People's Pilot, Volume 3, Number 15, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 September 1893 — ACROSS THE DEEP. [ARTICLE]

ACROSS THE DEEP.

Entertaining Account of the Feast Bay of Sedan. \ Jena. Germany. "t September a, 1533. Since the time of Frederick the Great there have been, at least, three important battles in the history of Germany—the battles of Jena, Ulm and Sedan. Frederick the Great had collected together the scattered fragments of the German states anu naa disciplined and organized the German army until in his hands it became the most powerful weapon in Europe. Prussia had grown in power and predominance until her influence was strongly felt throughout the remaining German states. These struggles of Frederick, which placed Germany as a power in the politics of Europe, took place about the same time as our struggle for Independence. But while the reorganization and re- ■ cuperation of national strength and force was successfully carried on under the fertile direction of Frederick the Great, in a little town in France was being organized and prepared an individual force, which by the help one nation was to undo much of the work toward German unity. This man was Napoleon. He had now a place in history beside the world’s great captains before he had tried the real metal of German civilization. In 1805 Austria, Germany, Russia and England formed a coalition against France or more particularly against Napoleon. Napoleon had collected his forces at Palois with the intention of invading the Brittish Isles. No sooner was the coalition announced than he was on his way to the German frontier. At the city of Ulm he met the German forces, which hardly checked his progress, and the campaign was ended in a remarkably short time on the battle field of Austerlitz. This battle is known in history as the “Battle of the Three Emperors.” It was an overwhelming defeat for the Emperors of Russia and Austria and the “Son of Austerliz” became the battle cry of the French soldiery. The peace formed at the battle of Ulm was not of long duration in this time of spurious peace making.

The nextjjyear Germany found herself again oq the side of the enemies of France and Napoleon resolved to teach her a lesson. In less than two weeks from the beginning of the campaign the battle of Jena was fought. It was a most signal defeat of the German forces and that magnificent army, organized and equipped by Frederick the Great went down before the soldiers of Austerlitz and Napoleon dictated a severe peace in the capital of Germany. The German states have not been entirely united from this time until at the time of the war of 1870-71, or the Franeo-Prus-sian War. The unity of Germany was necessary at this time to meet the threatening attitude of Napoleon 111. Suffice it to say that under the leadership of that great triumvirate—King Wilhelm I, Bismark and Yon Moltlre, supported by a civilization superior to that of France, the result was not long uncertain. The advance of the Germans was most severely disputed along the Rhine and the chain of strongholds south of the Belgian frontier. Metz had fallen into the hands of Germany and the marshals of France resolved to risk one more terrific struggle at Sedan. For two days the battle l’aged. But the superior genius of Von Moltke and the organization of the German army was too powerful for the legion of France. The next day Napoleon 111 sent the following note to the King of Germany: “Not having been able to die in the midst of my troops, there remains nothing else but to place my sword in the hands of your majesty.” These preliminary remarks are necessary to a correct understanding of what the celebration of the event of this battle means in the German feast days. It was not only a most signal victory for Germany, the turning point of the war, the avenger of a score of defeats at the hands of France, but most of all, the long sought for unity of the German states was affected as a result of this struggle. The sacrifices of the past had taught her to value unity. This is the reason why the Emperor in the presence of the Prince of Naples on September 2nd, reviewed the flower of the German army near the fortress of Metz, the reason the villiages of all Germany are ablaze with torch and beacon and festive with rejoicing; the reason

the battle songs of Germany ring clear from all the tables where are gathered the heroes of Sedan and others to drink to the health of the young Kaisar and to the unity of Germany. For several days before my German friends were continually alluding to the Feiertag of Sedan and how the hills around the city would be ablaze in commemoration of the event. Their praises were lavish in description of the manner in which the celebration would be conducted. So it was with considerable interest that I awaited the return of the 2nd of September. About six o’clock the citizens began to gather on the surrounding hills and high grounds to witness the display in the city below and on the neighboring cliffs. I may say in passing that the most numerous institution in Germany is the Gasthofer Bier gartcn. On the hills above the city the friendly flash from the beer garden becomes to the pleasure seekers a sign of the haven of rest, and good beer. It was to these places that the more aristocratic portion of the populace betook themselves on the evening of September Ist, for in the street parade only the lower classes participate. About seven o’clock the different church bells began a most frantic combination of discord not very different from our four o’clock Fourth of July clamors. This was a sign for the buildings to empty forth the numbers into the streets. It is surprising how many persons there are in Jena to the square foot. The church hells continued to ring for about one-half hour and as they ceased the brass band began one of the national airs of Germany—what one I could not say, for all German airs and songs sound alike to me, but it was the same one the band played the evening before. At its head marched proudly and triumphant the leader of the band—a large, corpulant person who seemed most zealous of the honors already won in the achievement of his musicians. 1 believe the Rensselaer band will compare favorably if they have not disorganized and have practiced faithfully since I left. The band was the only part of the procession that was attempted to be organized. The start was made down one of the principal streets, which never proceeds straight more than a hundred yards, and the populace followed. This part of the celebration was conducted entirely by the laboring classes and Children. Each carried in his hand an oriental lantern. The variety of shapes and colors of these lanterns was astonishing indeed and are quite an improvement over the torch of the American political procession, while, the disorganization that pervaded the ranks aided in the fantastic effect which would have been marred by an attempt at order. The streets of Jena are narrow and the number of children exceedingly large, so as to a logical result the procession was quite long. I seemed wholly lost in the midst of such festivities, not to hear the familiar voice of the fire cracker. But the Chinese lanterns takes its place. The. effect of a fireeracker upon the German was easily illustrated in the following: One of the young men of our party had with him a small rocket which he desired very much to set in motion, but just how to accomplish the feat he was not certain. At last an idea struck him. He went to the middle of the road and cautiously lighted it, and started to run as if a terrific explosion could be expected, calling loudly for the others to follow. He had as much fear of this little toy as I have oP a Krupp gun. But the procession has begun to move up one of the principal hills. As it trails its spiral way to the summit it presents apleasing picture indeed. But the mammoth fires that blazed forth in the imagination of my German friends in the week previous, failed to assume their promised proportions and we were content to rejoice with a lesser light, but the fires of the Gorman heart are not so easily quenched, sustained as it is by frequent quaffs of lager. By ten o’clock the mass of the people had disappeared as rapidly as they had come together, and only the hall of the Gasthof rang with the melodies of Sedan. This was the initiatory step to the day that was to follow. As a contrary the Germans open their festivities by the display of fireworks instead of ending them as we do on the evening of the celebration. The morning of the 2nd of September was early disturbed by the threatening voice of can-

non (not anvils) and later these harsh notes were softened by the strains of music as it issued from Jena’s omnipresent band. A sly and cautious peep into the street reveals a line of marching soldiers led by the above mentioned musical organization. Squads of the ever present boy hung in countless numbers in the rear. The streets were festive and gay with the national colors of Germany and of the province and city of Jena. Germans take to insignia and display as readily as he does to beer. In the first place every organization possesses its banner, then comes the city following the province,and the national banner. They are all constructed alike and only differ in color. They consist of three long bars sewed together and attached to a staff. For instance, three bars of red, black and white is the sigu of national patriotism and so on to the fifth or sixth degree. It has suggested to me that it would be appropriate for each American state to have its flag as a combination of the national colors and state emblems and on great occasions the states could readily be distinguished. Ido not think this need be any step to the strengthening of state sectionalism over pride for the national patriotism. (To be concluded next week.)