Letters and newspapers remained there till called for, and were brought to us intermittently when some one of our neighbours happened to pass that way.

Current history was thus administered to us in big doses.
One very big dose I remember well.

For a much longer time than usual no volunteer letter-carrier had appeared, and the delay was more than usually tantalising, because it was known that war had broken out between France and Germany.

At last a big bundle of a daily paper called the Golos was brought to me.

Impatient to learn whether any great battle had been fought, I began by examining the latest number, and stumbled at once on an article headed, "Latest Intelligence: the Emperor at Wilhelmshohe!!!" The large type in which the heading was printed and the three marks of exclamation showed plainly that the article was very important.