Evening Republican, Volume 19, Number 111, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 May 1915 — Poor Little Luxemburg [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Poor Little Luxemburg

THE tiny, independent state of Luxemburg bag been almost k>Bt sight of while Europe is fighting its great war. Vast war armies swept over this infant monarchy at the beginning of the war, passed beyond, and left it all undamaged far behind the battle lines. Luxemburg was in no position to oppose the passage of an empire’s forces, and, therefore, quietly submitted to the passage of the German army. Hence it is still the possessor of a well-developed industry, of smiling fields and meadows, and of a people happy in the security of their young men. When the kaiser’s army corps started by way of this grand duchy into France, Luxemburg had a standing army of 200 /and about 150 policemen with which to oppose the German endeavor. Such of an army as the grand duchess had was above reproach, well-drilled, well set-up, well ted, and handsomely uniformed and caparisoned, but it might as well have set out to stay the tidal waves of the sea as to have mobilized in defense of its neutrality. 0 Luxemburg is little known to the average European traveler. Though it liei between two great capitals—Paris and Berlin—it la comparatively neglected by tourists, most of whom are unaware that it offers a multitude of Interesting details to the visitor, writes L. A. Pollock in the Philadelphia Record. A place of glorious

mountains and lowlands, of sparkling irivers and magnificent forests, venerable towns, ancient castles, perched dizzily on altitudinous crags, Roinan remains and Druid relics, it holds iwithin its narrow confines much to lenthrall and move the visitor.

It is replete with folklore. It had iSiegfried for its ruler and by many native students is believed to have ibeen the birthplace of the Nibelungen legends. A novel state it is and ruled by the prettiest and youngest sovereign in Europe!

Has a Mixed Population.

The Inhabitants of Luxemburg speak French, German and a patois. But they are not French or German —they are Luxemburgers. French is the language of the court. The patois, a strange mixture of many tongues, 1b spoken by most of the poorer folk. It

is a queer conglomeration of languages and, to add to the difficulties of con- . venation, there are four varieties of the dialect. In traversing the very excellent roads in the duchy one is apt to be saluted with a German "guten tag” or a French “bonjour.” Agriculture is one of the principal occupations of the people, and the diminutive state actually produces onefortieth of the world’s supply of iron. Many Germans have entered the country to work in the mines or on the railroads, and, despite the traditional, dislike of Prussians they are quickly made Luxemburgers. The same is true in a measure of many Italians who have made their way into, Marie Adelaide’s domain. Besides its farms and mines Luxemburg is made rich by its glove, pottery, cloth, paper, 1 beer and tobacco industries/ It has also produced' in a good season as many as 1,250,000 gallons of wine. Cattle also are raised in large number.

Education is highly developed, the schools even drawing many foreigners. The people reverence titles even as they love their grand duchess. Way back in the old days they sided with aristocratic Spain against the more liberal Netherlands and favored Louis XVI when he combated the revolution, bringing misery down upon their heads for their pains. How It Is Governed. The grand duchy has a parliament consisting of an upper house of 15 chosen by the grand duchess

and a chamber of deputies numbering 48, elected by the people. The grand duchess is aided by the oonseil de gouvernement of four members named by the monarch.

The country is divided into 13 cantons, the people apparently being free from superstition in that respect. There 1s no trial by Jury in the land. Each canton has its “Justice de paix.” A “tribunal d’airondissement*’ sits at Luxemburg and another &t Diekirch and in the capital there is a high court of Justice. Germans have done much to develop the country in the face of national hatred. They run the railroads and many other enterprises, and Luxemburg still remains in the zollverein or German customs union.

Luxemburg, the capital, a city of 23,000 souls, lies on the Alzette and Petrusse rivers, which join on the east side of the citadel. The upper town is high “in Sonne and Lust” (in sun and breeze), standing on a great rock. The low town is sheltered beneath it. The city is remarkable, among other things, fbr its profuse display of roses. The German poet Goethe spent a brief period in the capital, the Luxemburgers commemorating it by placing an explanatory plate on the house where he resided. The poet was delighted with. the city, asserting, “Luxemburg resembles nothing but itself.”

The grand ducal. palace, open to the public when the ruling family is ab*

sent, is a.beautiful structure of the Spanish Renaissance period, although its splendor has been marred by the addition of the chamber of deputies, built in 1857, and not in conformity with the original architecture.

The palace itself was built in 1572 by Count Ernest of Mansfield. Under one of its doors may be seen the monograms of Siegfried, who founded the city, and the Countess Ermesinde, who gaye its municipal freedom. Louis XIV spent some time in the palace and Napoleon tarried there in 1804.

Other points of interest in the city are. the remains of the former forbidding fortresses, the Cathedral of Notre Dame, the National library, the Casino, containing a good restaurant and reading-room, the new post office and the municipal palace. Town That Hugo Loved.

To the student? of Victor Hugo the town of Vianden near the eastern border is sacred from the fact that the Frenchman deeply loved the town. He paid five) visits to it, going there in histravels and his exile. The house where he lived in. 1870 and 1871 is appropriately marked. a ,

Centuries before the Romans made a protracted stay there, building a fort on a high rock, which was called Ruomberg. Later Attila, with his hordes, drove them out, and the victors also gave the name to one of heights there —Hunnenley, Rock of the Huns.

No description of Luxemburg could be called complete without at least a brief allusion to Echternach, scene of the Dancing Procession, a religious ceremony that dates back several centuries, its actual Inception being in doubt. The practice, which takes place every Whit-Tuesday, is believed to have sprung from an incident in the eighth century.

A strange epidemic afflicted the cattle of the people whereby the animals suffered sharp paroxysms that gave them the appearance of dancing. The people rushed off to the tomb of Saint Willibrord to pray for the recovery of the cattle. In their haste to reach the tomb they almost danced, as did the cows. Their herds got well. This started: the ceremony. As many as 20,000 persons participate in the dance and an equal number are spectators.

VIEW of LUXEMBURG