and the latter 33, in the average of all distances. The first two prizes were again taken by Glarus boys. This little people, renowned through its marksmen, has for the last seven years monopolized the first prizes.

Finally the warlike band marches home and the officers and instructors meet again at a social supper, which lasts until after midnight. Thus ends the manœuvre of Swiss boys.

The Swiss militia system may be our model. It will insure our internal peace and national independence. It will unite the citizens of all states into one band of brothers. Every people rears troublesome individuals. Switzerland had to contend with internal difficulties, factions, etc., as we have now, but the majesty of the law was upheld by the masses, and while the rebels were beaten in the field, the people of the different sections met again in friendship. And so, we trust, it will be with us. The day may not be distant when we shall want the strength of our whole beloved Union to maintain our position among the great nations of the earth. United we need not fear the world in

arms.

The Swiss are the most peaceable and industrious people, and at the same time the most warlike and ever-ready. In the idea of the Swiss, the citizen is inseparable from the soldier, lest the free man should become the slave of a domestic or foreign tyrant. The first advantage of this idea is, that Switzerland has not a standing army, and yet it can call into the field at any moment 200,000 well trained men in the flower of their age; a like number could be raised of younger men under twenty-one and above forty-five. 200,000 men is eight per cent of its population, according to which we could have about 2,200,000 citizen soldiers, not on paper only, but real soldiers. If we institute the cadet system the next generation will be a warlike one, and no American will even think of making a law, exempting the citizen from his first duty to appear in person for the defense of his liberties and independence. The whole amount of the Swiss military Budget is between four and five millions of francs, equal to ten millions of dollars for our 2,200,000 men—a trifle indeed.

From time to time the governors of neighboring states could unite the cadet-corps of different sections and invite the corps from distant states to send a contingent for a grand manœuvre. Such a proceeding would tend more to cement the band of brotherhood among the states than many artificial means. It would at the same time promote the good morals of the boys, if the governors were to select the

Federal and cantonal.

best delegates from their states. Every obdurate, mischievous individual should be expelled from the ranks, since the state must not suffer a bad subject to enjoy the honor of serving his country. What a wonderful change will take place in the disposition of our youth; when accustomed to the discipline of a soldier, many a bad habit will disappear entirely. They will become punctual and orderly in the execution of their duties in general, their step elastic, their carriage erect, their bodies strong, their chests large, their cheeks rosy, a joy to their parents and a pride to our people. The lad who leaves his city or his state, if furnished with a regular certificate from his drill-master, can enter a company in the place of his future residence, and be no longer a stranger but a brother-soldier-the member of a mighty association. He enters the circle of well educated boys at once, and is thus saved from the danger of associating with such as might corrupt his good habits. There are thousands of advantages to him and the country, and not a single disadvantage. Why shall we not seize upon the subject at once? Let our small state have the honor to be the first, as we already have the best regulated system of schools -primary, secondary, and higher institutions. Forward! forward!

In a subsequent article we shall give a description of a "Swiss Shooting Festival." It is an ancient custom with the Alpine people, but since the system of cadet corps has become perfected, these festivals have come off with a splendor that had never before been dreamed of. They unite the men of all sections and have gained quite a fame in Europe.

We implore all statesmen and teachers to take the system of miliitary drill and organization in schools into due consideration; not as a mere experiment, but as something that has proved an excellent success in a sister republic.

3. TARGET SHOOTING.

Having made military exercises a part of the regular routine of schools and the education of youths, and identified the vocation of the soldier with the privileges of citizenship and the safety of the state, the policy of the Swiss government, both cantonal and federal, has been directed so as to make the pastimes of neighborhoods and the national festivals minister to the general culture of a military spirit, and of the highest individual skill in the use of arms. To these ends target shooting is encouraged in various ways, and the festivals of the sharp-shooters are more generally and enthusiastically attended than any other national anniversary. We give below an account of a festival of this kind, which was held in Zurich in July, 1859.

A Festival of the Swiss Sharp-shooters.

The Frenchman has his rose festivals; the Italian his barcaroli; the Spaniard his bull-fights; the Englishman, since his cock-fights and boxing in the street are prohibited, has nothing left to him, for horse-racing as well as the Parliament belongs to the aristocracy only.* Germany has its popular festivals, though the potentates have suppressed even these harmless popular gatherings in several parts of the country.

In southern Germany and in the north-west you may still find the old-fashioned popular festivals. But Switzerland is their field; there in the land of freedom they flourish in the utmost freshness. They arouse and foster in the people the consciousness that they are a people-a nation; they awaken and strengthen the national spirit; they unite all citizens, whether they sit as legislators in the Diet, or till the ground in some unknown corner of the republic.

The festival begins at 6 o'clock, A. M., with the firing of cannon— one shot for each of the twenty-two cantons into which Switzerland is divided. The sharp-shooter festivals are the oldest of the Swiss popular festivals-the original fruits of a free warlike people. They are customary in every canton, in every community. But the Swiss sharp-shooter festival means that in which the whole country unites, and it has existed now for many, many years, always fresher and more beautiful, representing not only the united citizens of the Swiss cantons, but of Switzerland as a political power.

Such a festival takes place every second year. Then, thirty thousand free, warlike men, the best marksmen from all parts of the land, the "élite" of Switzerland's defenders, assemble with their rifles, which they handle with more skill than any other nation. They represent in fact the best men of their nation, the body guard of law and order, the rampart against hostile aggressions, and the stay of popular commotions. In such a noble assembly many a wise word is spoken, many an idea exchanged and corrected. The actions of the administration are subjected to a sharp but judicious and just criticism; you will not hear there ostentatious speeches, nor see noisy demonstrations. They do not pass resolutions such as we are wont to see in our country-a small clique of petty politicians announcing to the people that: The People of the State,. . . . resolved, etc.; but calmly they reason and reflect on what would be beneficial to all sections of the country, and after having reconciled the opposing interests of all,

The rifle shooting, cricket matches, and other popular sports of England seems to be overlooked by Professor Simonson.

they go home and work each in his circle for the realization of their ideas. There is a principle-not of blind opposition to actions, whether good or bad, simply because they proceed from another party -but the principle of doing justice to all, of upholding the rights of all, and of reconciling opposing interests. A people that has been educated in such principles and acts in accordance with them has reached the perfection of republicanism, and need not fear either internal or external foes. Every American patriot may take example from this little Alpine race; and since every one, man or woman, is by nature an educator, whether as director of a household, or as a teacher of other men's children, let us all unite in educating the growing generation in the right way, and our beloved country shall never again see brothers in arms against brothers.

Many a corrupt official has feared the criticism of the assembly of the Swiss sharp-shooters, and whatever "the men have resolved at the festival," is usually adopted by the people and carried through in a judicious, constitutional way.

At the above-mentioned day Zurich was all in a glee; the city adorned with flags, triumphal arches and evergreens, the streets thronging with people in Sunday dress who had come from far and wide to participate in the popular feast. The shrill sound of an engine is heard, and soon after the first company of guests from abroad forms in line at the railroad station. It is the delegation from the Bremen sharp-shooters, who have come from the far north of Germany to meet their brethren of the south. They are enthusiastically received by the crowd, the mayor addresses them and gives them a cordial welcome to the land of freedom. After one of their number has replied to the speech, the mayor leads the guests to a tent and invites them to partake of some refreshments; the best of native wines from the "Rathskeller" are offered, and many a toast spices the nectar.

An hour later the flag of the Swiss sharp-shooters is received and unfolded, while shouts and the roar of cannon rend the air. As we stated before, the festival of the United Sharp-shooters comes off once in two years, city and canton taking their turns. Two years before, in July, 1857, it had been celebrated in Berne, and the flag had remained there until now, when a deputation from Berne, delivers it to the sharp-shooters of Zurich, to be kept by them for the next two years; and so on.

As soon as the banner is unfurled the procession is formed, and the banner and guests are escorted to the City Hall, preceded by bands of music playing national airs. What a glorious sight! Man and nature

seem to revel together in joy. The bright morning sunshine gleams from the polished rifles and a thousand flags wave in the light breeze, while the procession is accompanied by crowds of men and women, boys and rosy-cheeked girls who, dressed in white and decked with red ribbons, in the national costume and colors, add an element of bewitching beauty to the scene.

Meanwhile other companies of riflemen nave arrived, and the lake is still covered with festively-adorned gondolas that are continually adding to the crowd of guests. At 10 o'clock the procession is again formed. It leaves the city and moves toward the "Seefeld," a large meadow on the shore of the lake, a short distance from the city. Here an immense hall has been erected. Behind it are arranged the targets and shooting-stands, and opposite we see a neat structure in the form of a temple, with many large windows, in which are exhib. ited the prizes, disposed in the most attractive manner. These prizes are of the value of 104,407 francs, and are the contributions of all parts of the world-every corner where a few Swiss are to be found, having furnished some small gift in honor of the national festival.

The procession halts in front of the temple. The Bernese deliver into the hands of the Zurich delegation the flag of the Swiss Rifle Corps, and Colonel Kurtz, of Berne, thus briefly addresses them: "When two years ago this flag was delivered into our safe keeping, peace reigned all around us; and but just now our country has come forth victoriously from a crisis in which we have shown, as we had never done before, that we are one band of brethren.* What we have hoped for is now realized, and we can carry this flag-the banner of the largest association in Switzerland-to the beautiful lake whose blue waters play around our sister town. We of Berne have held this flag in peace. Who knows whether you will be as fortunate, or whether you will be forced to plant it on the highest pinnacle of your good city, as a sign that the fatherland is in danger and calls upon her sons to defend her. Relentless war rages now on our borders; we know not whether the storm will pass over, or the thunderbolt strike in our midst."

Dr. Dubs replies in a brilliant speech: "We receive this banner and shall defend it. We are ready now for a joyous feast, and as ready at any time for the war-dance. Let the trumpet sound and

* He alludes here to the Neufchatel difficulty. This canton had been heretofore under the sovereignty of Prussia, and a handful of royalists made the attempt to sever it from all connection with the confederacy. The people defeated them and voted themselves independent. Switzer. land assisted them and Prussia gave up whatever rights she might have had.

†The Italian.