t as a key to the meaning and intention of the attractive
narrative before us.

The two national elements may be thus generally characterized: The
Prusso-German element is Protestant; the Polish element is Catholic.
Possessing equal rights, the former is continually pressing onward with
irresistible force, as in Ireland, in virtue of the principles of
industry and frugality by which it is animated. This is true alike of
landlord and tenant, of merchant and official.

The passionate and ill-regulated Polish element stands forth in
opposition--the intellectual and peculiarly courteous and accomplished
nobility, as well as the priesthood--but in vain. Seeing that the law
secures perfect equality of rights, and is impartially administered;
that, besides, the conduct of the German settlers is correct and
inoffensive, the Poles can adduce no well-grounded causes of complaint
either against their neighbors or the government. It is their innate
want of order that throws business, money, and, at length, the land
itself, into the hands of Jews and Protestants. This fact is also here
worthy of notice, that the Jewish usurer is disappearing or withdrawing
wherever the Protestant element is taking firmer ground. The Jew remains
in the country, but becomes a citizen, and sometimes even a
peasant-proprietor. This phenomenon is manifesting itself also in other
places where there is a concurrence of the German and Slavonic elements.
In Prussia, however, there is this peculiarity in addition, of which
Freytag has made the most effective use--I mean the education of the
Prussian people, not alone in the national schools, but also in the
science of national defense, which this people of seventeen millions has
in common with Sparta and with Rome.

It is well known that every Prussian not physically disqualified, of
whatever rank he be, must become a soldier. The volunteer serves in the
line for one year, and without pay; other persons serve for two or
three years. Thereafter, all beyond the age of twenty-five are yearly
called out as militia, and drilled for several weeks after harvest. This
enactment has been in force since 1813, and it is a well-known fact,
brought prominently forward in the work before us, that, notwithstanding
the immense sacrifice it requires, it is enthusiastically cherished by
the nation as a school of manly discipline, and as exercising a most
beneficial influence on all classes of society. This institution it is