Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1859-03-11
Correspondence Of the Free Press.
LETTERS FROM EUROPE.
The Bridge Of Prague .-Je~s--Anc'e~
SvnggoJue.
NO. TX

sions. The statue was broken off by n can
non shot Of the Swedes in t6ls This is the
statue or column of Brunslk. Brunslik was
an early and warlike King of Bohemia. lie
was always accompanied by a tanned and ar-
fccticncte lion who followed his steps, and !
watched and defended his person like
watch dog. Brunslil had also wonderful |
fllchion, that when he extended his arm and |
commanded the sword to strike would strike |
Of itself blows that would cleave his enc
mics in two. Notwithstanding such defenceF,
the chances of war drove him from his
kingdom, and he wandered through foreign
parts. always finding protection and safety
in his faithful lion and his mysterious seine
tar. His lion died and he cast his magical
sword into the Moldau by the bridge near
where this column is now seem After this,
from time to time that scimetar rises to the
surface, but suddenly disappears, and all at
tempts to find it have been unavailing,
though there is some prophecy about its be-
ing ultimately found. The statue was APP
parently placed there to mark the spot of its
whereabouts.
The two most interesting of these monu-
ments on the bridge, are the huge statues OF
st. John Nepomuk and the bronze Crucifix
with stars. They have always had way OF
their own of settling difficult personal ques-
tons in Prague, which has been resortcd to
:. g Al m 10 fos
ion;' IL is to pitch your adversary out of the
window, or off precipce or bridgc-a
kind of quick step ezternpore Tarpelan end
to controversy-perhaps derived from the
mode in which Libussa disposed of her low
crs. A little less than 500 years ago, King
Wcnccslnus had or fancied he had, some
reason to doubt his young and beautiful
queen, and So as a short way to learn the
truth, he sent for John Nepomuk her con-
fessor, and ordered him to reveal the secrets
of the Confessional. The priest, of course,
at first demonstrated with his royal master
against the sacriligious demand, but the
king was positive. prompt and inexorable,
and John as positively and iniiexibly refused
to be guilty of such an act of infamy and
tr,acherv. aud so the Lords anointed pitch
ed the poor priest hcadlong off the bridge
into the river Tongues OF flame were OBJ
served to stand and tremble over a spot in
the river, and they remained there so long
that the river was dragged to satisfy curiosi-
ty and fathom the mystery. when the body
of the murdered ecclcsiastic was brought to
the surface
In our time hundreds of years afterwards,
a statue was raised to him on the bridge and
finally the present bronze statue eight feet
high and weighing 1000 pounds was cast at
Nuremberg and placed on the bridge at the cost
of 1000 forms. lie was canonized in l126 and
his annual festival is a cursity even IN Europe
so immense is the crowd of people from all
parts who throng the bridge and its vicinity,
to do honor to the saint on the spot OF his
singular Martyrdom. chapel is erected
for the occasion on the bridge enclosing the
Statue, the bridge is blocked up with people
carriages are forbidden to attempt to pass and
persons on foot almost peril their lives in
minging in the crowd. $4,000 pilgrims aresaid
to have been there in one year, Mass was
said from the temporary chapel to this i'm
mense multtude-and "a priests were con-
stantlv occupied for don't know how many
DAYS in hearing confessions and administering
the holy sacrament. Bohemia abounds with
monuments to ST. John Nepomuck, who is in
most Catholic countries the patron Saint of
Bndges-one of the remarkable Monuments
in Europe is that of solid silver in honor OF
him in the Cathedral of St. Vet.
In 1896 some Jews was charged with an
insult to the Christian mass and on convic-
ton were mulcted in heavy penalties. The
money was invested in beautiful Crucifix
cast at Dresden and placed on the bridge. 1t
is surmounted by five stars representing those
supernatural flames which stood on the water
on the spot where the saint was thrown into
the river
The Jews are thus by one of the most con-
spcuous Monuments on this remarkable
but step from the bridge to the Jews quarter
and as the provcrb says, you will.always meet
them on the bridge.
understand there is not in Europe more
venerable and interesting Jews quarter than
in Prague There is no possibility, l believe,
Of fixing the date of the settlement of the
Jews here. The oldest chronicles, and the
earliest traditions speak of them. The Jews,
town is part of the old town. Its thirty
two streets are narrow and angular, and the
go houses high and Of several stairs ; and
single house belongs in part to several own
crs. There is an average of more than thirty
persons to one house Indeed it is said that
this ancient people are strangers TO neatness
wherever they are found in Europe. 1t is
however. true, that when the cholera swept
So fatally over Europe, in Prague the Jews
suffered less than the more open, airy and
neater portion of the city. They live longer
also, and are more prolific
1t was one Of the characteristic reforms of
Joseph H. that first secured to this peacea-
BILE and thrifty but prosecuted people con-
siderable relaxation of their restraints, and
relief from the expressions which before his
reign bore so heavily upon them, 1t was
common accusation against them that they
insulted the Host in its professions, and such
charges were the signal for terribly cxtor-
slaughters well nigh exterminated
these defenccless and patient citizens, whose
principal characteristics were pelceable long
suffering, patient and persistent minding of
IL -.-.. L,..;,,n.l mil n.,n suinntinna and