AN EXTRAORDINARY LETTER.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume III, Issue 676, 30 June 1882, Page 2

AN EXTRAORDINARY LETTER.

Herr Cohen, Professor of Mental Science, having received notice from the German Chancellor to present himself at Schrimm (Prussia) for military service under the conscription, has re turned the following reply : —“ My dear Bismarck, —I feel highly flattered by your kind invitation addressed to me at Dolziz, my native town, to join the German army, but am afraid I shall not be able to accept it, for I am now in England engaged in the more useful work (as I consider it) of expounding mental science and teaching people how to make the best use of their faculties. For the same reason I scarcely feel myself at liberty to accept even the hospitality of six months’ board and lodging at the expense of the State, which you considerately offer as an alternative. I much prefer Busking in the sunshine of English liberty to being forced despotically into mili-

tary servitude in ray own country. I have<altogether given up fighting since I left school. Ido not know that I have anything to fight about now, and I hardly care to engage in fighting at anyone clse’s bidding. If you have a quarrel with anybody I would advise you to settle it amicably if possible, or else fight it out yourself. If you have _* fixed up’ the army, and you can make it convenient to run over at any time to one of my phrenological lectures, I shall be happy to point out the superiority of life in Eugland, and explain the nature and utility of the, as I say, more useful work which I am engaged in; and 1 will examine your head either publicly or privately free of charge. With kind regards to the Emperor, I remain, yours faithfully, Gustavus Cohen.”