"No--no!--not me!--not me! _my father!_" Strange, tragic little tale! As to the Church, a curious situation existed at that moment in Strasbourg.

The Archbishop, a good man, of distinguished German birth, was respected and liked by his clergy, who were, however, French in sympathies almost to a man.

The Archbishop, who had naturally excused himself from singing the victors' Te Deum in the Cathedral, felt that it would be wiser for him to go, and proposed to Rome that he should resign his see.

His clergy, though personally attached to him, were anxious that there should be no complications with the French Government, and supported his wish to resign.

But Rome had refused.
Why?
No doubt because the whole position of the Church and of Catholicism in these very Catholic provinces represents an important card in the hand of the Vatican, supposing the Papacy should desire at any time to reopen the Church and State question with Republican France.