The Tiffin weekly tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1859-1868, 1860-03-02
THE THIETISH RAVEN.



From ihs History Of Ire Swiss.
The Helvetiuns remained 30 long in
peaceful submission to Rome that they
lost their bravery and hardihood; and IN
the year Of our Lord 500, great calami-
ties overlook them in consequence.-
First savage German warriors, called Al
lem0nni, conquered them, burned their
cities, and made them slaves.
Soon afterwards, the Huns overrun the
country, destroying everything they
could find. They were barbarians, and
so hideous in their looks, that they SEEM
cd scarcely to be men.
Next followed the Burgundians. They
also conquered a part Of the country
They were more civilized than the Huns
and Allemanni. They built fortresses,
aud founded anew some Of the Cities
They made subjects Of the Helvetians,
but did not give them equal privileges
with themselves.
Then came the Goths They allowed
the people their old customs, but COM
PEELED them 10 labor like slaves.
Finally, the Franks conquered all Hell
vetia; and after Eve hundred years of war
and change, the people were united un-
der one government, as in the time Of the
Romans. The poor Helvetians were in
very sad condition. They were look
ed upon as little better than cattle, and
were given, with their houses, farms, and
all their possessions, by the Frankish
king, Dietbert, 10 his warriors. They
could own no property, being themselves
the property of their lords.
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CLEANS of light, where, here and there,
good men preached the gospel to the ig-
norant multitude. The piety Of that time
was by no means pure. Whoever was
baptized, had learned prayer, attended
church, and made the sign of the cross,
was called a Christian. But some were
really humble deciples Of the Saviour
Some lords gave their sorfs privileges Of
value. Schools were established in some
of the converts, and many books were
collected aud copied in them; the art of
printing being then unknown.
The most powerful Of the Frankish
kings was Charlemague. He was king
of France, Italy, and a great part Of Ger
many, which he combined into power
full empire. But after his death, his sous
and grandsons didn't agree well together,
They divided his kingdom and were con-
stantly at war with each other. In this
confusion, the great officers, such as the
dukes and counts, would obey no one,
but ruled independently, each over his
own province. Even the bishops kept
large bodies Of troops, and fought where
and as they pleased. Only a common
danger united them. Once, n savage
people, all on horseback, came from the
East. They were Hungarians. They
swept over the country with fire and
sword They did not attack fortresses,
because they did not understand the art Of
taking them. So the emperor ordered
all large villages to be surrounded by
walls and bitches. To these villages the
people could fly for safety, Each man
was obliged TO keep a spear and sword,
to pay taxes and contributions to the
state, and to have a fire-bucket always in
his house. Markets were established in
these villages, which increased in popu-
lation and became cities. The security
which they offered led to greater indus
try in manufactures and the mechanic
arts.
The mobiles and knights dsliked to see
the cities so prosperous, and they endeuv-
ored to increase the number of their own
serfs and retainers. Those'who best un-
derstood their interests, lightened the
burdens Of their people. They divided
the land into farms, furnished materials
for the house, plough and cart, seeds
for sowing, a COW, pig, and some hensi
and required the householder to pay rent,
partly IN labor, and partly in the produce
Of the ground. When the father died,
the lord took the best dress, the best
piece Of furniture, and tho best beast from
the stable. The family kept the rest
But the serfs gained greatly in comfort
and increased 10 prosperity
The mobiles lived in strong castles
which could not be easily taken, because
gunpowder was then unknown. They
had many servants, and they also kept
bands OF soldiers. Arms and the chase
were their favorite occupations, and the
sword and falcon their greatest treasures
Their hunting feasts were among theil
highest festivities. Magnificent tent
iweFa pitched for the ladies, from which
those msht see the destruction Of the
game who did Ept wish to join in the pur
suit. In tho evening, banquet wa
served in the forest. BlazeneG torehei
were fastened among the hourhs. III;
tables glitteTed with silver. Lively mu,
sic added TO the gayety. Late at nigh
tho guests returned to their homes 20 The
sound Of the hunting horns.
As the mobiles feared no one, they of
en- did cruel and wicked things. Coun
Henry, Of Toggonburg, built his castle
on the very edge Of a high rock, Of whicl
il seemed almost a part. He was an ir
ritable man, and kept his family in con
stant trouble with his iault-hnding. Ill
was called brave, because he was no
afraid Of his enemiesi but he who con
quorE bis passions Is much Drawer than h
who fights we'll in battle. His wife
name was Ida. She was 80 beautifu
that all the great lords who visited he
husband ndmirld her extremely, and wer
delighted when they could SERGE herr
But She was not happy, because her hul
. band often IN treated her householdi an
she was obliged to see much inlustic
which she could not remedy,
One day she was sitting in her dresi
ing room, which, for security, was hig
up Ia one Of the towers. II was a ver
pretty place. The Count had take
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