are
crowded with old women of both sexes who have nothing else to do but
disgrace themselves. Each sees in his neighbour a Russian or French
spy, and imagines that it is his duty to thrash both him _and_ the
policeman who intervenes, till the blood flows; if not that, then at
least to cause an enormous crowd to gather in giving the alleged spy
over to the police. Clouds become hostile airmen, stars are mistaken
for airships and the cross-bars of bicycles are thought to be bombs;
bridges have been blown up, telegraph and telephone wires cut in the
middle of Stuttgart; spies have been shot and water supplies poisoned!
It is impossible to imagine what will happen when serious events
really come.

"It has been proved that up till now there has not been the slightest
reason for all this alarm; but yet, judging by appearances, we are
living in a huge lunatic asylum. Everyone, if he is not a coward or a
dangerous idler, should be quietly doing his duty, for the times are
already serious enough.

"Policemen! continue to keep your heads cool. Be men as you were
formerly, and not women. Do not allow yourselves to be frightened at
straws; keep your eyes open and do your duty!

"BILLINGER,

"Director of Police.

"Stuttgart."

It is not surprising that this humorous police commander expressed his
indignation in the forceful Swabian manner. Here are a few telegrams
which had been sent to Berlin from Stuttgart, or still more probable,
manufactured by the official Press Bureau in Berlin.

"A considerable number of Russians and French--including several
women--have been arrested in Stuttgart to-day under the suspicion of
practising espionage. One of these arrests was made in the top-floor of
the Central Post Office, where the apparatus connected with the
telegraph office are to be found.

"More arrests are about to be made in the environs. It has been
established that numerous attempts have been made during the last few
days to blow up the railway bridges. In Freudenstadt a gypsy's wagon was
seized which contained a quantity of explosives."[40]

[Footnote 40: _Berliner Tageblatt_, August 3rd.]

"Some of our contemporaries (Oh, shade of Pecksniff!--Author) announced
yesterday that in Stuttgart eighty, according to other reports, ninety
millions in French gold had been seized. In answer to our inquiry at the
principal office of the Wuertemberg State Railways we were informed that