It was characteristic of them, though, that, until word came of the
first German success, there was no general flying of flags in the town.
Now flags are up everywhere--the colors of the Empire and of Prussia,
and often enough just a huge yellow square bearing the spraddled, black,
spidery design of the Imperial eagle. But there is never any hysteria;
I don't believe these Prussians know the meaning of the word. It is
safe to assume that out of every three grown men in front of a bulletin
one will be a soldier.

Yet, considering that Germany is supposed, at this moment, to have
upward of five million men in the field or under arms, and that
approximately two millions more, who were exempt from call by reason of
age or other disabilities, are said to have volunteered, you would be
astonished to see how many men in civilian dress are on the streets.
Whether in uniform or not, though, these men are at work after some
fashion or other for their country. Practically all the physicians in
Aix are serving in the hospitals. The rich men--the men of affairs--are
acting as military clerks at headquarters or driving Red Cross cars.
The local censor of the telegraph is over eighty years old--a splendid-
looking old white giant, who won the Iron Cross in the Franco-Prussian
War and retired with the rank of general years and years ago. Now, in
full uniform, he works twelve hard hours a day. The head waiter at this
hotel told me yesterday that he expected to be summoned to the colors in
a day or two. He has had his notice and is ready to go. He is more
than forty years old. I know my room waiter kept watch on me until he
satisfied himself I was what I claimed to be--an American--and not an
English spy posing as an American.

So, at first, did the cheery little girl cashier in the Arcade barber
shop downstairs. For all I know, she may still have me under suspicion