[To THE EDITOR OF TUB "SPECTATOR.") SIR, —In reference to the
last of the admirable letters of "Vigilans sed 2Equus " in the Spectator of March 14th, the following may be interesting. Some fifteen years ago I heard a Dutch lady tell this story, which indicates (as did many other things she said) the strong suspicion of German aims that existed in Holland. A certain Dutch diplomatist of high position, on a visit to Berlin, was attending a review at Potsdam, and Bismarck, who had him in charge, and was anxious to impress him to the utmost with the military spectacle, was surprised, as regiment after regiment went by, at his invariable comment, " Not tall enough; not tall enough." At length, a Guards battalion of particularly fine physique having passed, was received with the same " Not tall enough," and Bismarck, nettled, asked the Hollander how he could expect to see anywhere finer men than these before him. The answer was : " Yes, they are tall, but when we open the dykes in Holland we can flood the country to 10 ft., so your soldiers would be still not tall enough."—I am,
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