has a population <if (I,OIK) inhabitants, and beside the ducal '.iiiird already meniiotied ha. a voluneer army of GOO. This body, to show (inicinpi loi the (icriuan oecupauis, narehe.s through the street.s vei-y often vith hare swords, siiifiinii hymns u

their country dia'eets. They never salute ilie invaders, and the officers of i he oppo-ing sides jiass each other never pretending to sec. It is the on'y protestation ihe Luxembourg people can make against a situation which they detest but are compelled to bear. Hewcvi'i', it is not the extreme limit of their show of hostility. Access to the court of honor of the ducal palace, which is allowed all civilians, is lorhidden 10 the (ierinan '■oldiyi's. If one of them ever dares to try to violate this order the Luxembourg sentries promptly bar him with a fixi'd bayonet anil po.ut to the hi.", printed notice which gives the polite intimation of his undesirahi!:ty. If a (ierman soldier offends a civilian he is sure to pjiy dearly for it. Some dav when he is aw iy from the protection of his fellows he will he set upon hv four or live strong Luxemboiugers. given :i good thrashing and relieved of liis arms, and the most drastic inquiries never reveal who were his assailants. Ilie whole population show freely their sympathies with the Allies. The women and children wear lie'gian. French and British badges. Tliey sing 'The Marseillaise." 'The Samhre and Meuse.'' and tl'e band plays "The Lorraine March," The shoo windows boldly display portraits of the Kitii; of Belgium, (ieneral .1 off re and President Poincare. It is rec irded that when the Kaiser was passing through Luxembourg; lie strolled down one of the principal streets, folI iwcd by his officers. The displays in tin* shop windows must have attracted Ins attention and he paused and gazed intiMittv at all the cards, evidently being struck by the absence of his own portrait. He entered the shop ami asked the girl attendant why the picture of ihe (ierman Emperor was not in the collection. She replied artlessly, pretending not to recognise the inquirer, "It is no go. sir; no one wants him't we keep only popular stock." The Kaiser simply shrugged Ins shoulders, looked a little more severe, and departed. The proprietress of the little shop trembled with tear all the day, but nothing happened, Maybe the simple episode gave- the Kaiser fond f°r thought and restrained bun from any action that might have still further increased his unpopularity in the neutral St^te.