Our German schools are far more strict, severe, and exigent, and the instruction they give, especially in foreign languages, is much more thorough than in America. However, our schools secure these qualities at the sacrifice of elasticity of spirit among the pupils, and lesser attainment in nonlinguistic branches. That American education accomplishes its object is proved by the high technical evolution of the country. . . . And the pleasure the children take in their work! The difference in their relations

toward their teachers! These are educational factors to be prized, though if carried too far they have their defects, as does our strict discipline.

Professor Strecker alludes to the preponderance of women in the teaching profession, but sees some advantages in this. He attributes to it the greater respect that women enjoy in America, and the healthier relations between the

sexes.

But the soundest feature of American education, in his opinion, is the absence of social distinctions throughout the period of education. . . . "The supercilious lieutenant and the arrogant corpsstudent would be impossible in such an atmosphere.'

NATIONALIZATION IN RUMANIA

RUMANIA'S new constitution, just adopted after a struggle which has cost the lives of several ministries, contains an article decreeing that 'all mineral and underground wealth of whatever nature is the property of the state.' Compensation is not mentioned, but Parliament is allowed to fix the share of the eventual profits from such wealth that the present owners are to receive. The clause has naturally caused some alarm to investors not only in Rumania itself but likewise in other countries. In practice, however, it promises to do

Government to collect a royalty on petroleum and minerals. Similar royalties are already collected in the form of a tax by some Canadian provinces, by Pennsylvania on coal, and by Minnesota on iron ore.

The Rumanian Government has formally declared that it has no intention of exploiting the mines and oil wells of the country directly, but that it proposes to prevent these forms of wealth from falling into foreign hands. However, the presence of this provision

in the constitution and it will be impossible to repeal it, because the newly enfranchised peasants are its enthusiastic supporters is regarded as a step toward eventual nationalization, and the Radical parties contemplate such action as soon as they gain power.

SELF-HELP IN VIENNA

A CORRESPONDENT of the London Observer calls attention to the fact that the gloom that for four years has rested over Vienna is not unbroken by some rays of light. Indeed, the initiative and spirit of self-help shown by the city's distressed tenants and homeless families might well be imitated elsewhere.

Altmannsdorf-Hetzendorf, a new suburban settlement, 'consists of about 400 little houses, largely built by the dwellers themselves; another 400 cottages are being built, and by the end of this year 1200 will be finished. Many persons drifting back from the war could not find a roof over their heads. They built little wooden huts in Schrebergärten (vegetable gardens), and later on, with the help of their wives and children, transformed those huts into cottages. Thus almost desert country has been turned into settlements. At first the financial side of the enterprise offered the greatest difficulties. But the pioneers formed a coöperative

society; they secured material cheap, and produced as much as possible themselves, doing the hardest work imaginable. The municipality has so far granted them twelve billion kronen (£36,000), and another eighteen billions are at the further disposal of the settlers for new buildings. Assistance has also been given by the English Mission of Friends. Every settler is obliged to do 1500 to 2000 (in some cases even 3000) hours' work without payment.

'Herr Adolf Müller, a member of the Provincial Diet and one of the pioneers of the movement, showed us his charming little house, a model of hygiene, and the well-fitted workshops of the settlement, where most of the things wanted for building purposes are made, in part by the settlers themselves. Herr Müller told us that they have gained enormously in health, and that a strong sense of companionship prevails. All alcoholic drinks are banned. The settlers form a little republic governed by the committee, who are appointed by the dwellers.

'Finally we were shown the beautifully situated Rosenhügel settlement, which commands a magnificent view; 470 houses are to be erected here, of which 153 have been started and 108 are already finished. Doctors, painters, and sculptors, who built those places with their own hands, are among the settlers. We saw an original little cottage, of which the roof consisted of old tins left about the ground by excursionists.'

JAPAN'S MILITARY RETRENCHMENT

SINCE August of last year Japan has retired about 850 officers, including seven generals, and the Government announces that it will shortly discharge from the service 1371 additional officers, including four generals, 17 lieu

tenant-generals, and 33 major-generals. Many of the army and navy officers placed on the retired list have entered the Department of Economics of the Imperial University for the purpose of qualifying themselves for civilian occupations. The Herald of Asia observes in this connection: "To see officers, or rather ex-officers, of high rank, such as rear-admirals and major-generals, returning to the school benches, which they must until recently have thought would be forever but a childhood memory, is rather inspiring, and the fact that these men are ranking among the foremost of the students demonstrates their determination to make the best of the circumstances which have befallen them so unexpectedly.'

AN ASTROLOGER AT WORK

SINCE 1918 an astrologer, who is said. at one time to have possessed the confidence of Kaiser William II and his family, has been living in strict retirement at Berlin. Recently he cast the horoscope of four distinguished public men for a reigning house in southern Europe. The men in question were President Ebert, Chancellor Cuno, Poincaré, and Lloyd George.

The curious may find these horoscopes printed in the Prager Tagblatt of May 3. Cuno is promised little success in 1923 and 1924, but at the end of the latter year will be under the influence of a happier constellation, which may bring him a radical change of fortune. This astrologer, who is reputed to have prophesied Rathenau's violent death, does not agree with his confrères in predicting a similar death for President Ebert, although conditions exist that demand great caution on the part of the German President.

Late in 1924 or early in 1925 Poincaré is to become exceedingly unpopular in his own country. His personal

fortunes are likely to be influenced by a woman of royalist sympathies, whose acquaintance he will make early in 1924. Lloyd George, who at some future date will again be brought into political opposition to Poincaré, is described as still far from the end of his public career.

PEONAGE IN ARGENTINA

APROPOS of the measures discussed at the Pan-American Congress in Santiago for the protection of dependent races, La Prensa points out that this is a question of wider import in Argentina. Not only the uncivilized Indians but citizen laborers are subject to great oppression in some of her northern provinces.

In 1904 Argentina provided by law for 'protectors of the natives' and for some ten years the national Department of Labor has investigated and reported upon their condition. These investigations have revealed serious abuses similar to those that prevailed in Mexico under the Diaz régime, when Indian laborers were recruited in the more thickly settled sections to work upon the henequin planations of Yucatan.

Recruiters penetrate to the remotest villages of the tropical forests of the northern Argentine in search of labor. The Indians, often accompanied by their families, are induced to leave home by the promise of high wages, promises that are not kept after they have reached their destination. They are brought to the railway in long caravans and transported from that point on flat cars 'with accommodations worse than those provided for live stock.'

They are herded on the estates under the open sky, without sufficient food and destitute of everything that distinguishes men from animals. Notwithstanding this, they are a very valuable class of labor, since most of them combine extraordinary physical strength with natural docility. They accomplish as much as civilized workers of the better class, and the pay they receive is substantially nothing, for their low wages are in the form of orders, valid only at the plantation store, where they are charged incredibly exorbitant prices for the poorest quality of goods. The natives also have a natural love of alcohol, which is played upon to induce them to take their balances at the end of their contracts in liquors.

FASCISTI AND POPOLARI

WE take the following suggestive comparison of the Fascisti and the Popolari from the Rome correspondence of Kölnische Zeitung:

The conflict is not only between two dictators Mussolini, the founder of Fascism, and Don Sturzo, the founder of the Popular Party- but simultaneously a conflict be tween two fundamentally different tendencies. Behind it, if we go deep enough, is the old feud between Ghibellines and Guelphs; between the ancient-pagan and the mediaval-spiritual conception of the State. The Fascisti seek a centralized, nationalist, imperial, highly disciplined, and powerful government, ruled by an oligarchy; the Popolari seek a decentralized, democratic, parliamentary government, with a maximum of personal and political liberty. In the field of foreign policy their differences are equally striking. Fascism champions the sacro egoismo of a national imperialism whose ambitions are limited only by the power of its rivals, while the Popolari advocate peace and international coöperation. Don Sturzo has been laboring more than a year to organize a 'white international' embracing the Catholic parties of every country.

WHEN the advance against Peking reached Tungchow, the generals assembled for a council of war. General Linevich, Commander of the Russian contingent and the auxiliary troops, declared that his men were so exhausted by the excessive heat that he must halt for two days. He must also wait for the arrival of the river junks with supplies. After a long consultation it was agreed to rest one day and on August 15 to advance with all forces against Peking. During the night of August 13 a movement started in the Russian camp and the advance really began at that time, although the foreign generals were not notified. The other contingents, with the exception of the French, followed as rapidly as they were able. I do not know what caused General Linevich to make this move. Rumor has it that a messenger reached him from the Russian Embassy in Peking, urging the utmost haste.

The Russians marched along the main road north of the canal with the Japanese upon their right. The English and the Americans followed the main highway south of the canal. Since the 'Chinese City' (of Peking), which lay directly in the line of march of the latter, was not defended, a few Indian soldiers managed to scale the outer wall

and to open a gate from the inside, permitting their forces to march through. Later they attacked the much higher southern wall of the inner or Tatar City, the English striking it at the Hata Gate and west of that point facing the business quarter, while the Americans advanced against the Chien Gate.

Both the Hata Gate and the Chien Gate were defended by Chinese, but the wall between was not garrisoned. This enabled a few Englishmen to crawl under the wall without firing a shot, at the point where it is pierced by the canal that divides the business section into two parts. They thus were able to enter the Tatar City. Immediately the Chinese abandoned the two gates, which were opened from the inside and seized by the English and the Americans. The English troops were utterly exhausted and rested the remainder of the fourteenth, but the Americans exchanged shots from the Chien Gate with the Chinese, who had fortified themselves at the two gates and the temples south of the Forbidden City.

The Russians, with the Japanese upon their right, struck the Tatar City along the eastern wall, which was heavily garrisoned by Chinese. They attacked vigorously, and late in the

afternoon forced their way into the city with the loss of some two hundred men, taking possession of the quarter lying nearest them. The Japanese pushed forward farther than their neighbors. The French pillaged Tungchow on August 14, and were reported to have perpetrated great atrocities there. Numerous Chinese, including many Christians, were slaughtered.

The first troops that France sent to China were colonial forces under the command of General Frey. The other contingents engaged in the advance against Peking - that is, the English, that is, the English, Americans, Japanese, and Russians, particularly the latter- had a very poor opinion of these forces. The French were charged with being ill-disciplined, especially when on the march and toward the natives, with falling behind the other troops, and with lack of snap and spirit. Russian officers were especially severe in their criticisms, which they expressed so frankly that relations between the two contingents were from the outset most unfriendly. Russian generals spoke very contemptuously of the French. The Brigade Baillaud and the Regiment Chasseurs d'Afrique, which came later, and the artillery, were unquestionably much better, but discipline was inferior throughout the French forces, especially in case of the infantry.

The French did not reach Peking until early on August 15. They joined the Americans in light skirmishing on the southern edge of the Forbidden City and the western portion of the Tatar City. Among all contingents a disposition to pillage grew with the obstinacy of the Chinese resistance. The French officers were not able to get their men forward to the Catholic Cathedral, which was hard pressed and where more than three thousand Chinese and European Christians, with Bishops Favier and Jarlin, had found

refuge. This cathedral had been be sieged since June 14. The Christians shut up there were not rescued until the sixteenth, and then by the Japanese, who penetrated to that point from the north of the Imperial City. On the fifteenth the Americans had serious friction with the Russians and the French over the delimitation of the districts that they were to plunder. Rumor has it that they came near to exchanging shots.

The Japanese were the driving force in the advance against Peking. Had it not been for their push and energy, the expedition would have been appreciably delayed. In addition, they were far better equipped and better informed concerning conditions and topography. All the other contingents were clumsy in their field operations. The leading spirit among the Japanese was not General Yamaguchi, the division commander, but General Fukushima.

During the six weeks of anarchy that had reigned in Peking, the Chinese wrought wreck and ruin on every hand. This was quite as true of the Government soldiers as of the Boxers. Many civilian inhabitants of the city had also participated in the carnival of pillage and destruction. The Imperial City was garrisoned by reliable troops and was completely cut off from the Tatar City and the still remoter Chinese City that successively encircled it; but beyond its borders burning, pillaging, and murder were unchecked. The first victims were naturally the Christians, of whom there were at least ten thousand in Peking, and the numerous missionary institutions. The next victims were those reputed to be friendly to foreigners. False witness and private vengeance played a great part in these atrocities, as always happens in China. Hordes of beggars and thieves also took advantage of the opportunity to enrich themselves.