German EntJatsiasm. 301 



The Germans are generally a very quiet, rather phlegmatic 

 people, and I was greatly astonished at the sudden change 

 that had come over them. Their enthusiasm was wonderful to 

 witness, and still more so was the manner in which it expressed 

 itself. There was no mad shouting and bragging to be heard 

 anywhere, but the face of each reservist or recruit one met in 

 the street showed that he came with a good will ; ajl were 

 fully convinced that they would not have been called from 

 their fields and firesides if there was no good cause for it; 

 for their confidence in their superiors was unbounded, as was 

 their love for their country and the King standing at its head. 

 Even those who did not understand the real cause of the war 

 did not grumble ; they were wanted by their King to defend 

 his honour, identical with that of his people, their beloved 

 Fatherland, and its boundary stream, the Rhine, against its 

 nearest neighbour. As this neighbour had provoked the war 

 when least thought of, everybody supposed tliat the French 

 were fully prepared, and it was therefore believed that their 

 columns were already in full movement towards the Rhine, 

 and that they would reach that river before the Prussian army 

 was ready. This circumstance caused much anxiety amongst 

 officers and private soldiers, and spurred everyone to the 

 greatest possible exertions. Whenever a day passed without 

 any news from the French it was considered as a great gain, 

 for it was a day won for the necessary preparations. Though 

 rather inclined to over- value the efficiency of the French army 

 and the bravery of its soldiers, nobody was afraid of them if the 

 Prussian army could once gain its position. 



On July 1 7 the Queen took leave of her regiment. She told 

 Salm that she had received my letter, and was much pleased 

 W'ith my desire to follow the army, and that I might do so at 

 the proper time. I therefore went next day to Bonn to attend 

 in the hospitals, and to learn still as much as possible. There 

 I found the Princess Wied, Countess Renno, and Countess 

 Nesselrode, who remained with Professor Busch in the hospi- 

 tal from the morning until six o'clock p.m. to become acquainted 

 with the duty of nurses. 



I had requested the Professor to take me with him in the 

 field if he should go, and he consented, giving me at the same 

 time a certificate, stating that I had studied one month in the 

 cliniqiie, and that I was able to do very good service. 



