The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1859-07-13
Was William Tell q Myth Z!


of New England, bnt observed, at the con-
clusion 10 President Woods,T wonder why
| MIR. Everett in his catalogue of great men,
with whom he compared Washington, h as
made no mention of the patriot of Swtzer.
land" President Woods, in a subsequent
conversation with Mr. Everett, hamed the
omission spoken of by the lady. MIR. Ev-
ereit, remarked that as some doubt had
| hung over the history of William Tell, he
had thought best not 10 bring him up in
comparison with our PatriG Pater 1t was,
however, observed by some, who had heard
Mr.. Everett; at Brunswick ard listened to
him again at Portland, that in the latter city
the orator most beautifully and eoquenty
alluded 10 the mountain hero whose very
name even at this day strs the Switzer's
heart with the deepest emotions of patriot
ism. The attention of Everett having been
called to the subject in the manner alluded
10, he doubtless was led TO an examination
OF the historical claims of William Tell and
being satisfied that they were true, frankly
did Justice TO one of the noblest men that
ever lived.
Our notice of this subject at the present
time arises from the fact that the New York
Observer recently had in its weekly columns
of "Questions and Answers" the following
inquiry: "Was William Tell myth ?n-
The Answer returned was, that history re-
cords six other apple shooting feats perform
ed by different individuals before and after
the time of Tell. How this decides the
question whether William Tell was real
character or not, we are not able 10 see. But
as there has been some discussion in by
gone days on this subject, and some seem
still TO be in doubt let us reduce the ques-
ton TO logical form: Saxo Gramaticus, a
chronicler of the 18th century, narrates that
Tecco, an archer OF the 10Th century. per-
formed the same ieat which is recorded of
William Tell in the l4th century ergo
William Tell is myth. Any one may see
that such an inference is Illogical. Yet this
is the greatest fact ~ that has been adduc-
ed TO prove that Tells heroism is a mere
figment ofthe past. 1t is not improbable
that the deed referred TO was performed by
even more than six different men. Such
skill in craftsmanship was not rare in the
days OF archery. Recently it was stated, ,on
the authority OF one of the continental jour.
nails, that German peasant had initiated
the feat of Tell ,-only that he used gun
instead ola cross bow. Indeed, the 'snuf-
fling of the candle" by our Kentucky rifle
men, is perhaps more difficult than for a
firm hand and steady eye 10 pick off an
apple from the head of boy.
But Tells non.existence is not 10 be made.
out from the fimsy inference mentioned
above. No character, of the 18th and l4th
centuries, is better attested in Swiss history
than that of William Tell. The ballads of
the present day sung to his memory the
annual festival on the blue lake of Lucerne
in his honor and the monuments erected
TO him by those with whom he was cotem-
poraneous, all bear upon this point. "Tell's
chapel" on the 'Tallenspring," lthe rock
SO called because the Swiss hero here leap
ed when he escaped Som Gessler,j was
erected in the presence of one hundred and
fourteen persons who had known Tell when
living. No one can go to
That sacred lake Withdrawn among hills"
And witness their various scenes and inves-
tigate the facts without being convinced
that William Tell was no myth.
Sir James Mcintosh, one of the most i'm
partial Of historians, visited the glorious re-
gion associated with the name and deeds
of Tell. He examined history, and became
perfectly convinced Of the existence of the
mountain hero, and of the truth of the part
that he played in little Switzerland, when
Stew were the numbers she could boast,
But every freeman was host,
And felt as though himself were he,
On whose sole arm hung victory"
The testimony of such man as Sir James
Mcintosh is one Of the most important char
acter, if there were any room TO doubt, for
Baron Macaulay thus speaks of his judg-
ment and impartialty :-"Whatever was
valuable in the compositions of Sir James
Mcintosh, was the the ripe fruit of study
meditation, #
His mind was vast magazine admirably
arranged ; everything was there and every.
thing was in its place. His judgment on
men, on books, ON sects had been often
and carefully tested and weighed, and
had been committed TO their proper recept-
acle an the most capacious and accurate
momory that any human being ever posses
sed."
But the mode Of reasoning used in regard
to William Tell, comes from the Germans,
and has bearing upon things of graver
import. During the last century, when re.
ligion was dead in Germany and during this
century, when rationalism, with an appear
ance of erudtion was rife, many critics
formed theories of their own in regard TO
Homer, and the ancient writer's in general.
The German mind was not schooled in the
weighing of evidence, in trials by jury, or
in looking at both sides of question. The
result was that book after book issued from
the presses of Leipsic and Berlin, filled with
the most absurd theories. Every student
who came from the University had the am
bition 10 write book. Each one thought