Springfield Weekly Republican

POLICE TYRANNY IN AUSTRIA.—The tyranny of the Austrian police is nearly as bad as that of our "southern brethren" now in rebellion because they are balked from extending their peculiar system over the whole country. Recently an Austrian peasant was busy in front of his house harnessing his horse to a loaded cart. It was early in the morning. The gendarme on duty happened to pass by, and observed that the little tablet, having inscribed on it the number of the persons there resident who were liable to the conscription, was not in its place on the door of the house. He taxed the peasant therewith, and noted in his pocket book this transgression of the recruiting law. The peasant excused himself, saying that the tablet had been blown down by the wind during the night, and that the children had found it by daybreak and had taken it into the house. He would fetch it and fasten it up again. So he left his horse, and stepped indoors. Transgression No. 2: "A horse without a keeper." The gendarme entered the house; the dog sprung out and barked at him. Third transgression: "Dog left at large." The peasant's wife was just kindling the fire, and confounded at all this, she hurried out with a piece of half-lighted wood in her hand to drive in the dog. Fourth transgression: "Imprudent use of fire." The peasant, in despair at all the penalties impending over him, scratched his head and said to himself, "Now, God help us, one don't know how to live in one's own house along of these gendarmes." Although the remark was in a low tone, the practiced ear of the gendarme caught it. Transgression No. 5: "Unbecoming expressions and opposition to the gendarmerie."