The Albany Register

An Incident of the Late War

The dark horrors of war are relieved by occasional gleams of humanity, which make one feel all the more saddened by the records of strife between men who ought to be brothers. During the investment of Metz it was common for the German sentries at the outposts to leave a portion of their rations for the famished sentries of the besieged army. A day's rations were also willingly given up on the capitulation. One of the war correspondents of the London press describes the following scene:

This afternoon I witnessed a very touching scene. A French soldier of the thirty-third line regiment, belonging to the corps of General Frossard had been made prisoner at the outposts. He is a native of Jouy-aux-Arches, where his wife and children now reside. On his way to Corny, where the head-quarters of the prince are now situated, he asked permission to be allowed to see his wife and children. Need I say that the request was immediately granted? The poor woman, half delirious with joy, asked to be allowed to accompany her husband at least to Corny. This was also acceded to; but then came the difficulty about the bairns. The woman was weak and could not carry her baby, and at home there was no one to mind it; as for the little chap of five, he could toddle by his father's side. The difficulty was, however, overcome by a great big Pomeranian soldier, who volunteered to act as nurse. This man had been quartered close to the poor woman's house, and the little ones knew him for he had often played with them. When, therefore, bidding the poor wife be of good cheer, he held out his big, strong arms to the little infant, it came to him immediately, and nestling its tiny head upon his shoulders, seemed perfectly content. So did the Prussian soldier carry the Frenchman's child. When I first saw the group the wife was clasped in her husband's embrace, the little boy clung to his father's hand, while the Prussian soldier with the baby in his arms stalked along by their sides. Then the Frenchwoman told her husband how, when she had been ill and in want of food, the Prussian soldiers had shared their rations with her. had fetched wood and water, had lit the fire, had helped her in their own rough, kindly way; until at last those two men, who belonged to countries now arrayed against each other in bitterest hate—who, perhaps, a few days since fought the one against the other—embraced like brothers; while I, like a great big fool, stood by and cried like a baby. But I was not alone in my folly, if folly it be: several Prussian officers and soldiers followed my example for we all had wives and children in far-off lands.

"How did you learn that graceful attitude?" said a gentleman to a fellow leaning in a maudlin fashion against a post. "I have been practicing at a glass," was the reply.

The 'Galaxy' says that the reason the Russians are so slow in availing themselves of the electric telegraph is because of their aversion to the elevation of the Poles!