From The Spectator.
THE PRINCESS LOUISE.

reigning Sovereign, and though any such demand for consent was wholly at variance In the midst of a very great war, a war with the English system of thought, the history of which will be studied centu- which at heart relies on this doctrine, that ries hence with minute care, a clever young every man or woman ought to marry whom woman is engaged to a promising but as he or she likes, provided the public thinks yet undistinguished young man, and the the liking reasonable still it was felt to English world pauses in its contemplation be expedient. The Act was very badly of the conflict to consider that event. And drawn up, for it did not interfere in the it is an event, that is the puzzle of it. most important matter of all, the choice There are not ten educated Englishmen in of the reigning Sovereign, did not, for the Empire who do not feel a quiet but still instance, interfere with Queen Victoria's definite sensation of pleasure in hearing a right, if she liked, to marry a music-master; sort of official announcement that the but still its effect was to drive the Royal Frincess Louise is to marry the Marquis caste back upon itself for alliances, — and of Lorn on some day in next February. people, on the whole, approved that. The Marquis, though the heir of a very They did not want to see Mrs. Fitzherbert ancient race, for centuries closely bound crowned. Of late years, however, the Act up with our history, is of no particular wore out its popularity. There were a importance to anybody but his father's ten- good many children and grandchildren of ants; and the Princess, though in the line the House, and it seemed likely to come of the succession, and popular from an im- to this, that a good many young gentlepression which, true or false, is entirely men, with immense rank, no property, and unwarranted by evidence, that she is very no chance of the throne, could not marry unlike other Princesses, is very far re- heiresses, and were therefore claimants on moved from any chance of the throne, but the public, and kept in a meaningless still everybody is in reality very much in- slavery as to their choice in marriage; and terested indeed, and a good deal pleased. a great many young ladies, also of high The truth is that the announcement is a rank, about whom England felt in some social event, that the English, who in inexplicable way a distinct interest, were State politics are republican, are in social forced into marriages of convenience. It politics either aristocratic or democratic, was felt that a change should come, yet and that this alliance interests and pleases also felt that a legal change would be inthem, because it involves a triumph of both expedient, and a wish was expressed in a those ideas over the monarchical one. A half-forgotten case, which it is not needful member of the Royal Family marries a to discuss further, that the rule should, as subject, no matter how great, with the regards those in the succession who are Sovereign's assent, and we are, therefore, unlikely to succeed, be relaxed by the coming back to rationality — that is, rudely Sovereign herself. It has been relaxed, expressed, the public sentiment. The and the general satisfaction may be shared Royal Marriage Act is perhaps, of all laws by those who, like ourselves, are unable to ever passed in Europe, the most brutally understand, though they fully acknowledge, insolent in idea, but although incessantly the kind of charm which the Royal caste attacked and never defended in principle, exercises over European minds. The reit has never been repealed. The country spect felt by the mass of mankind for has felt that the Act did in a very bad high birth, is intelligible enough, continuway get the people out of a very danger-ity of any kind always impressing the ous scrape, -a conflict between two irre- imagination; but the special respect felt concilable sets of ideas, the wish to obey and paid to two families or rather to democratic principles, and the determina- the Catholic and Protestant branches of tion to maintain monarchical institutions. one particular family as if the stock of It is all very well, and quite true, to say a particular German Emperor were in that one person is as good as another; but some mystical way sacro-sanct, has never the Prince who married a housemaid would been satisfactorily explained. Why are not reign in England, and, if unrestrained not the Savelli respected more than the by law, the tendency of princes is to marry Bourbons or Guelphs, being as they are at housemaids, or worse. Their touchstone of least ten centuries older; and why should the distinctions between people below them it seem natural for a Greek Parliament is pleasingness or unpleasingness to them- to choose Prince George of Denmark as selves. The Act bound all descendants of King, and unnatural to choose, say, Lord George III. who wished to marry to obtain Stanley? The superstition, however, exthe previous consent in writing of the ists, and in permitting the marriage of

her daughter with the chief of the Camp- the particular alliance, and even we repubells the Queen does break through the diate utterly the constantly reiterated mystic seclusion of the Royal caste, and opinion that Sovereigns ought to be as that is a very good thing. The Times tries much guided by affection in their marriages hard to exaggerate the position of the as other people. The welfare of a nation Campbells, and no doubt it is in one re- is infinitely more important than the welspect peculiar. They alone among Eng- fare of an individual, and a Sovereign has lish families are not subjects who have no more right to indulge his affection to been raised by the Crown, but the repre- the injury of his State than to indulge his sentatives of sovereign princes who have spite. At this very moment a great nation accepted a position within the Empire, with seventeen millions of people is disthe Marquis being the lineal representa- tracted by apprehensions of anarchy betive in unbroken succession of the Maar- cause her only possible Sovereign chooses mor of the West, who, as a sovereign to indulge his personal taste in the choice owing allegiance to no one, led his follow- of a wife. But for Ferdinand of Coburg's ers to battle against Macbeth. Neverthe- marriage, Spain might be a prosperous and less, the Duke of Argyll is legally only a orderly community. subject, and in marrying the son of a subject the princess departs from an etiquette unbroken in England since the days of Catherine Tudor, and regarded in Germany as almost sacred. It was time the superstition should be broken, and it is broken with the least possible shock to public feeling.

From The Spectator.

PRUSSIAN CHAPLAINS IN WAR TIME,*

HERE we have a glimpse of Prussian military organization from a new point The alliance, whether or not it becomes of view. The details given us of the sysprecedent, will give rise to some questions tem under which both the great confesof etiquette, which will greatly interest sions represented in the Prussian Army heralds and that section of European soci- were provided with chaplains, of the diffiety which cares about such discussions. culties encountered by the chaplains in Will it be acknowledged on the Continent? keeping up with the troops and being at It is probable, because the right of giving hand when a rapid march was succeeded a final award in all such disputes has for by a sudden engagement, of the religious ages been attached to the Imperial Crown spirit displayed by many of the soldiers of Germany, which in a few years must be and of the impression it made on the borne by the brother-in-law of the Prin- enemy, are often very interesting. The cess, who in Germany belongs to a family effect of the book indeed is fragmentary now included among the feudatories of and sketchy, but the circumstances of its the Hohenzollerns. Will the descendants publication put literary criticism out of of the Princess be Princes of the Blood? the question. The English compiler adThat point may require to be settled by mits that the issue of the work has been Act, or Royal Order, for as matters now this fact before us we need only turn our accelerated by the present war, and with stand we may have younger sons of younger sons of a Duke, who, but for this alliance thoughts to the materials collected, and would be undistinguished gentlemen, rank-present a summary of them to our readers. ing as Royal Princes, without any means Of course the most striking part of a for the maintenance of the position, while chaplain's duty lies on the battle-field and even in the elder line the arrangement really introduces a new order of nobles, who will take precedence not by date of creation but by birth. A Prince-Duke is a novelty in our peerage. That difficulty would be much more complicated, were it not for the great distance of the Princess from the Succession, to which she stands, we believe, just now about twentieth in reversion, the intervening nineteen being boys and girls of singularly healthy and longlived families. If she were ever so close to the Throne, indeed, we should approve the alliance, but we doubt if the country would, fearing the precedent rather than

in the hospitals. Prayers and spiritual consolations by the side of the wounded and dying, help given to those who have just fallen under the rain of bullets, will naturally be most impressed on the memory of both actors and spectators. But we prefer to dwell on less painful scenes, especially as the horrors of 1870 are still filling the papers, and there is no need to compare them with those of 1866. While

The Chaplain in the Field of War: being the Experiences of the Clerical Staff during the Prussian Campaign of 1366. From the Official Report of the Rev. B. Rogge. Chaplain to the Prussian Court. By George Gladstone, F.R.G.S. London: Bell and Daldy. 1870.

the troops are still on the march, or when with the officers of the staff, dismounted, they are reposing from battle, the chaplain's stepped into the middle of the square, and presence may not be so urgently desired, held a short service, consisting of a hymn, but he can make himself more generally accompanied by the regimental band, a useful. There is time then for more stated sermon, and an extempore prayer, after services, for good influences being brought which the march was resumed. to bear on the men, for advice and exhorta- In this case, as in many others, the Gention being listened to with calmness. In eral in command was desirous of offering the hurry and heat of battle, and the ex- the chaplains every facility for the percitement which follows it, while the care formance of public worship, but all were of the wounded absorbs the chaplain's not so favourably disposed. We hear of efforts, the rest of the army may forget all one colonel who was bitterly offended at a his teaching and give way to excesses. regimental delinquency being mentioned This ought not to surprise any one who in a sermon. A wine-cellar having been thinks of the natural effect of such an broken into, and the chaplain having heard overpowering stimulus as victory, but the that certain soldiers had been concerned Prussian chaplains appear to have thought in the act, he thought it right to comment their men proof against all temptations. on this breach of what he and the English It seems certain that the religious feeling compiler call the Seventh Commandment. of the army was very much above the But this did not suit the colonel, who said average, and we meet with expressions bitterly to the chaplain, "If my men do which might recall the days of Cromwell. not profit by being punished for the Some of the soldiers, on being reminded offence, nothing will be attained by your that they were much prayed for at home, preaching." There is a story of a naval replied, "Yes, we thoroughly felt that such captain who once sent the chaplain of his was the case in the hot days of Nachod ship a written order to preach according and Skalitz. The Austrians attributed to the Articles of War. Apparently, the our success to our arms, but we know bet-Prussian colonel objected to anything so ter; it was not our guns, but our Lord sacred being introduced into a pulpit. God who helped us." In the same way an With the best intentions, however, it was artilleryman, looking at the guns captured not always easy for commanding officers to from the Austrians, said simply," Ah! second the chaplains' efforts. Hours of God was with us." That these were not march would interfere with hours of sermere phrases appeared from the general vice. One Sunday a certain time had, conduct of the troops before they were after many ineffectual attempts, been fixed touched by exceeding success, and by be- upon for the celebration of the Sacrament, ing quartered upon a conquered people. and the bread and wine had been proThe Prussian chaplains speak warmly of cured with great difficulty, when orders the zeal with which public service was at- came from head-quarters for an immediate tended. At one place six hundred, and at advance. Necessarily, too, there were another two thousand men partook of the other difficulties. It was hard to find fit Sacrament, and we can well understand places to accommodate large military conthat such celebrations were the most im- gregations. When service was performed pressive the chaplains ever witnessed. in the open air the weather was often un"Two hundred men in double file," favourable, and once, says a chaplain, says one chaplain, describing the scene, "We stood up to our ankles in mud, and "stepped forward simultaneously, forming the rain poured down in such streams, that themselves into a half-circle; a soldier ac- I was obliged in the communion service to companied me, carrying a jug of wine, as I cover the bread over with the lid of a box passed up and down the ranks, and in this whilst consecrating it, and with the sleeve way the service proceeded rapidly. Those of my gown while dispensing it." The who had partaken of the supper sat quietly chaplains do not seem to have thought in the shade at the border of the forest, anything of the hardships of a campaign. and at the concluding prayer closed in They were provided with carriages, but if again in a large circle round the altar." they wished to be of any use they had to Somewhat similiar to this is the account ride with the staff, for their carriages given of a public thanksgiving offered by might be delayed for days with the rest of the order of a Prussian general after one the baggage-train, or might be entirely of the battles. The division, which had cut off from the rest of the army. A Rostarted at four in the morning, halted at man Catholic chaplain very nearly fell into seven, piled arms, and formed into a the hands of the Austrians, while he was square. The chaplain, who had ridden pushing his way to the front alone, after

having missed two battles, where his pres- wittingly, and, as the sequel shows, it created a ence was much needed. His Protestant bond of friendship rather than a scandal. We colleague had started in his carriage, but will let the chaplain tell the story in his own finding himself shunted into a meadow and words:- -It was arranged by the sergeant likely to remain there all day, he took to that the use of the church should be granted for his horse and was able to make himself the service appointed to be held on the following useful. Another chaplain stayed behind day. At seven o'clock in the morning the comwith some wounded, and fell into the hands pany mustered in front of the church; the latter of the Bavarians, who first took away his ined, of our coming, so we accordingly entered. was open and empty, in expectation, as I imaghorse and then made him prisoner. Prince I took my stand before the rail enclosing the Luitpold of Bavaria ordered the confisca- space round the altar, and began the service. tion of the horse, and being appealed to in The townspeople present I took to be inquisitive touching terms by the chaplain, answered, spectators. During the singing the priest be"You hold an office which is indeed hon- longing to the place made his appearance, went ourable, and in which I wish you God's into the sacristy, came out again by a side door blessing, but, the horse belongs to me." behind my back, and stepped in front of the alOne feature of the campaign of 1866 tar.. He held mass, the bell rang, the pyx was which is especially noticeable is the har- exhibited, and the people fell down upon their mony which seems to have existed between knees, whilst I preached from the words "Be a Protestants and Roman Catholics. Chap- actual circumstances of the case, I might have good soldier of Jesus Christ." Had I known the lains of both confessions were provided by stopped; but I supposed that the priest considthe Prussian Government, and worked well ered the two services might be advantageously together; but this was not the only nor united, and I preached on. After the service the most striking instance of agreement. the whole mystery was cleared up. No request The way in which the Protestant Prussians had been communicated to the priest for the were received in parts of Austria, though setting apart of the church for our service. The it may have been the effect of conquest, lieutenant of the company, whose duty it had and, therefore, of a transitory character, been to send the order, had been sitting on live has in it much that is gratifying. Natu- coals all the time, wondering what would haprally the churches belonging to the Roman pen at the close. He came forward at once, Catholics were used by the Prussian sol-looking very much disconcerted, and accused diers, just as they used "circuses, dancing- himself as the sole author of the disturbance. saloons, tap-rooms, theatres, waiting-rooms The worthy priest consoled him with these words, "We have each served God in our own at railway-stations, courts of law, councilchambers, barns, and sheds for waggons," but I think this combined service will not easily Combined churches are not uncommon ,,way.' as places of worship. The apparent inbe matched.'"' congruity, of singing Lutheran hymns in buildings decorated with pictures of St. Dominic or Ignatius Loyola of course impressed the Prussian chaplains, but in some places the Roman Catholic priests themselves gave their assistance. We are told by one chaplain that "many Roman Catholic priests met me so far as to provide the communion wine, and begged me to use their vasa sacra. They also generally attended public worship with the people, especially in Hungary. The priest at R- saluted me with these words,

6

Though we may be enemies in name, we are nevertheless brothers in Jesus Christ."" Still more remarkable was the expression of a priest who found himself saying mass while a Protestant chaplain preached in the same building:

"The chaplains always acknowledged the kindness received at the hands of their Roman

Catholic brethren by avoiding, as far as possible, any interference with their stated services, as well as with their prejudices. One case, however, is on record where the two services were carried on simultaneously; but this happened quite un

The account of the sisters of the Order of St. Borromeo reading Protestant books to the Prussian soldiers shows the same spirit, though it is not equal to the instances given us of a Jew acting as interpreter at the celebration of the Lord's Supper, and appearing to be much impressed by the service.

AMERICAN TRAVEL.

66

66

People asked us before we started if | you,— range after range of hills, and hunwe ladies were not afraid to travel two dreds of acres of trees; no house, no thousand miles and more through unknown steeple, nothing in sight to tell you that country, without escort; and we answered the world holds anything but trees and that we neither of us felt the least nervous- mountains. It was getting dusk as we ness, indeed, that the thought of our inde- made the descent, and half the glories of pendence heightened the pleasure of an- the scene were hidden from us; but as we ticipation, and that our faith in the polite- swung down in the twilight, we could still ness and kindness of railway officials and see that forests of trees were above and fellow-travellers towards unescorted ladies below us. We stopped for the night at was entire. A party of bright, pleasant Cresson, a cluster of small houses, a railfriends, however, were to pass the first day way station, and a monster hotel, perched and night with us. among the trees half-way down the mounVery early in the morning we left Phil- tain side. After tea we took seats in the adelphia. Such a strange, dull morning it rather barn-like dining-room, which was was-the air thick and heavy, depress- cleared for dancing, and lighted by numing one with a sense of weight and discom- berless small lamps in tin sconces. There fort. Our fellow-travellers told us that was a crowd of children those typical the haze from which we were suffering was American children who haunt every fashthe smoke of burning Canadian forests. ionable resort - the little girls dressed in Hundreds of miles of wood were on fire. the latest fashion, with the self-possessed "All morning we travelled through the manners of women who have been in socultivated hill and dale of the Susquehan-ciety for fifty years. We watched the na Valley, the scenery being very much antics of the poor little souls till the heart that of the Thames above Maidenhead. was heavy, for in their looks and ways was We were in a slow train, chosen on pur- nothing of the meek loveliness of childpose that we might see the country and hood. study the people who would get in and out at the wayside stations. Then we left the Susquehanna, and rushed up the narrower, wilder valley of the "blue Juniata," which, however, was never blue, but always brown or green. Such a romantic little river!-with steep, wooded hills, and sudden bends and turns that seem to transform the stream into hill-locked lakes. Whether it was the charm of the name, or the memory of the "bright Alfarata" and her "warrior bold," I do not know; but I felt a love at first sight for the wild little river, and I was sorry when we turned away from its wooded banks to grind up by steep glades the sides of the Alleghanies. For miles you creep up one mountain spur, trees above you, trees below you. No break to the trees but the railway cutting; then you round the edge, and a deep valley is before; while the mountain takes a great sweep in the form of a horse-shoe, and your fellow-traveller points to another mountain spur across the deep ravine, and tells you you will be there in fifteen minutes. Slowly the train winds on, the deep ravine below, the wild mountain above you; then you round the extreme bend, and the mountain's arms seem to enclose you; and then your engine puffs and pants, and the carriages creak, and the wheels grind slowly on, and the last spur is reached and the horse-shoe is behind you, and you are on the top of the Alleghanies. Such a view is spread before

"Next morning rose bright and clear; all the dull haze was gone, and a sweet, fresh breeze was blowing, which was inexpres sibly delightful, after the fatigues and depressing atmosphere of the day before. After breakfast we parted from our pleas ant companions, they coming down to the small wayside station to see us off. We had a pleasant compartment in a sleepingcar, which looked by day like an ordinary car, except that it is cleaner, and the seats are wider apart, and two by two face each other, four seats making a compartment. We had each a window, and could watch with interest and delight how the country changes, and the stations and villages grew hourly wilder and more western in appearance, and could mark how the rivers and streams, which before in all our journeyings had flowed eastward, now set in the contrary direction, hurrying one and all to swell the waters of the mighty Mis sissippi. At two o'clock we reached Pittsburg, the American Birmingham, a smoky, dirty city, lying in a cleft of the hills, placed there seemingly with the hope that the smoke should have no chance of escape from its tall chimney-tops. Here we dined and changed cars. In twenty min utes we were again in motion. There was some little difficulty in finding sleepingberths, and for the first dozen miles we travelled in the ordinary cars, which we found crowded and dusty, filled apparently with emigrants on their way to the far