The German national celebration of Sunday in honour of Count
von Moltke was marked by a notable absence, that of Prince Bismarck. Ulysses sulked in his tent, while Achilles received his reward: The Emperor spared no pains to make the reception of the nonagenarian hero more than royal; he was received at the Schloss by the greatest Kings, soldiers, and statesmen of Germany, and the colours and trophies of the Guards were for one day transferred from the Palace to the Marshal's,- a ceremony never before performed, and intended to mark him out as sovereign among soldiers. The Emperor presented the Marshal before all this grand assembly with a new Field-Marshal's baton in silver and gems, and made a speech declaring him one of the founders of the German Empire, in whose favour he himself was proud to waive for a day his privilege as monarch, to have the flags of the Army standing in his antechamber. For once the stoicism of the old hero gave way, and he could only stammer as he kissed his Sovereign's hand. It rained, of course, telegrams of congratulation,—all Germans, with the exception of one great corporation, hastening to honour the first of German soldiers. The exception was the Municipality of Vienna, whose members, like the French people, do not understand that to be beaten by a man of genius diminishes the shame of defeat.
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