Soon two French armies and the Emperor surrendered, and German troopers paraded the streets of captured Paris.
But as men thought it out, as Professor Wells tells us, they came to see that it was not France that was beaten, but only Louis Napoleon and a lot of nobles, influential only because they bore titles or were favorites.

Louis Napoleon, the feeble bearer of a great name, was emperor because of that name and criminal daring.

By a series of happy accidents he had gained credit in the Crimean War, and at Magenta and Solferino.

But the unmasking time came in the Franco-Prussian War, as it always comes when sham, artificial toy-men meet genuine self-made men.
And such were the German leaders,--William, strong, upright, warlike, "every inch a king;" Von Roon, Minister of War, a master of administrative detail; Bismarck, the master mind of European politics; and, above all, Von Moltke, chief of staff, who hurled armies by telegraph, as he sat at his cabinet, as easily as a master moves chessmen against a stupid opponent.
Said Captain Bingham: "You can have no idea of the wonderful machine that the German army is and how well it is prepared for war.

A chart is made out which shows just what must be done in the case of wars with the different nations.