 Section 47 of Germany, the Netherlands and Switzerland, this is a LibriVox recording or LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. The World's Story, Volume 7, Germany, the Netherlands and Switzerland, edited by Eva-Marc Dappen. Section 47, Bismarck and the Reichstag and At Home, about 1880 by George Maypeace Tolle. Carl Otto Edward Leopold von Bismarck Schoenhausen, to give his full quota of names, was born in 1815. He followed the traditions of his ancestors and entered the public service. At the accession of William I, he became the head of the Prussian cabinet and minister of foreign affairs. His aim was to drive Austria out of the confederation to unite Germany and to bring it to the front rank among the nations of Europe. The Seven Weeks War in 1866 broke the union between Prussia and Austria and made it plain that Prussia was the most powerful of the German states. Bismarck's next aim was to win the South German states and in pursuit of this he was more than willing to push on a war with France. The success of the German army brought about an enthusiasm and strength of patriotism that resulted in the coronation of William in 1871 as German Emperor. Now that the empire was established, the great Chancellor aimed at the victories of peace. He skillfully kept clear of international entanglements and formed such alliances as would best conduce to the greatness of the country. Between him and the emperor, William I, there was a strong and sincere attachment, but when after the short reign of Frederick, William II came to the throne, trouble arose. Bismarck had ruled the land for too many years to submit to an autocratic young man of 29. Then the result was the minister's resignation. He died in 1898. As has been well said, he found Germany, a group of jealous kingdoms and principalities, the shuttlecock of Austria and France. He left it a united nation, one of the world's great powers and the dominant force on the continent of Europe, the editor. It is interesting to observe Bismarck as in the legislative palace at Berlin, he sits on the central bench of the Reichstag, which is set apart for the imperial ministers. He usually enters just before the house is called to order and with a haughty nod here and there sits plumped down into his chair, apparently unconscious of the multitude of eyes that are fixed upon him. He ends at once his work of signing papers, glancing rapidly over dispatches and giving orders to the secretaries who stand by. Now and then he throws a quick glance across the chamber, then settles down again, folds his arms across his breast, and seems to be carrying on a double process of listening to what is said and I mean while thinking hard. With hair lasker or hair handle happens to be delivering an eloquent tirade against the government. You can easily read upon the Chancellor's grim face, and in his nervous petulant movements, the emotion which is agitating him is not one of those fearless men who can listen with a solid face and contemptuously placid smile to the invectives of his antagonists. Irritable, imperious, yet thin, skinned and sensitive, Bismarck never seems to care to conceal the annoyance or anger so easily aroused in his breast by opposition. At such a time you will see him contract his bushy brows, look rapidly around the chamber as if to take stock of his enemies, and finally rise to his feet amid a sudden hush and breathless attention. In a deliberately broken, abrupt, spasmodic, with a voice husky and apparently always finding its breath with difficulty except at certain moments of high passion when it rings out strong, clear and defiant, with his big hands clutching the shining buttons of his military tunic or savagely twirling and twisting a paper or a pencil, he proceeds to reply to the attack. His round grey eyes flash brightly and fiercely, his large frame sways to and fro, his face grows red, his legs are sometimes crossed and suddenly drawn wide apart, and he goes on in the simplest, clearest, frankest language to justify his acts and repel the assertions of his antagonists. Everyone is astonished at his frankness, his bountiful of his motives, his unequivocal declarations of future policy, his merciless handling not only of his immediate opponent but of all his opponents and of men and courts outside of Germany. It is a part of his adroitness to seem imprudently frank. His apparent imprudence and recklessness are, we may be sure, calculated beforehand, but there can be no doubt that his wrath is genuine or that the greatest difficulty he encounters in debate is that of keeping in check his most unruly temper. When we follow Bismarck from the Chancellery and the Reichstag from the palace and the council chamber to his homes in the Friedrichstrasse and at Varzen, he appears to us under many fresh and more pleasing aspects for this grim iron-sold chief whose courage, will, determination and despotic temper are so irresistible on the public arena is really one of the most human of men. He is still, though often oppressed by well-nigh insufferable neuralgic pains, as fond of her frolic as a boy. He is far happiest in his home, surrounded by a family than which there never was a family, more tenderly and chivalrously beloved. He has a great affectionate generous heart, his ardent devotion to those who have won, his love is in the mouths of all Germany, his home, too, is a temple in which the household gods are many. In speaking of his quiet, domestic, sweet-tempered wife, he once said, she it is who has made me what I am. At one of the most brilliant periods of his life, he wrote to this congenial partner, along for the moment when, established in our winter quarters, we sit once more around the cheerful tea table that will never be frozen as thick as it will. These winter quarters were the massive three-storey house number 76 Friedrich Strasser, the chancellor's official residence. A sentry's box at the front gate indicates its public nature within livery attendance, moving to and fro, but tray that this great man, simple and robust as are his tastes, must still maintain some show of state. The broad stairway is adorned by two stone sphinxes, which seem to symbolize Bismarck's policy, if not his character. Beyond are the larger apartments of the house, the drawing and reception rooms, while still more remote and only accessible to those especially honored by Bismarck's friendship is the large, plain, curiously furnished library, where he at once performs the burden of his labors and takes his chief comfort. The windows of the library overlook and embrages park, the room itself is garnished with suits of armor, boxing gloves, foils, swords and other paraphernalia of war and the manly arts. Time was when Bismarck used to sit there drinking big drafts of mixed porter and champagne, smoking a bottomless student pipe and working like a giant till far into the earlier hours of the morning. Lotterly tortured by Meralje, he is given up these midnight indulgences and labors and sits with his family in the common sitting room. It is not here in that Friedrich Strasse, however, amid the bustle of the crowded city and swarms of officials and satellites that Bismarck takes his chief delight. It is only at Barzan, nearby his ancestral home, among the scenes of his mad and rollicking youth that he most fully enjoys the luxury of living. When away, he is constantly longing for Barzan. He once said, I often dream that I see Barzan, all the trees that I know so well and the blue sky, and I fancy that I am enjoying it all. Ample acres and all the appurtenances of a prosperous and well-kept landed estate surround the spacious Pomeranian mansion of the Chancellor. The stables shelter many thoroughbreds, the kennels are crowded with Bismarck's favorite dogs, the conservatories team with rare fruits and flowers. And in all these things, the master takes a keen and watchful interest. But he is most often found at Barzan, as it were then in his study. This is a six-sided apartment furnished with rugged simplicity. An enormous chimney and open fireplace built in one of the corners on either side of which rises a column bearing a coat of arms on and emblazoned shield. Bismarck is proud of his blood and his ancestry. After the French war, he added to his coat of arms the banners of Alsace and Lorraine and shows as his motto, Trinitate Robour, my strength in Trinity and old family device. And suggested a friend it may also signify my strength in the three in one God. Quite so replied the Prince gravely, that was what I meant. A bust of the Emperor surmounts the chimney while before it there are placed two stiff highback chairs. The walls are adorned as Bismarck everywhere is fond of adorning them with many curiosities. There are Tunisian sabers and Japanese swords, Russian hunting knives, embraces of pistols, military caps and quaint vests of armor. The furniture of the room comprises sofas, devens and the Chancellor's writing desk covered with green cloth and having upon it a white porcelain ink stent and a two armed student lamp. On a small table at one side is a large Bible evidently much used. Everything is solid, plain and substantial like Bismarck himself. This feature of simple comfort is discernible indeed throughout the house, nor is it without its mysterious staircase. Such a one leads from a corridor into unknown regions. The castle keep once asked a friend pointing to the door. That is my salary port said Bismarck and he went on to explain that it led to a path in the woods, whether the great man was feigned incontinently to retreat when threatened by a raid of unwelcome guests. Many of Bismarck's most attractive personal traits are hinted to us by his surroundings. Once within the serene atmosphere of Bar-Zen, the stern Chancellor becomes a devoted family man, the enthusiastic sportsman, the frank and talkative friend and even the genial wit. Those who have been privileged to hear his conversation declare it to be replete with brilliant sallies, humorous hits and graphic descriptions. At his ease he is one of the frankest, most genial, most entertaining of men. Adamant as he seems in public he has been known to feel so bitterly the stings of hostile sarcasm and criticism as to give way to fits of weeping. When during the Austrian war the German generals desired to push on and invade Hungary, Bismarck strenuously opposed the project, but his arguments were in vain. Shagrind at his failure to convince them he suddenly left the room, went into the next, threw himself upon the bed and wept and groaned aloud. After a while he says there was silence in the other room and then the plan was abandoned. His tears had conquered where his arguments had failed. His mode of life is peculiar, being often sleepless, his usual hour of rising is ten in the morning. His breakfast is simple consisting generally of a cup of tea, two eggs and a piece of bread. At dinner he eats and drinks like a true Pomeranian copiously and freely. His princely appetite indeed is described as being truly voracious. His table groans with a superabundance of rich and indigestible food and dizzy concoctions of champagne and porter, sherry and tea. The German people said he on one occasion, alluding to the many hampers of his known favorite meats, fish and fruits, sent him from all quarters, all resolved to have a fat chancellor. Sometimes like lesser folks Bismarck has fits of the blues and of brooding, which can scarcely be wondered at when we consider his self-indulgence at table. On these occasions he distresses those around him by the most forlorn reflections. Once he declared that he had made nobody happy by his public acts, neither himself nor his family nor the country. I've had he went on gloomily, little or no pleasure out of all I have done, on the contrary much annoyance, care and trouble. In brighter moods he takes all this back and revels with almost boyish exaltation in the splendor of his state strokes and the new face he has put upon the world's events. Whereas my dog was Bismarck's first exclamation when on a recent visit to Vienna he alighted from the railway train, never did a man cherish a fonder affection for the brute creation than this kingmaker and world mover. He watched by the sight of his dying sultan as he might have done over a favored child and begged to be left alone with him in the final hour. When the faithful old friend gasped his last breath, Bismarck with tears in his eyes turned to his son and said, Our German forefathers had a kind belief that after death they would meet again in the celestial hunting grounds, all the good dogs that had been their faithful companions in life. I wish I could believe that. For children Bismarck had an ardent fondness. His bright little grandchildren are the very joy of his old age. On every occasion he seems to take delight in humoring and pleasing the young. Curiously co-mingled in his large nature are sentiment and satire, kindness and humor. One day he was taking a walk with his wife at the famous water in place of Kissingen. As they were about to turn down a side path the chancellor saw just beyond a rustic family evidently anxious to catch a good glimpse of him. The youngest daughter, a girl of ten, started forward and with an expression half timid, half bold, approached, staring at him. Bismarck at once turned aside and sat down on a rustic bench by the road until the girl had passed. When rising he bowed his most stately bow to her, said gravely good morning miss and proceeded down the secluded path. There can be no doubt of Bismarck's sturdy personal courage. One striking incident in his career has proved that to all time. One day in 1866 as he was returning home from the palace through the Unter den Linden he was shot from behind by an assassin. He turned short, seized the miscreant and though feeling himself wounded held the man with iron grasp until some soldiers came up. He then walked rapidly home, sat down with his family and ate a hearty dinner. After the meal was over he walked up to his wife and said, you see I am quite well. Adding you must not be anxious my child, somebody has fired at me but it is nothing as you see. It was the first intimation she had had of the attempted tragedy. These necessarily rapid glances at Bismarck's career and character may fitly be brought to her close by referring to the depth and sincerity of his religious faith and feelings. In an age when skepticism and atheism are especially rampant among his countrymen Bismarck adhered stoutly to the sturdy creed of his fathers. I do not understand he once wrote to his wife how a man who thinks about himself and yet knows and wishes to know nothing of God can support his existence out of very weariness and disgust. I do not know how I bore it formally, if I were now to live without God as then I would not know in very truth why I should not put away life like a soiled robe. This simple fervor of humble and deep rooted faith seems to me to shed greater lustre on his full troubled but triumphant life than the conquest of Austrian or Frank, the rebuilding of a fallen empire, the sway of a power which bends all Europe to its will, or even that lofty mastery over event and circumstances which must record his name, the highest on the illustrious role of the statesman of our century. End of section 47. This recording is in the public domain. Section 48 of Germany, the Netherlands and Switzerland. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. The World's Story, Volume 7, Germany, the Netherlands and Switzerland, edited by Eva-Marc Teppen. Section 48, Student Life at the German Universities, about 1900 by Mrs. Alfred Siegwick. English people who have been in Germany at all have invariably been to Heidelberg. And if they have been there in turn time, they have been amused by the gangs of young men who swagger about the narrow streets, each gang wearing a different colored cap. They will have been told that these are the core students and the sight of them, so jolly and so idle, will confirm their mental picture of the German student. The picture of a young man who does nothing but drink beer, fight duels, sing Vogue's leader and drink leader and make love to pretty low-born maidens. When you see a company of these young men clatter into the Schloss garden on a summer afternoon and drink vast quantities of beer. When you observe their elaborate ceremonial of bows and greetings. When you hear their laughter and listen to the latest stories of their monkey tricks, you understand that the student's life is a merry one, but except for the sake of tradition, you wonder why he'd need lead it at a seat of learning. Anything further removed from learning than a German core student cannot be imagined and the noise he makes must incommode the quiet working students who do not join a core. Not that the quiet working students would wish to banish the others, they are the glory of the German universities. In novels and on the stage, none others appear. The innocent foreigner thinks that the moment a young German goes to the alma mater of his choice, he puts on an observable cap, gets his face slashed, buys a boar hound and devotes all his energies to drinking beer and ragging officials. But though the core students are so conspicuous in the small university towns, it is only the men of means who join them. For poor students, there is a cheaper form of union called a Bershenschaft. When a young German goes to the university, he has probably never been from home before and by joining a core or a Bershenschaft, he finds something to take the place of home. A German, companions with whom he has a special bond of intimacy and a discipline that carries on is social education, for the etiquette of these associations is most elaborate and strict. The members of a core all say thou to each other and on the altar Heron Abenda, when members of an older generation are entertained by the young ones of today this practice still obtains. Although one man may be a great minister of state and the other a lad fresh from school. The laws of a core remind you of the laws made by English schoolboys for themselves. They are as solemnly binding as educational and as absurd. If a vandal meets a Hessian in the streets he may not recognize him, though the Hessian be his brother, but outside the town's boundary this prohibition is relaxed, for it is not rooted in ill feeling but in ceremony. One core will challenge another to meet it on the dueling ground, just as an English football team will meet another in friendly rivalry. All of the students associations except the theological require their members to fight these duels which are really exercises in fencing and take place on regular days of the week, just as cricket matches do in England. The men are protected by goggles and by shields and baskets on various parts of their bodies, but their faces are exposed and they get ugly cuts of which they are extremely proud. As it is quite impossible that I should have seen these duels myself, I will quote from a description sent me by an English friend who was taken to them in Heidelberg by a core student. They take place he says in a large bare room with a plain boarded floor. There were tables each to hold 10 or 12 persons on three sides of the room and a refreshment counter on the fourth side where an elderly woman and one or two girls were serving wine. The wine was brought to the tables and the various core sat at their special tables all drinking and smoking. The dressing and undressing and the sewing up of wounds was done in an adjoining room. When the combatants were ready they were led in by their seconds who held up their arms one on each side. The face and the top of the head were exposed but the body neck and arms were heavily bandaged. The duelists were placed opposite each other and the seconds who also have swords in their hands stand one on each side ready to interfere and knock up the combatants sword. They say alf de mensur and then the slashing begins. As soon as blood is drawn the seconds interfere and the doctor examines the cut. If it is not bad they go on fighting directly. If it needs sewing up they go into the next room and you wait an endless time for the next party. I got awfully tired of the long intervals sitting at the tables drinking and smoking while the fights were going on we all stood round in a ring. There were only about three duels the whole morning. There was a good deal of blood on the floor the women at the refreshment counter were quite unconcerned. They didn't trouble to look on but talked to each other about blouses like girls in a post office. The students drove out through the inn and back in open carriages it is a mile from Heidelberg. The duels are generally as impersonal as games but sometimes they are in settlement of quarrels. I think any student may come and fight on these occasions but I suppose he has to be the guest of a corps. Our comers is a students festival in which the professors and other senior members of a university take part and at which outsiders are allowed to look on. The presiding students appear in wallam wicks or as we should say in their war paint with sashes and rapiers. Young and old together drink beer sing songs make speeches and in honor of one or the other they rub a salamander. A word which is said to be a corruption of south a la mit einander. This is a curious ceremony and of great antiquity. When the glasses are filled at the word of command they are rubbed on the table at the word of command they are raised and empty. And again at the word of command every man rubs his glass on the table the second time raises it and brings it down with a crash. Anyone who brought his glass down a moment earlier or later than the others would spoil the salamander and be in disgrace. In Eckhart Shuffle describes a similar ceremonial in the 10th century. The men seize their mugs he says and rub them three times in unison on the smooth rocks producing a humming noise then they lifted them towards the sun and drank. Each man sat down his mug at the same moment so that it sounded like a single stroke. A Comers is not always a gay festival it may be a memorial ceremony in honor of some great man lately dead. Then speeches are made in his praise salam and sacred music is sung and the salamander an impressive libation to the dead man's monies is drunk with mournful effect. In small university towns and it must be remembered that there are 22 universities in Germany the students play a great part in the social life of the place. German ladies have often told me that the balls they look forward to with most the lightest girls were those given by students when one core would take rooms and pay for music wine and lights. For supper tickets are issued on such occasions which the guests pay themselves. The small German university seemed full of the students in term time especially in those places where people congregate for pleasure and not for work. Even in a town as big as Leipzig they are seen a good deal filling the pavement occupying the restaurants going in gangs to the play. But in Berlin the German student of tradition the beer person the dualist the rollicking lad with his big dog is lost. He is there you are told but if you keep to the highway you never see him and to tell the truth in Germany you miss him. He stands for youth and high spirits and that world of ancient custom most of us would be loath to lose. In Berlin if you go to the university taught when that working day begins you see a crowd of serious well-mannered young men most of them carrying books and papers. They are swarming like bees to the various lecture rooms they are as quiet as the elderly professors who appear amongst them. They have no core caps no dogs no scars on their scholarly faces by their figures you judge that they are not beer persons they have worked hard for 12 years in the gymnasiums of Germany. They have no idle habits no interest so keen as their interest in this business of preparing for the future. They are the men of next year's Germany and will carry on their country's reputation in the world for efficiency and scholarship. In section 48 this recording is in the public domain. Section 49 of Germany the Netherlands and Switzerland. This is the LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by Chad Horner from Bolly Claire. The world's story volume 7. Germany the Netherlands and Switzerland. Edited by Eva March Tappan. Section 49. A Day with the German Emperor. 1898 by Maurice Lede. The energy of the Emperor is proverbial. He never rests and professes the deepest horror of idleness. Moreover his capacity for work is prodigious. Amongst those who immediately surround him there is even some fear that his health will someday suffer from his continual efforts to examine into all the affairs of the Empire himself. To rest his brain he indulges in all those physical exercises in which he excels. The Emperor gets up at five o'clock in the morning. As soon as he is up he takes a cold bath. His mother who is a daughter of Queen Victoria and an English woman has given him a taste from his earliest childhood for cold water. Which is so wholesome for those who can stand it. After his bath he dresses quickly and breakfasts at half past six. Immediately after breakfast the Emperor goes into his study where piles of letters and quantities of documents await him. There are letters received during the night at the post office and which special messengers bring the first thing in the morning to the Palace of Berlin or the Palace of Potsdam. There are also reports in the handwriting of the ministers and of high authorities. The Emperor who himself sees to everything has so much to do in reading all these documents that if he wishes to examine each in detail which with him is a principle. He cannot allow himself an instant rest. It is very rarely that he postpones the consideration of any sort of business. He sells everything at the hour he has appointed. Even though to do so he has to take an hour or two from his sleep. The servants on duty are at their posts at half past six. The Emperor discusses with them the orders for the day and at seven he usually goes to see his children. He then takes himself to the room where he receives for the most part the reports of the marshals. Then some conferences with the functionaries under the orders of the master of the household. In these interviews the details of such and such a ceremony are discussed. For some impending journey of the Emperor made out and the probable expense calculated etc. In the same way the Emperor during his hours of work looks into the affairs of the Imperial household, examines the accounts, approves of orders given by the Grand Marshal and in a word settles all questions relating to the daily domestic life. On important occasions he receives the ministers, the counsellors with their reports, the prefect of police, generals and great functionaries. It is the greatest delight to the Emperor to receive the reports of these persons and to sign the papers they present to him. The Emperor goes into all these reports with so much seal though they are coming all day long that he often says to those working with him I know I am giving you a lot of trouble but I cannot do differently. I have a great task myself to accomplish and I cannot make my decisions quickly. If frequently happens that the heads of the different departments bring him 20 papers to sign. Each of these is discussed and of the 20 perhaps only 3 or 4 are carried away signed. For the others the sovereign is determined to have further information concerning them. By 9 o'clock in the morning the Emperor has thus accomplished a good deal of business and if the weather in the season permit he goes out for a drive and afterwards takes a pretty long walk. If the weather is unfavourable for driving he goes to the riding skull and rides for 3 quarters of an hour. The Emperor is a good fincer, a good rider and a good shot. When he is on horseback he likes to meet with difficulties. He not only jumps hedges and ditches but also banks called Irish banks with the greatest ease. On days where a military inspection takes place the Emperor who has thus had to ride in the open air for a long time dispenses with his drive. He remains in the saddle for 5 or 6 hours at a stretch willingly. At about 11 the interviews and the reports begin again. This is also the time when audiences are granted. Officers of high rank who have received promotion or great functionaries who have been accorded a rise are announced. He also receives the envoys and representatives of foreign countries, princes and great lords. The Emperor converses with each of them for a few minutes. At Levis the Emperor pays his guests some original attentions. During the course of a Levis he will change his uniform 5 or 6 times. Thus for instance if the son of a deceased general of artillery comes to announce to William II the death of his father. The Emperor does not fail to put on his artillery uniform to do honour to the officer who has died in his service. He wears the uniform of a general of artillery. Of cavalry, of infantry or the naval uniform according to the person he receives and the position that person occupies. If the Emperor receives foreign representatives of military attaché of foreign powers he wears the uniform of the army of the country which the visitor represents or at least the orders belonging to that country. The fatiguing ceremony lasts till about half past two. The Emperor then goes again to join his children who are already at table and takes his second breakfast with them. He then visits certain great functionaries, generals and ministers and discusses state affairs with them. He visits an artist and sits for a picture or a bust. He inspects the barracks and the public offices and if he has time he concludes the afternoon with a carriage drive which lasts till five or six o'clock. At half past six he again receives persons who have some communication to make to him or who have come to consult him upon military or civil business. He reads reports and science papers which were presented to him in the morning but which he wished to think over. Finally at seven o'clock he dines with his family. On leaving the table the Emperor devotes some time to his children who have spent the day in their studies or in physical exercises. Then he returns to work. In the evening as a novel recreation the Emperor practices fencing. Towards ten he takes a light, repast and then retires to his bedroom. At a little after ten he summons his ballet to help him to undress. On a table beside his bed there are always placed paper and pencil in order that the Emperor may make a note of anything that occurs to him before he goes to sleep or before he gets up in the morning. Such is one of the Emperor's working days in ordinary circumstances. In extraordinary circumstances William II imposes yet greater labour on himself. Think for a moment of the additional work imposed on him by the visit of a king or any sort of prince. All the business of the day is done by him no matter what happens. Even when the visit of some great personage obliges him to spend half the day at repast, drive some walks and ceremonies. On these occasions his time is so partialed out that it is often not till eleven o'clock in the morning that he can go into his study to glance at the newspapers or read a new scientific, political or literary book. It is past eleven at night before he can dispose himself to sleep even then he rises if need be at four o'clock and begins again without interruption the business of the state. At the same time visits, military manoeuvres, inspections outside Berlin occupy a great deal of the Emperor's time. During a journey he is never a moment idle. In the salon carriage which is reserved for him he writes, looks up reports, signs papers etc. The evening after all the ceremonies at which he is obliged to be present, after the speeches and the toasts which he has had to listen to and to which he has had to reply he is very tired. But nevertheless when he is once more in his room he looks at papers, runs through documents and appends his signature. When he is away from Berlin which is the seat of government he is careful to attend to all business with even greater promptitude and attention than usual. During reviews and inspections the Emperor is on horseback from five o'clock in the morning till two in the afternoon. He has hardly time to take his hurried meals. Immediately afterwards he sets to work to study the business of state, has a levy in the afternoon and assists at fresh ceremonies. Outwardly he does not show the least fatigue or the least effort. There is a sort of cockatry in his way of having a pleasant word for each of his visitors. In these exceptional circumstances the Emperor has often not more than three hours for sleep. The next day he is on horseback, again at the earliest possible hour. Passionately, fond of life by the sea, he is particularly fond of the natural beauties of the North Sea coast. Even during his pleasure trips he devotes a great part of his time to work. At every place where he stops he finds dispatches, letters, reports for him and even on his yacht his act of spirit obliges him to read and study. It is true that he takes somewhat long voyages during the summer when the departments take their holiday. But the government machine never stops and William II has affairs to settle which require prompt execution. In spite of all the work which the Emperor imposes on himself he finds time to read most of the books of any importance which appear in Europe whether literary, scientific, religious or philosophical. A distinguished linguist having in particular a marvellous acquaintance with French and German he reads all these books not in translations but in the original. Therefore he is rarely at a loss when there is any discussion of a new book in order to be abreast of all these studies, this reading and these various labours. William II is penetrated with the idea that only the most absolute regularity in the employment of time can enable him to solve the apparently unsolvable problems of how to have sufficient knowledge of everything which attracts human observation. He was prepared for this life of work by the severe education he was subjected to. He was in fact brought up in a hard school. Each day he had only half an hour to pursue his own tastes. Knowing the value of time it is seldom indeed that he puts anything of till the morrow. A little theatrical in his manner even one might say, Capitone means literally strolling player but it is an untranslatable word and a footnote. He has nevertheless a strong sentiment that the chief of the state should not only be the representative of authority but also the most active collaborator in the life of the country of which he is the head. His mystical ideas have led him to believe that he holds his right to rule from the deity. He is one of the last believers in divine right of which Monsieur de Comte was the last representative in France. End of section 49, this recording is in the public domain recording by Chad Horner from Ballet Claire. Section 50 of Germany, the Netherlands and Switzerland. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org. The World's Story Volume 7, Germany, the Netherlands and Switzerland, edited by Eva March Tappin. Section 50, The German Fatherland by Ernst Moritz Arnt. Where is the Germans fatherland? The Prussian land? The Swabian land? Where rind the vine-clad mountain-laves? Where skims the gull the Baltic waves? Ah, no, no, no, his fatherland's not bounded so. Where is the Germans fatherland? Bavarian land or Stygian land? Where sturdy peasants plough the plain? Where mountain-sons bright metal gain? Ah, no, no, no, his fatherland's not bounded so. Where is the Germans fatherland? The Saxon hills, the Zoiders strand? Where sweet wild winds the sandy shores? Where loud the rolling Danube roars? Ah, no, no, no, his fatherland's not bounded so. Where is the Germans fatherland? Then name, then name the mighty land. The Austrian land in fight-renowned, the Kaiser's land with honour's crown. Ah, no, no, no, his fatherland's not bounded so. Where is the Germans fatherland? Then name, then name the mighty land. The land of hofferer, land of tell. This land I know, and love it well. But no, no, no, his fatherland's not bounded so. Where is the Germans fatherland? Is his the peaced and parceled land? Where pirate-princes rule a gem torn from the emperor's diadem? Ah, no, no, no, such is no Germans fatherland. Where is the Germans fatherland? Then name, oh, name the mighty land. Where air is heard the German tongue, and German hymns to God our song. This is the land, thy hermund's land, this German is thy fatherland. This is the German fatherland, where faith is in the plighted hand, where truth lives in each eye of blue, and every heart is staunch and true. This is the land, the honest land, the honest Germans fatherland. This is the land, the one true land, oh God, to aid be thou at hand, and fire each heart and nerve each arm to shield our German homes from harm, to shield the land, the one true land, one Deutschland and one fatherland. End of section 50. This recording is in the public domain. Recording by Alan Mapstone in Oxford, England. Section 51 of Germany, the Netherlands and Switzerland. Read for liprevox.org by Christine. The Netherlands part one from the Roman conquest to the Reformation. Historical note. The Low Countries were conquered by Caesar, but later the German tribes united and drove the Romans to the southward. When Charlemagne's empire fell to pieces, the Netherlands were first ruled by France, then by Germany. In 932 the northern part was given to one Count Dirk, the first Count of Holland. He and his successors ruled the land until 1299, when the throne fell to the House of Hanold. In order to obtain money for war, William IV of Hanold granted many privileges to the wealthy towns who were willing to become his creditors. This did much to break up feudalism and lessen the power of king and nobles. The next rulers were of the House of Bavaria. During the reign, windmills, which had been introduced a century earlier, came into general use, and the method of curing herring was discovered, leading to a valuable trade in the dry fish. The reign of the House of Burgundy began in the 15th century with Philip the Good, commerce flourished, and three schools art and literature met with generous encouragement. The Dutch learned how to refine salt, to weave linen and woolen, and to make handsome jewelry. They strengthened their dykes, and even if the Dutchmen coster did not invent printing, as the Dutch firmly believe, his countrymen were certainly the most enthusiastic practicers of the new art. Charles the Bold did his best to destroy the liberties of the country, and at his death the Dutch called together all the estates of the Netherlands to decide upon the wisest horse. This was the first meeting of the state's general. In 1477 this assembly issued the great privilege, the Dutch Magna Carta. Through the marriage of the daughter of Charles the Bold to Maximilian of Austria in 1482, the land passed into the hands of the Habsburg family. End of section 51. This recording is in the public domain. Section 52 of Germany, the Netherlands and Switzerland. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. The World's Story Volume 7, Germany, the Netherlands and Switzerland, edited by Evermarch Tappen. Section 52. Besieging a Roman camp, 54 BC, by T. Rice Holmes. Whenever a Roman army made a halt, if for only one night their camp was always carefully fortified with trench, rampart and palisade, it was such a camp as this that was attacked by Umbriorix. He had been successful in a previous engagement and now he induced the Atua Tuki and the Nervi to join him in another venture. The Roman leader Quintus Cicero was a brother of the orator Cicero. In substance, this account is taken from the narrative of Caesar, the editor. Umbriorix told the chiefs exultingly of his success. Here was such a chance as they might never have again. Cicero's camp was closed by Why should they not do as he had done? Swoop down upon the solitary legion, win back their independence for good and take a glorious revenge upon their persecutors. The chiefs caught at the suggestion the small tribes that owned their sway flocked to join them. The Eborones, flushed with victory, were there to help and the united host set out with eager confidence for their Roman camp. Their horsemen, hurrying on ahead, cut off a party of soldiers who were felling wood. Not the faintest rumour of the late disaster had reached Cicero and the gallic hordes burst upon him like a bolt from the sky. Their first onslaught was so violent that even the disciplined courage of the Romans barely averted destruction. Messengers were instantly dispatched to carry the news to Caesar and Cicero promised to reward them well if they should succeed in delivering his letters. Working all night with incessant energy the legionaries erected a large number of wooden towers on the rampart and made good the defects in the fortifications. The Gauls, who meanwhile had been strongly reinforced returned in the morning to the attack. They succeeded in filling up the trench but the garrisons still managed to keep them at bay. Day after day the siege continued and night after night and all night long the Romans toiled to make ready for the morrow's struggle. The towers were furnished with stories and metal breast-works of wattle-walk. Sharp steaks burnt and hardened at the ends were prepared for hurling at the besiegers and huge pikes for stopping the rush if they should attempt to assault. Even the sick and the wounded had to lend a hand. Cicero himself was in poor health but he worked night and day and it was not till the men gathered round him and insisted on his sparing himself that he would take a little rest. His complaints, his epicurean studies, his abortive tragedies were forgotten. He remembered only that he was a Roman general. Meanwhile the Nervian leaders who had expected an easy triumph were becoming impatient. They asked Cicero to grant them an interview. Some of them knew him personally and they doubtless hoped that he would prove compliant. They assailed him with the same arguments that Ambriorix had found so successful with Sabinus. They tried to frighten him by describing the massacre of Atuatuka and assured him that it was idle to hope for relief but they would not be hard upon him. All that they wanted was to stop the inveterate custom of quartering the legions for the winter in Gaul. If he and his army would only go they might go in peace with their so ever they pleased. Cicero calmly replied that Romans never accepted terms from an armed enemy. They must first lay down their arms. Then he would intercede for them with Caesar. Caesar was always just and would doubtless grant their petition. Disappointed though they were the Gauls were not disheartened. They determined to invest the camp in a scientific manner. From the experience of past campaigns they had got a rough idea of the nature of Roman siege works and now with the quickness of their race they were ready to imitate them. Some prisoners who had fallen into their hands gave them hints. Having no proper tools they were obliged to cut the turf with their swords and use their hands and even their cloaks in piling the sod. But the workers swarmed in such prodigious numbers that in three hours they had thrown up a rampart ten feet high and nearly three miles in extent. They then proceeded under the guidance of the prisoners to erect towers and to make sappers huts, ladders and poles fitted with hooks for tearing down the rampart of the camp. The huts which were intended to protect the men who had to fill up the trench and demolish the rampart were partially closed in front and had sloping roofs built of strong timbers so as to resist the crash of any stones which might be pitched onto them and were fully covered with clay and raw hides as a protection against fire. On the seventh day of the siege there was a great gale. The besiegers took advantage of it to fling blazing darts and white-hot balls of clay which lighted on the straw thatch of the men's huts and the wind swept flames flew all over the enclosure. With a yell of exaltation the enemy wheeled forward their towers and huts and planted their ladders at the moment they were swarming up. But all along the rampart their dark figures outlined against the fury background the Romans were standing ready to hurl them down harassed by showers of missiles half scorched by the fierce heat regardless of the havoc that the flames were making in their property every man of them stood firm and hardly won so much as looked behind. Their losses were heavier than on any previous day the Gauls too went down in scores for those in front could not retreat because of the masses that pressed upon them from behind. In one spot a tower was wheeled right up to the rampart the centurions of the third cohort could leave us through their men and with voice and gesture dared the Gauls to come on but none dared stir a step a shower of stones sends them flying and the deserted tower was set on fire everywhere the result was the same the assailants were the bravest of the Gauls of death they had no fear but they had not the heart to hurl themselves upon that living wall and leaving their slain in heaps they silently withdrew still the siege went on and to the varied and weakened legion its trials daily increased letters for Caesar were sent out in more and more rapid succession some of the messengers were caught in sight of the garrison and tortured to death there was however in the camp a Nervian named Vertico who just before the siege had thrown himself upon the protection of Cicero and had been steadfastly true to him by lavish promises he induced one of his slaves to face the dangers which to the Roman messengers had proved fatal the letter which he had to carry was fastened to a javelin and concealed by the lashing he paused his countrymen unnoticed made his way safely to Samarro Briva and delivered his dispatch none of the other messengers had arrived and so close was the sympathy between the peasants and the insurgents that Caesar had not heard a rumour of the siege everything now depended upon speed passing through the Nervian territory Caesar learned from some peasants who fell into his hands that Cicero's situation was all but desperate immediately he wrote a letter in Greek characters assuring him of speedy relief and offered one of his gallic horsemen a large reward to deliver it he told him in case he should not be able to get into the camp to ties a letter to the thong of a javelin and throw it inside dreading the risk of apprehension he did as Caesar had directed but the javelin stuck in one of the towers and remained unnoticed for two days a soldier then found it and took it to Cicero who read the letter to his exhausted troops as they gazed over the rampart they saw clouds of smoke floating far away over the west horizon and knew that Caesar was approaching and taking vengeance as he came that night Caesar received dispatch from Cicero warning him that the Gauls had raised the siege and had gone off to intercept him notwithstanding their heavy losses they numbered it was said some 60,000 men Caesar made known the contents of the dispatch to the troops and encouraged them to nerve themselves for the approaching struggle a short march in the early morning brought the legions to a rivulet running through a broad valley beyond which the enemy were encamped Caesar had no intention of fighting a battle against such heavy odds on unfavorable ground Cicero was in no danger and he was therefore not pressed for time he sent out scouts to look for a convenient place to cross the river meanwhile he marked out his camp on a slope and constructed it on the smallest possible scale in the hope of seducing the enemy to attack him but the enemy were expecting reinforcements and remained was aware at dawn their horsemen ventured across the river and attacked Caesar's cavalry who promptly retreated in obedience to orders sitting on their horses the Gauls could see inside the camp an attempt was apparently being made to increase the height of the rampart and to block the gateways there was every appearance of panic Caesar had told his men what to do and they were hurrying about the camp with a pretense of nervous trepidation the enemy hesitated no longer and in a short time they were all across the stream they had to attack uphill but that mattered nothing against such craven adversaries not even a sentry was standing on the rampart criers were sent round the camp to say that if any man cared to come out and join the Gauls he would be welcome till eight o'clock the gates looked too strong to be forced though there was really only a mock barricade of swords which could be knocked over in a moment the Gauls walked right up to the ditch and began coolly filling it up and actually tearing down the rampart with their hands when from right and left and front the cohorts charged there was a thunder of hooves and reeling backward in amazement before a rush of cavalry they flung away their arms and fled Caesar prudently stopped the pursuit lest his troops should become entangled in the outlying woods and marches but about three o'clock that afternoon the legions reached Cicero's camp without the loss of a man with keen interest Caesar asked for details of the siege and gazed with admiring wonder at the enemy's deserted works when the legion was paraded he found that not one man in ten was unwounded turning to Cicero he heartily thanked him for the magnificent stand which he had made and then calling out one by one the officers whom he mentioned as having shown a special bravery he addressed to them a few words of praise from some prisoners who had served under embryo ricks he gleaned details of the massacre at Atua Tuka next day he again assembled the men and described to them what had befallen their comrades the culpable rushness of a general officer had entailed a disaster but they must not be downhearted for providence and their own good swords had enabled them to repair the loss meanwhile the news of their leap had spread like wildfire before midnight it was known in the neighbourhood of Labionus Camp more than 50 miles away a number of loyal Romans hurried to congratulate the general and a shout of joy at the gates of his camp told him what had occurred Indutio Marus who was on the point of attacking him beat a hasty retreat a large force from the maritime tribes of Brittany and Normandy was advancing against the Camp of Roscus when an express came to warn them of Caesar's victory and they precipitately fled end of section 52 section 53 of Germany the Netherlands and Switzerland this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org the world's story the Netherlands and Switzerland edited by Evermarch Tappen section 53 the rebellion of civilis 69 AD by Caius Cornelius Tacitus one race of the people of the Netherlands the Batavians lived on an island at the mouth of the Rhine they were brave and warlike and finally they became allies of the Romans and joined the Roman armies for a long while they served the emperors as a bodyguard nevertheless they did not forget their own land and their former freedom and while Vitelius and Vespasian were contending for the sway of Rome they seized the opportunity to revolt their leader was a Batavian called civilis he is said to have made a speech to the Batavians the substance of which is given in the following extract civilis under the pretext of a banquet convened the nobles and bravest of the nation in a sacred grove and when he saw that they were warmed with midnight revelry and mirth he addressed them first expatating on the fame and exploits of the Batavians and then enumerating the wrongs of his countrymen the depredations of the Romans and all the other evils of Throldom indeed he said they were no longer treated as allies but as bond slaves when would a lieutenant general come to govern them though with a burdensome retinue and domineering authority they were now turned over to prefects and centurions who as soon as they have gorged themselves with spoils and blood are recalled a fresh set of rapacious creatures sent out and the same system of depredation carried on under various names a levy was just at hand by which children would be separated in a manner forever from their parents brothers from brothers the Romans were never at any period in so feeble condition neither had they ought in their winter quarters besides old men and plunder let them only lift up their eyes and they would see no reason to dread their shadowy unsubstantial legions on the other hand they had themselves an efficient force of foot and horse the Germans were their kinsmen the Gauls sympathized with them not even the Romans displeasure was to be apprehended in the war he advised in which if they failed they could lay the blame on Vespasian and if they succeeded there was no account to be rendered at all having been heard with zealous approbation from all according to barbarian forms and by the oaths and implications of their country then followed warfare the following is an account of one of the engagements civilists pressed the siege of the old camp keeping strict guard that no secret intelligence of coming suckers might reach the garrison the management of the battering engines and other war like preparations for the battavians the forces from beyond the Rhine who demanded the signal for action he ordered to advance and tear down the rampart and when they were repulsed he bade them renew the contest as he had a redundance of men and the loss of some of them would not be felt nor did the knight put a period to the effort the barbarians having placed heaps of wood around and set fire to them but took themselves to repast concurrently with their operations and as each grew warm with liquor they rushed with bootless temerity to the assault for indeed their darts were without effect from the darkness while the romans took aim at the barbarian line which was exposed to full view and singled out as marks whoever was conspicuous for his valor or the splendor of his decorations civilists assault the disadvantage and ordered the fires to be put out that all might be enveloped in darkness and the fight carried on without distinction then indeed dissonant noises were heard unforeseen accidents occurred there was no room for foresight either in striking or avoiding blows they faced about to the quarter when the shout proceeded and directed their weapons wither valor could profit nothing chance confounded all things and the bravest often fell by the hand of the coward the Germans fought with blind fury the romans soldiers endured to danger threw not their poles pointed with iron nor discharged their messy stones at haphazard whenever the sound of the barbarians sapping the foundations of the walls or of the scaling ladders applied to their ramparts presented the enemy to their attack they drove the assailants down with the bosses of their shields and followed them up with their javelins many who made good their way to the top of the walls they stabbed with daggers after a night spent in this manner the day disclosed a new mode of conflict the Batavians had reared a turret two stories high which as it approached the Praetorian Gate where the ground was most even was shivered to pieces by strong bars brought forward for the purpose and beams which were made to impinge upon it many of those who stood upon it were annihilated and an attack was made upon the assailants in their alarm and confusion by a sudden and successful sally at the same time more machines were made by the legionary soldiers who excelled in skill and ingenuity one in particular struck the enemy with terror and ammunition one in particular struck the enemy with terror and amazement it was an instrument poised in the air and having an oscillatory motion by which when suddenly let down one or more of the enemy were born aloft before the faces of their comrades and then by turning the whole mass were discharged within the camp civilists abandoning the hope of storming the place again had recourse to a leisurely blockade employing the enemy with terror and amazement it was an instrument poised in the air and having an oscillator emotion in undermining the fidelity of the legions by messages and promises at length the Gallic allies of civilists deserted him and even his own people seized to trust him moreover they had become completely discouraged and had concluded that it was useless to try to oppose the Romans there was nothing for him to do but to make the best terms of peace that he could he and the Roman commander met on a bridge if it could be called a meeting for civilists stood on one end and the Roman general on the other and the center of the bridge was broken away unfortunately no one knows what they said for the story stops here history does not tell what become of civilists the editor end of section 53 section 54 of Germany, the Netherlands and Switzerland this is a Lieberbach's recording all Lieberbach's recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit Lieberbach's.org the world's story volume 7 Germany, the Netherlands and Switzerland edited by Eva March Tappen section 54 Howl Count William of Holland was made a knight 1247 from the old chronicles the theory of the Middle Ages was that the king owned the whole country but as he could not cultivate it all or even defend it he gave large districts of it to his chief men each man when he received his share knelt before the king with uncovered head laid his hands in those of his sovereign and vowed to be his man and to serve him faithfully then the king kissed his vassal or leshman and gave him a bit of turf and a twig to indicate that he was to hold the land and what grew upon it often when land was granted to a man he was required to make a small payment of money or produce this was not rent but merely an acknowledgement that the property was not his but his lords it was sometimes nothing more than a measure of grain or a fish or two from some river flowing through the land the service required by the king was usually service and war when there was need of fighting he had a right to call out his vassals to fight for him but every vassal divided his land into portions and gave it to people who now became his vassals and vowed to be faithful to him each vassal then called out those who were under him and they were all obliged to go out to help do battle this was the feudal system in short the lord must protect and the vassal must serve it was a tenure of land and of service the editor after all had been made ready in the cologne cathedral the aforesaid squire william after a solemn mass was brought before the cardinal by the king of bohemia with the following words your eminence gracious father we present this chosen squire respectfully in treating that your reverence will accept his vow so that he may be worthily received into our nightly community the squire starting out from the signification of the word night everyone who wishes to be called a knight must be constant noble, generous, spotless and strong constant in adversity, noble of birth generous in honor, spotless and courtly intercourse strong and manly courage but before you make your vow you shall first hear with mature consideration what duties the rule of the nightly order first of all with pious attention to hear mass daily for the catholic faith bravely to throw your life into the breach to save holy church and its servants from assailants to protect widows children and orphans in need to avoid unrighteous wars to refuse unjust reward to accept combat for the deliverance of any innocent person not to visit tournaments except for exercise and fighting in temporal matters to leave the state unimpaired in power not to alienate the feats of kingdom and empire to live blamelessly before God and man if you zealously observe and diligently follow these laws of the nightly order so far as you can or know how hear then that on earth you will deserve honor for a time and after this life eternal rest in heaven when this was said the Lord cardinal laid the squires folded hands in a missile speaking will you then in the Lord's name pious they accept the order of knighthood and to the best of your ability observe the rule explained to you word by word the squire answered to this I will the Lord cardinal now handed the squire the vow which the squire read in the hearing of all as follows I will you chief of the holland knighthood free fugitory of the holy empire swear in presence of my Lord Peter cardinal deacon of St. George and legate of the papal seat on this gospel which I touch with my hand to observe the rule of the order of knighthood the cardinal answered may this pious bow be the true deliverance from your sins amen when this was over the king of Bohemia gave a law blow on the squires neck with these words to the honor of almighty God I ordain you night and receive you with congratulations into our company and remember that the savior was struck and mocked at before you in the presence of King Herod was covered with a robe and laughed at and in presence of the whole people was crucified naked and wounded on the cross I count you to bear his suffering in mind I command you to take up his cross also I'd manage you to avenge his death when this had all solemnly been accomplished the young squire began after a mass with Blair of trumpet, clanger of bell and beat of drum a thrice son and afterwards fighting with the naked sword he ended his squireship celebrated with great spender a feast of three days and showed his liberality by ample presence to all the noblemen in the section 54 this recording is in the public domain section 55 of Germany the Netherlands and Switzerland this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer LibriVox.org the world story volume 7 Germany the Netherlands and Switzerland edited by Eva March Tappen section 55 how Philip van Artevelde was made governor of Ghent 1386 by Sir John Fressard toward the end of the 14th century Philip van Artevelde was made governor of Ghent and leader of the people in their war against the count Philip was successful but soon King Charles VI of France came to the aid of the count Philip's army was routed and he himself was slain the editor when Peter Dubois saw Ghent this weekend in her captains and soldiers and deserted by her allies that the principal inhabitants began to tire he suspected they would readily give up the war but that whatever peace or treaty they should enter into with the Earl there would be an order of recollection John Leon who had been his master and with what art he had worked he saw plainly he could not do everything himself not having sufficient weight nor knowledge to govern the town neither did he wish for the principal command being solely desirous of leading every mad enterprise he in consequence turned his thoughts to a man of whom the city of Ghent had not any suspicions, one of sufficient prudence, though his abilities son of Jacob von Artevelde, who had ruled over all Flanders for seven years. Peter Dubois had heard it related by his master, John Lyon, and the old people of Gent, that the whole country was never so well-governed, feared, loved, and honored as during the time of Jacob von Artevelde's reign, which lasted for seven years. The inhabitants added that if Jacob von Artevelde were alive, things would not be in the state they are now in. They should have a peace according to their wishes, and the Earl would be too happy to forgive them. These words made an impression on Peter Dubois. He recollected that Jacob von Artevelde had left a son called Philip, a handsome and agreeable man to whom the Queen of England, when she was at Gent and during the time of the Siege of Tornay, had stood godmother, and who, from respect to her, had been christened Philip. Peter Dubois came one evening to Philip's house, who resided with his mother, maintaining themselves honorably on their rents. Peter, having arranged in his own mind what he should say, thus opened the matter in the cause of his coming. If you will listen to me and follow my advice, I will make you the greatest man in Flanders. How will you do this? replied Philip. I will tell you, for we are at this moment in the utmost want of a leader of a good name and fair character. By this means we shall rouse the men of Gent through remembrance of your father's fame, for everyone says that Flanders was never so flourishing nor so much feared as during his lifetime. I will easily place you, if you be willing, in his situation, and when there you will govern according to my advice, until you shall find yourself master of the business, which you will soon acquire. Philip, who was arrived at manhood and naturally wished to advance himself in honor and wealth more than he then possessed, replied, Peter, you offer me great things, and if I be placed in the situation you saw, I swear on my faith that I will never act without your advice. Peter asked, can you be cruel and proud? For a great man among the commonality, and in particular among such as we shall have to do with, will not be thought anything worth if he be not feared and dreaded, and at times renowned for his cruelty. It is thus that the Fleming's wish to be governed, and among them men's lives should be no more valued nor should they have more pity shown to them than swallows or larks which are caught in the proper season for the table. By my troth, answered Philip, I know well how to act this part. All then goes well, said Peter, you are just such a one as I want, and the chief I look for. On saying this he took leave and departed to his own house. Night passed and day returned when Peter Dubois went to a square where there were upward of four thousand of his followers and others, assembled to hear the news, to discuss how matters ought to be carried on, and who should be the governor of the town. The Lord de Harzell was there, who chiefly conducted the affairs of Gent, but he would not undertake to do anything out of the town. Some named him for governor, others were also nominated. Peter, who was listening attentively, having heard many names, raised his voice and said, Gentlemen, I have paid every attention to all you have said, and firmly believed that you have been induced through your love and affection for the honor and wealth of the town of Gent to propose such who are worthy to have a share in the government of this city. But I know one who in no way is thinking of it, and if he would undertake the government, there could not be anyone found of greater abilities nor of a more propitious name. Peter Dubois was called upon to name him, which he did by saying, It was Philip von Artevelde who was christened at the font of St. Peter's in Gent by that noble Queen of England, Philippa, who was his godmother at the time when his father, Jacob von Artevelde, was at the Siege of Tornay with the King of England, the Duke of Brabant, Duke of Gelders, and the Earl of Heno, which Jacob von Artevelde, his father, governed the town of Gent in the country of Flanders better than has ever been done since, from all I hear from those who have it strong in their memories. Flanders had been for some time lost if, through his sense and good fortune, he had not regained it. Now it behooves us to love the branches from such a valiant man, preference to any other person. No sooner had Peter Dubois done speaking than the idea of Philip von Artevelde filled everyone's mind and encouraged them so much that they unanimously cried out, Let him be sought for! We will not have anyone but him for our governor. No, no, said Peter Dubois, we will not send for him. It will be much better we go to his house, for we do not at present know how he will take it. We ought not by any means to suffer him to excuse himself from accepting it. At these words those present took the road to Philip's house, followed by many others who had been informed of their intentions. When they arrived there, the Lord de Harzell, Peter Dubois, Peter Lanvite, and about ten or twelve of the principal tradesmen addressed him, saying, That the good town of Gent was in the greatest danger for want of a chief, with whom alliances might be formed both at home and abroad, and that all ranks of people in Gent had given him their voices and chosen him to be their sovereign. For the good remembrance of his name and thy love, they had born to his father, made him more agreeable to them than anyone else. For which reasons they entreated him affectionately to take on him the government of the town? With the management of their affairs both within and without, and they would swear to him obedience and loyalty as completely as to their Lord. They likewise engaged to bring everyone how great so ever he might be, under his obedience. Philip, after hearing everything they had to say, made the following prudent reply. Gentlemen, you require great things from me, and I should imagine you have not weighed the matter so maturely as it ought to have been when you offer me the government of Gent. You say the affection your ancestors had for my father has been your great inducement. When he had performed for them every service in his power, they murdered him. If I should accept the government in the manner you request, and be afterwards murdered, I should gain but a miserable recompense. Philip, said Peter Dubois, who cod at these words which seem to make his choice doubtful. What has passed cannot now be amended. You will act from the advice of your council, and by thus continuing you will ever be so well advised that all mankind shall praise you. Philip answered, I should never wish to act otherwise. They then elected him, and, conducting him to the marketplace, he was there sworn into office. The mayors, sheriffs, and rulers of companies were also sworn to obey him. In this manner was Philip von Artevelde made savor and effrent. He acquired great popularity at the commencement, for he spoke to everyone who had any business with him politely and prudently, so that he was beloved by all. End of section 55. This recording is in the public domain. Section 56 of Germany, the Netherlands, and Switzerland, read for Liberfox.org by phone. The Childhood of Charles V, a reading by Erasmus, by Edward Jean Conrad Haman, Belgian painter, 1819, painting page 302. In the year of Columbus's great discovery, Erasmus left a monastery and began life as a scholar, and the scholar he became, one of the first of his times. He refused all advancement in the church, and at first criticized the church, and welcomed the ideas of Luther and the Reformation. However, he was never a reformer in the Lutheran sense, and remained a Catholic. He believed that the people needed nothing but teaching, and that as they grew wiser, the points which deserved criticism would be amended. Erasmus was made a counsellor in the royal household of Prince Charles, afterwards Charles V, and had to do with the education of the young Prince. In his Christian Prince, which he wrote for Charles, he said, God has given you an empire without bloodshed. His will is that you preserve it ever free from blood. May it come to pass that through your goodness and wisdom we may at last have a rest from these mad wars. Peace will be made precious to us by the memory of evil's past, and our gratitude to you will be double by the misfortunes of other times. Dr. Emerton says, all this to Charles of Burgundy, already most Catholic king of Spain, within a year to be elected Holy Roman Emperor, and destined for the next generation to turn Europe into a battlefield for objects in which no one of his numerous subject peoples had the remotest interest. In this picture Charles is shown, at the age of 11, seated on his throne in the Palace of Brussels. Beside him is his guardian Margaret, daughter of the Emperor Maximilian of Austria, this boy who was destined to become the most powerful ruler of his age had inherited the rich provinces of the Netherlands five years before this time. Five years later he inherited from his mother the kingdom of Spain with its vast possessions in America, and in 1519 he was elected Emperor of Germany. End of section 56, this recording is in the public domain. Section 57 of Germany, the Netherlands and Switzerland, read for LibriVox.org by Alan Mapstone. The Netherlands Part 2, How Holland Won Her Freedom. Historical note, at the death of Ferdinand of Aragon, Charles V of the House of Austria, who had inherited the Netherlands from his father, became also ruler of Spain. His reign was on the whole tolerable to the Netherlands. He had been brought up in their province, and they thought of him as one of themselves. With his son Philip II, to whom Charles resigned his throne in 1556, the case was different. He was a gloomy, conscientious bigot, with neither sympathy nor liking for the liberty-loving Dutch. The doctrines of Martin Luther were making great headway in the country, and to combat them Philip II introduced, or revived, the terrible Inquisition. Moreover he filled the chief offices with Spaniards and quartered Spanish soldiers upon the people. Disturbances broke out, churches were sacked, and although quiet was at last restored, Philip sent the Duke of Alva, with 20,000 veteran troops of Spain, to punish the unhappy provinces. Under the merciless rule of Alva and his council of blood, thousands of the Dutch were tortured or put to death, and thousands more fled the country. When, in 1568, extraordinary taxes were imposed on the people, the 10th penny from the price of every article sold, and the hundredth part of every income, and the Inquisition declared the inhabitants of the Netherlands heretics, and at one stroke sentenced them all to death, with a few named exceptions, the provinces rose in revolt, and embarked on one of the most memorable wars of all history. In 1579, the Southern Catholic provinces, forming what is now Belgium, submitted to Spanish rule. In the same year, the seven Northern provinces united in what is called the Union of Utrecht. William the Silent, Prince of Orange, the rebel leader, was made hereditary stat holder. In 1584, William was assassinated, and his place was taken by his 17-year-old son, Maurice of Nassau. Maurice proved to be a skillful general, and he was aided by a brilliant man of business, John of Barnvelt, who managed with the utmost wisdom the financial affairs of the provinces. In 1648, after a struggle of 80 years, the independence of the Dutch Republic was acknowledged. The People of the Netherlands had no desire to match their little strength against the mighty power of Spain, then the foremost nation of Europe. Without first exhausting every peaceable means of maintaining their rights. In 1566, a party of nobles decided to present a petition, setting forth their grievances to the Spanish king's half-sister, Margaret, Duchess of Parma, whom he had made regent of the country, the editor. It was about six o'clock in the evening, on the third day of April 1566, that the long expected cavalcade at last entered Brussels, an immense concourse of citizens of all ranks thronged around the noble confederates as soon as they made their appearance. They were about two hundred in number, all on horseback with pistols and their holsters, and greater road, tall, athletic, and marshal in his bearing, with handsome features and fair-curling locks upon his shoulders, seemed an appropriate chieftain for that band of Batavian chivalry. The procession was greeted with frequent demonstrations of applause, as it wheeled slowly through the city till it reached the mansion of Orange Nassau. Here, Braderode and Count Louis alighted, while the rest of the company dispersed to different quarters of the town. They thought that I should not come to Brussels, said Braderode, as he dismounted. Very well. Here I am, and perhaps I shall depart in a different manner. In the course of the next day Counts Coulomburg and Vandenberg entered the city with one hundred other cavaliers. On the morning of the fifth of April the Confederates were assembled at the Coulomburg mansion, which stood on the square called the Saban. Within a few minutes, walk of the palace. A straight handsome street lad, from the house along the summit of the hill, to the splendid residence of the ancient Ducs of Berbant, then the abode of the Duchess Margaret. At a little before noon the gentleman came forth, marching on foot, two by two, to the number of three hundred. Nearly all were young, many of them bore the most ancient historical names of their country. Everyone was arrayed in magnificent costume. It was regarded as ominous that the man who led the procession, Philip de Villeau, was laying. The line was closed by Braderode and Count Louis, who came last, walking arm in arm. An immense crowd was collected in the square in front of the palace to welcome the men who were looked upon as the deliverers of the land from Spanish tyranny, from the cardinalist and from the inquisition. They were received with deafening husses and clappings of hands by the assembled populace. As they entered the council chamber, passing through the Great Hall, where ten years before the emperor had given away his crowns, they found the emperor's daughter seated in the chair of state, and surrounded by the highest personages in the country, the emotion of the Duchess was evident, as the procession somewhat abruptly made its appearance. Nor was her agitation diminished as she observed among the petitioners, many relatives and retainers of the orange and egg-malt houses, and saw friendly glances of recognition exchanged between them and their chiefs. As soon as all had entered the senate room, Braderode advanced, made a low, obeisance, and spoke a brief speech. He said that he had come thither with his colleagues to present a humble petition to her highness. He alluded to the reports which had been rife that they had contemplated to molt, sedition, foreign conspiracies, and, what was more abominable than all, a change of sovereign. He denounced such statements as columnies begged the Duchess to name the men who had thus dispersed an honourable and loyal company, and called upon her to inflict exemplary punishment upon the slanderers. With these preparatory remarks he presented the petition. The famous document was then read aloud. Its tone was sufficiently loyal, particularly in the preamble, which was filled with protestations of devotion to both king and duchess. After this conventional introduction, however, the petitioners proceeded to state, very plainly, that the recent resolutions of his majesty, with regard to the edicts and the inquisition, were likely to produce a general rebellion. They had hoped, they said, that a movement would be made by the seniors, or by the estates, to remedy the evil by striking at its cause, but they waited in vain. The danger, on the other hand, was augmenting every day. Universal sedition was at the gate, and they had therefore felt obliged to delay no longer, but come forward the first and do their duty. They professed to do this with more freedom, because the danger touched them very nearly. They were the most exposed to the calamities, which usually sprang from civil commotions, for their houses and lands situate in the open fields, were exposed to the pillage of all the world. Moreover there was not one of them, whatever his condition, who was not liable at any moment to be executed under the edicts, at the false complaint of the first man who wished to obtain his estate, and who chose to denounce him to the inquisitor, at whose mercy were the lives and property of all. They therefore begged, the Duchess Regent, to dispatch an envoy on their behalf, who should humbly implore his majesty to abolish the edicts. In the meantime they requested her highness to order a general surcease of the inquisition, and of all executions, until the king's further pleasure was made known, and until new ordinances made by his majesty, with advice and consent of the state's general duly assembled, should be established. The petition terminated, as it had commenced, with expressions of extreme respect and devoted loyalty. The agitation of Duchess Margaret increased very perceptively during the reading of the paper. When it was finished she remained for a few minutes quite silent, with tears rolling down her cheeks. As soon as she could overcome her excitement she uttered a few words to the effect that she would advise with her counselors and give the petitioners such answer as should be found suitable. The Confederates then passed out from the council chamber into the Grand Hall. Each individual, as he took his departure, advancing towards the Duchess, and making what was called the Caracal, in token of reverence, there was ample time to contemplate the whole company, and to count the numbers of the deputation. After this ceremony had been concluded, there was earnestly debate in the council. The Prince of Orange addressed a few words to the Duchess, with a view of calming her irritation. He observed that the Confederates were no seditious rebels, but royal gentlemen, well-born, well-connected, and of honourable character. They had been influenced, he said, by an honest desire to save their country from impending danger, not by avarice or in ambition. Aigmont shrugged his shoulders and observed that it was necessary for him to leave the court for a season, in order to make a visit to the Baths of Aix, for an inflammation which he had in the lave. It was then that, mere laymont, according to the account which has been sanctioned by nearly every contemporary writer, whether Catholic or Protestant, uttered the guide, which was destined to become immortal, and to give a popular name to the Confederacy. What, madam? he reported, to have cried any passion. Is it possible that your highness can entertain fears of these beggars? Yeah? Is it not obvious what manner of men they are? They have not wisdom enough to manage their own estates, and are they now to teach the king and your highness how to govern the country? By the living god, if my advice were taken, their petition should have a cudgel for a commentary, and we would make them go down the steps of the palace a great deal faster than they mounted them. The Duchess finally agreed to send an envoy to Philip, who should lay before him the wishes of the hollanders. She promised also to order the inquisitors to act modestly and discreetly. Whatever that might imply, she declared that she could do nothing more. Meanwhile, the next important step in Greta Rhoad's eyes was a dinner. He accordingly invited the Confederates to a magnificent repast, which he had ordered to be prepared in the Coulomburg mansion. Three hundred guests sat down, upon the 8th of April, to the luxurious banquet, which was destined to become historical. The board glittered with silver and gold. The wine circulated with more than its usual rapidity among the band of noble pecanals, who were never weary of drinking the healths of bread or of orange and of eggplant. It was thought that the occasion empirically demanded an extraordinary carouse, and the political events of the past three days lent an additional excitement to the wine. There wasn't an earnest discussion as to an appropriate name to be given to their Confederacy. Should they call themselves the Society of Concord? The Restorers of Lost Liberty, or by what other attractive title should the league be baptized? Greta Rhoad was, however, already prepared to settle the question. He knew the value of a popular and original name. He possessed the instinct by which adroit partisans in every age have been accustomed to convert the reproachful epithets of their opponents into watch words of honour. And he had already made his preparations for a startingly theatrical effect. Suddenly, amid the din of voices, he arose, with all his rhetorical powers at command. He recounted to the company the observations which the Signor de Berlemont was reported to have made to the Duchess, upon the presentation of the request, and the name which he had thought fit to apply to them collectively. Most of the gentleman then heard the memorable Sarkanson for the first time. Greta was the ignorant nation of all that the State Councilor should have dared to stigmatize as beggars a band of gentlemen with the best blood of the land in their veins. Greta Rhoad, on the contrary, smoothing their anger, assured them with good humour that nothing could be more fortunate. They call us beggars, he said. Let us accept the name. We will contend with the inquisition, but remain loyal to the king, even till compelled to wear the beggars sack. He then beckoned to one of his pages, who brought him a leathern wallet, such as was worn at that day by professional medicants, together with a large wooden bowl, which also formed part of the regular appartendences. Greta Rhoad immediately hung the wallet around his neck, filled the bowl with wine, lifted it with both hands, and drained it at a drop. Long live the beggars! he cried, as he wiped his beard and set the bowl down. Vivent legale! Then for the first time from the lips of those reckless nobles rose a famous cry, which was so often to ring over land and sea, amid blazing cities, on blood-stained decks, through the smoke and carnage of many a striken field. The humour of Greta Rhoad was hailed with deafening shouts of applause. The count then threw the wallet around the neck of his nearest neighbour, and handed him the wooden bowl. Each guest, in turn, donned the medicants' knapsack. Pushing aside his golden goblet, each filled the beggars' bowl to the brim, and drained it to the beggars' health. Roars of laughter and shouts of Vivent legale! shook the walls of the stately mansion, as they were doomed never to shake again. The chivalry was invented. The conjuration which they had been anxiously seeking was found. Their enemies had provided them with a spell which was to crew, in after days, potent enough to start a spirit from palace to hovel, forest or wave, as the deeds of the wild beggars, and the beggars of the sea, talked Philip at last to understand the nation, which he had driven to madness. When the wallet and the bowl had made the circuit of the table, they were suspended to a pillar in the hall. Each of the company in succession then threw some salt into his goblet, and placing himself under these symbols of the brotherhood, repeated a jingling dish-ditch produced in Promptupe for the occasion. By this salt, by this bread, by this wallet, we swear, these beggars' narrow will change, though all the world should stare. This ridiculous ceremony completed the rites by which the Confederacy received its name. But the banquet was by no means terminated. The uproar became furious. The younger and more reckless nobles abandoned themselves to revelry, which would have shamed, heathen, Saturnalia. They renewed to each other every moment, their vociferous oaths of fidelity to the common cause drained huge beakers to the beggars' health, turned to their caps and doublets inside out, danced upon chairs and tables. Several addressed each other as Lord Abbott or Reverend Prior, of this or that religious institution, thus indicating the means by which some of them hoped to mend their broken fortunes. While the tumult was at its height, the Prince of Orange, with Counts Horne and Egmont, entered the apartment. They had been dining quietly with Mansfeld, who was confined to his house with an inflamed eye, and they were on their way to the council chamber, where the sessions were now prolonged nightly to a late hour. Knowing that Hoggstructon, somewhat against his will, had been induced to be present at the banquet, they had come round by the way of Coulomburg House to induce him to retire. They were also disposed, if possible, to abridge the festivities which their influence would have been powerless to prevent. These great nobles, as soon as they made their appearance, were surrounded by a crew of beggars, maddened and dripping with their recent baptism of wine, who compelled them to drink a cup amidst shouts of vivent les raux et le glow. The meaning of this cry, they of course could not understand, for even those who had heard Berlemont's contemptuous remarks might not remember the exact turn which he had used, and certainly could not be aware of the importance to which it had just been elevated. As for Horne, he disliked and had long before quarreled with Brederoode, had prevented many persons from signing the compromise, and although a guest at that time of Orange was in the habit of retiring to bed before supper to avoid the company of many who frequented the house, yet his presence for a few moments, with best intentions, the conclusion of this famous banquet, was made one of the most deadly charges which were afterwards drawn up against him by the Colonel. The three seniors refused to be seated, and remained but for a moment the length of a misere, taking with them, obstructing, as they retired. They also prevailed upon the whole party to break up at the same time, so that their presence had served at least to put a conclusion in the disgraceful riot. When they arrived at the Council Chamber, they received the thanks of the Duchess for what they had done. Such was the first movement made by the members of the compromise. Was it strange that Orange should feel little affinity with such companions? Had he not reasoned to hesitate? If the sacred cause of civil and religious liberty could only be maintained by these defenders and with such assistance, the beggars did not content themselves with the name alone of the time honored fraternity of Medicans, in which they had enrolled themselves. Immediately after the Cullenburg banquet, a costume for the Confederacy was decided upon. These young gentlemen discarding gold lace and velvet thought it expedient to array themselves in doublets and hoes of ash and gray, with short cloaks of the same color, all of the corset material. They appeared in the skies in the streets, with common-felt hats on their heads, and beggars' pouches and bowls at their sides. They caused also metals of lead and copper to be struck, bearing upon one side the head of Philip, upon the reverse, two hands clasped within a wallet, with the motto, faithful to the king, even to wearing the beggar's sack. These badges they wore around their necks, or as buttons to their hats. As a further distinction they shaved their beards close, accepting the mustaches, which were left long and pendant in the Turkish fashion, that custom, as it seemed, being an additional characteristic of Medicans, very soon after these events the nobles of the league dispersed from the capital to their various homes. Frederoad rode out of Brussels at the head of a band of Cavaliers, who saluted the concourse of a plodding, spectators with a discharge of their pistols. Forty-three gentlemen accompanied him to Antwerp, where he halted for a night. The Duchess had already sent notice to the magistrates of that city of his intended visit, and warned them to have an eye upon his proceedings. The great beggar, as Hogstraten called him, conducted himself, however, with as much propriety as he could be expected. Four or five thousand of the inhabitants thronged about the hotel, where he had taken up his quarters. He appeared at a window with his wooden bowl filled with wine in his hands and his wallet at his side. He assured the multitude that he was ready to die to defend the good people of Antwerp, and of all the Netherlands against the edicts and the Inquisition. Meanwhile he drank their healths and begged all who accepted the pledge to hold up their hands. The populace highly amused, held up and clapped their hands as honest Frederoad drained his bowl, and were soon afterwards persuaded to retire in great good humor. End of section 58. This recording is in the public domain.