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Show OUR EUROPEAN LETTER. From our regular correspondent.) It was a long time doubtful whether that meeting so often promised between the Emperor of Russia and Germany would or could take place; but it came off at last. It did not last long, but that is not matter. Absolute rulers can say a great deal in a little time when they have settled in their minds beforehand what is advisable to be said. No doubt there will be a closer communion than for some time past between Russia and Germany, and Austria will, of course, be invited to join the Imperial Council. It is supposed the Czar wished to have some advice from the German Emperor as to the management of Russian affairs. But Emperor William has quite enough to do to keep matters going peaceably in Germany. Thousands are quitting the fatherland to escape army service and heavy taxes, and the finances of the country are in a bad condition. There is, at least, some consolation for the rest of Europe in this fact. While the two Emperors are occupied in setting their own houses in order, they are less likely to interfere with those of their neighbors. Still, we may be sure there were topics of the day which those potentates did not forget to discuss with "the walnuts and the wine." A DAILY, which from some motive or other has always been extremely hostile to American pork being consumed in this ?? has quite recently started a mild campaign against American [line unreadable] some native ?? of chemistry capable to discover that the fat which is used to improve certain qualities of cheese, is nothing more nor less than trichinous lard. The same paper, after sowing suspicion in the hearts of its readers, who prefer American cheese to evil smelling and indigestible rubbish made here, goes on telling us in the same breath that, while Vienna imports but about ?? florins worth of mother-of-pearl shells per annum for her button makers, the latter export to the United States alone over 1,300,000 dollars worth per year of the same material manufactured, i. e., with a profit on the raw material of 200 per cent., of which 25 per cent at the utmost goes to pay the workmen. The question arises whether the United States would not be justified in taxing with prohibitive duties all articles of trade imported from a country that rears patriotic idiots who manage to discover trichanea in American cheese, which has proved a blessing to almost one half of the working classes of Europe, as a cheap, valuable and wholesome nutriment. The subject is worthy the attention of American journalism, especially at a moment when thousands of wealthy American travelers are dropping their dollars ?? least over the continent of Europe. Let them insist wherever they go, upon being served with "ham and eggs" made of American hams and with Welsh rabbits made succulent with American cheese. The air is still rife with reports of military manoeuvres and congresses more or less peaceful, at some of which royalty has presided and most of which have assembled in royal capitals. While the young King Alfonso has been opening the Congress of Americanistas in a style worthy of his mediaeval namesake, Alfonso the Wise, of Castile, his royal brother Humbert of Italy, has been welcoming the geographers of the world at Venice, and not forgetting the continent that the great Genoese discovered in his awards. The Orientalists are assembled at Berlin. Two Buddhist priests from Japan and a learned young Hindist from India were expected to attend. Bright and picturesque Paris devoted itself to a congress of electricians, to debate on the electric lights; while London has just seen the last of the Methodists. Thus human progress runs side by side with the men of war and the schemes of politicians; and to the average on-looker the deliberations of the men of science are of vastly more prominent interest to the human race than the latest achievements in guns or military service. August. Berlin, Germany, Sept. 26, 1881. |
