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 300 THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SOCIOLOGY

sorts of obstacles in the way. The strictest police surveillance is maintained during the meetings. On some pretext or other that the formalities of law have not been complied with, that "politics" is being discussed, etc. the churches are arbitrarily closed, sometimes for years, and the pastors enjoined from officiating at any religious function, while the "case" is being tried back and forth in all the courts of the empire. When at last a supreme-court decision unbars the door, a policeman in uniform is stationed on the inside throughout the services, noting the names of those present and the words spoken, from the plat- form and between man and man for future reference.

This police espionage and persecution have gradually assumed forms the bare mention of which ought to be enough to arouse the indignation of all liberty-loving persons. The population is harassed in every conceivable manner. No annoy- ance seems too petty, no trick too mean, to gratify the officious arrogance of these excrescences on the great Prussian body politic. True, they often act on their own initiative, without the knowledge or consent of their superiors, who repeatedly have disavowed their acts when brought to their notice. But wherever the establishment of one's plainest rights, in the every- day affairs of life, involves no end of administrative red tape, or prolonged and costly litigations in court, a final vindication is often a Pyrrhus victory that many can ill afford. This fact, of which the subordinate police officials are well aware, only serves to render them the more overbearing.

A few illustrations, selected at random, and which could be multiplied ad infinitum, may serve to indicate the methods by which it is sought to inspire an unappreciative populace in North Sleswic with awe and admiration for its German masters :

It is forbidden to sing Danish songs of patriotic content, not only in public and in open air, but in one's own home. This ban has lately been extended to embrace songs by Norwegian authors. At gatherings of a strictly private character, such as weddings or birthday parties, a police eavesdropper will station himself under the windows and arrest anyone found guilty of this offense. Defendants are fined for talking Danish in court,