THE WISCONSIN FARMER     27E



          FOREIGN NEWS.

  Prince Christian, of Denmark, a3 is now
understood, refuses the throne of Greece. In-
stead of begging for a king, let them remem-
ber their own glorious history as the first re-
public on the globe, when they gave laws and
language to the greater part of the civilized
world. Greece begging for a king! The world
has not seen so pitiable a spectacle.
  The Polish insurrection keeps gaining
ground, and the European powers are all tak-
ing a hand in the matter. Uncle Sam. has
been invited to dip his spoon in the porridge,
but Sec'y Seward answered that under no cir-
cumstances could we depart from the doctrine
of non-intervention.

      -NATIONAL       AFFAIRS.

  All is once more excitement.  The rebels
have invaded Maryland and Pennsylvania.
One division of Lee's army is fortifying Ha-
gerstown, as a base of operations, from which
point they send scouting and foraging expedi-
tions into the rich valleys of Pennsylvania.
Strange to say, Hooker seems to pay no sort of
attention to the matter, and no serious attempt
has been made to hinder the invasion or to
drive them out. The opinion seems to be gain-
ing ground that Hooker has been completely
outgeneraled.
  The rebels are now in the immediate vicini-
ty of South Mountain and Antietam, where
McClellan gave them such a severe defeat last
summer.   And if they are suffered to work
months upon their fortifications unmolested, it
may take a harder campaign than the former
one to dislodge them.  The action of the au-
thorities seems inexplicable, and the apathy of
the militia of Pennsylvania remarkable, to say
the least.
  Matters at Vicksburg are progressing slow-
ly and surely.  Banks is also besieging Port
Hudson. We soon expect to hear of the fall
of both these rebel strongholds, and then the
Mississippi is clear.
  A few days will probably bring us stirring
news.



EDITORIAL MISCELLANY.

  Editorial Notes of European Travel.
-BASEL TO FRANicrORT-ON-TtE-MAIN, Via
STRASIDERo, BADEN-BADE- AND HETDsNtLaxa.
JUNE, 1862.-I had made up my mind to at-
tend religious service in the great Cathedral of
Strasberg, and, accordingly, early in the day,
crossed the Rhine and took the train for that
noted city.
  The country along the route is a fertile val-
ley, very happily protected by the Jura moun-
tains, which slope northeastward. Arrived at
Kehl Junction in the afternoon, in company
with a multitude of Swiss and German peas-
ants, who were likewise disposed to avail them-
selves of that custom everywhere practiced on
the continent, of practically regarding Sunday
just as good a day as any other! Distance to
Strasberg one or two leagues, and as the east-
ern boundary of France lies between, my pass-
port was put into requisition.  Don't know
whether I should have been compelled to spend
the rest of my days in Germany but for the
good fortune of having' it, or not. As it was,
however, I was soon examined as to the con-
tents of traveling bag, &c.,and allowed to pass
once more into the grand empire of the French.
                STRAgDERiG
  During the middle ages subject to the Ger-
man emperors and the capital of Alsace, was
ceded to Louis XIV, in 1681, and is now one
of the strongest fortified towns in Europe. It
lies in the midst of a broad plain and on the
river Ill, about a mile from its confluence with
the Rhine. Surrounded by a strong wall, en-
tered by 7 gates, it is further protected by
bastions, ditches, outworks, and a citadel at
the eastern extremity, with five bastions whose
outworks stretch down to the Rhine. Further,
the river Ill flows directly through the city
from southeast to northeast, and at its entrance
there is a sluice, by means of which the sur-
rounding country can be flooded with water.
Just below this sluice, the river divides into
five branches, whicl, however, re-unite before
they issue on the other side of the city.
Bridges, consequently, abound.



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