True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1855-12-19
gelttt Gale,
THE PLAGUE OF ZURICH.
BY HELEN MAITLAND.

-"' '' BY HELEN MAITLAND.
4 ''whsre sleep they, Earth? BY no proud stone
Their narrow couch of rest is known"
~ ",0N the pleasant site of the old Helveti-
an Thuricum stood the town of Zurich,
long renowned for industry, intelligence,
wealth not too unequally distributed, and
the genuine civic spirit of it's burghers.
A general and unwearied love of the laws
had for ages been the chief support of the
government, and the cordial and familiar
usages handed down by their forefathers re-
mained in all their simplicity.
Nor were science and art strangers in
Zurich. The renowned songsters of those
days, the Mennesingers, found hospitable
welcome with the principal burghers. And
nowhere was greater effect produced than
at Zurich, by the doctrines of Arnold, of
D. .Brecia, scholar of Abelard's, and one Of
the most acute and nquiring spirits of his
age. ...i
But alas for that fair town alas for that
braye and, for the age, enlightened people!
-" The scourgc OF Asia, the fearful plague,
soon saddened the trumphs of Swiss valor,
and affixed stain upon Swiss humanity,
which it is difficult to believe could have
been so widely spread, even by the super
ii stiton of those days.
- Our story opens in the midst of the Bit
ter persecution of the Jews, which COM
.. menced at the breaking out of the plague {;
and, unlike most violent popular commo-
tions, continued from year to year, and
spread from canton to canton, until that
crually treated people were almost exter-
minated throughout Switzerland.
' The frightful mortality occasoned by an
unknown and mysterious disease was, by
their ignorance and fear, ascribed to Divine
vengeance, for permitting the outcasts OF
:. Israel an abiding-place and many privileges
within the walls of their city. This belief
prevailed among many of the pious and in
Auential burghers, and was openly encour-
aged by their fanatical priests. The rab.
BILE were not slow in ascribing the awful
visitation to more direct agency, and ac'
cused the Jews Of poisoning the wells
When we add to the strong impelling mo.
htives, religious enthusiasm and fear, the
siavarice of few, who covetedthe contents
Of the Golfers of the wealthy Jew, howev'
er much they might despise the race, We
may see how little mercy one of that ma
tion might hope to receive at the hands o
Il his judges and accusers.
.a But let US return to the city. An unu
,sual crowd might be see, and tumult heard
drowning the monotolous rattle OF tn
death-carts rolling through the principa
streets. All tended to one point, the Fran
ciscan Convent, within whose open court
or rather the open square in front of tn
building, pitiless tragedy was soon to b
enacted.
in Four stakes were firmly driven into tn
ground, and to each a hapless Jew wa
echained. Two Of them were men bowe
down with age and infrmity and, as thel
long, white hair foated in the breeze, an
their dim and sunken eyes looked in val
upon that sea of scowling faces for, som
sign of human sympathy, some faint ray
pity, the bitterness of death might be rea
in the groan which escaped from the
trembling lips. The third was youth
and, in the erect form, eagle eye, glancir
ever and anon with an expression of bite
burning hate upon his ruthless foes, oil
smight see the high-soued> victim of o
preston. The chains which bound him
cruel deathhad eaten into his soul like
canker. Hadhe lived in his nations pain
ltdays, before the curse Of the God Of b
fathers had passed upon the people, Z
would doubtless have been one Of the
schosen warriors. The fourth--shame up
the sightl--was one of Isracl's lovelit
daughters, churged with the double criI
of ,witchcraft and poisoning as..
!, Fagot upon fagpt was piled around t
victims, and more than one willing ha
was ready TO pppl!y. the torch. The pi
around the old men were kindling, and |
eager crowd pressed more closely, until
length the barrier was broken down, 0