New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1856-06-02
. From Dir, Dorlu's Table TrnitS
Courage and Religion of a German


.tJE
There is q story told in connection with the grea
Frederick, which s good table trait u Us way q,
Joachim Won Ziethen was one Of the bravest OF the
generals who stood by Frederick the Great m VICTORY
or defeat He was the son Of poor gehtenall, any
/ had little education save what he could pee up N
4 barracks camps and battleieds in all OF which he
4 figured iii early youth. If his head was not oyerbal
Il lasted with learning his heartwas well Teighted with
that love for God Of when some pqrton, O. me ols
College tells u.s. Is in almost every individual without
q excention and forms the sheet anchor which shall
enable him to ride through the storms which keep
it from his desired haven of rest. He became the
Il terror Of the foes Of Prussia; but among his com
rades he was known only as good Father ziethen.
He was remarkable for his swtness at of resolve
and execution, and in remembrance as well as illus
tation thereof sudden surprise is spoken of by an
astonished Prnssian as falling on one like zeithe
| from an ambnsh.' 455
Now, old Ziethen, after the triumph achieved in
the seven years war, was always welcome guest at
the table of Frederick the Second. His place was
ever by the side of the royal master whose cause he
had more than once saved from ruin and lie only
sat lower at the table when there happened to be
present some foreign royal mediocrity, llusriously
obscure.
On one occasion he received command to dine
with the King on Good Friday. Ziethen sent mes
sage to his sovereign stating that it was impossible
for him to wait on his Majesty inasmuch as that he
made point of never emitting to take sacrament
On that day, and Of always spending the subse
A week elapsed before the scrupulous old soldier
was again invited to the royal dinnertable. Al
length he appeared in his old place. and merry were
the guests, the King himself setting the example Of
aproarous hilarity. The fun was running fast and
furious, it was at its very loudest when Frederick
turning to Ziethen, slnacked him Familiarity on the
back, and exclaimed:
"A" Well, grave old ziethen, how did the supper o
Good Friday agree with your sanctimonious stomach
Have you properly dgested the yeritable body and
bloodN asS '-a5$. .SS B N a.
/ AT this blasphemy and amid the thunders of peal
ing laughter the saluting artillery of the delighted
guests Zethen eaped to his feet and, after shaking
his gray hairs with indignation and silencing the
jewellers with q cry as though they had been dogs
he turned to the goddess master Of the realm, and
said words if not precisely these certainly and exact
| ly to this effect:
s" shun nodanger your Majesty knows it. My
life has always been ready for sacrifice, when my
country and the throne required it. What l was
that I am; and my head would place on the block
this moment if the striking of it off could purchase
happiness for my king. But there is One who is
greater than ], any one here and He is greater
Sovereign than you, who mock Him here from the
thronesin Berlin He it is whose precious blood was
shed for the salvation OF all mankind. On Him. that
Holy One, my faith reposes. He is my CONSIDER in
life, my hope in the presence Of death and will not
suffer his name to be derided and attacked when
am by and have voice to protest against it. Sir il
your soldiers had not been firm in this faith they
| would not have gained victories for yon. If you
mock the 1ath and Jeer at those who cling to it, you
only lend hand to bring yourself and the State to
| ruin.n
After pause be added, looking the while at the
mute King
What ! have spoken is Gods truth receive it
| graciousy.'' @
Frederick was the patron of voltairc, who had
dared osy at his table that what it had taken
God and the twelve Apostles to build up, one man
| lVoltaire) would destroy. But Frederick was now
for the moment more deeply moved by what had been
Ilftp byyt1
that had ever fallen from the brilliant but irreligiouS
Votaire. He rose, flung his left arm over Zethens
Christian general and exclaimed zethen you arc
| a happy man; would that Icould be like you! Hold
fast by your faith, and 1 will respect, even where ]
cannot believe. What has occurred shall never hap
pen again."
A deep and solemn silence followed and the dinner
was spoiled, according to the guests, to whom the
King gave the signal to dsperse long before their APP
pettes had been satisfied. zethen was preparing to
Withdraw with the rest but Frederick taking him by
the hand, whispered, You. my friend, come with
me to nv cabinet y 45=#4 g@s3 X &'2 ss-&