Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1860-07-04
Intorestins History-The Character Of
walIensfeiu


General, from Michiel's Secret History of
the Austrian Government" .r b. /
, Wallenstein's immense riches, his profound
reserve and theatrical manners, were the |
principal means he employed TO exalt the
Imagination of the masses He always APP
peared in public, surrounded by extraordi-
nary pomp, and allowed all those attached to
his house TO share in his luxury. His officers 4
lived umptuously at his table, where never |
less than one hundred dishes were served.
As he rewarded with excessive liberality, not
only the multitude, but the greatest person
ages were dazzled by this Asiatic splendor.
Six gates gave entrance to his place at Prague,
to make room for which he had pulled down |
one hundred houses, Similar chateaux were |
erected by his orders on all his numerous es- |
tates. Twenty-four chamberlains, sprung |
from the most noble families, disputed the |
honor of serving him, and some sent back |
the golden key, emblem of their grade, to
the Emperor in order that they might wait
on Wallenstein. .fti- ,..iu
| He educated sixty pages, dressed in blue
velvet and gold, to whom he gave the first
masters; fifty Trabants guarded his ante
chamber night and day; six barons, and the
same number of chevaliers were constantly
within call to bear his orders. His mditre'd
| hotel was O person of distinction. A thousand
| persons usually formed his household, and
above one thousand horses filed his stables,
| where they fed from marble managers. When
he set out on his travels, b hundred carriages
were drawn by four or six horses conveying
his servants and baggage; sixty carriages and
fifty led horses carried the people ofhis sultei
ten trumpteters, with silver bugles, preceded
the procession The richness of his liveries,
the pomp of his equipages, and the decora-
tions of his apartments, were in harmony
| with all the rest. In hall of his palace at
Prague, he had himself painted in triumphal
carr with aiwreath OF laurels around his
J head, and star above him. . 40
I Wallenstein's appearance was enough in
itself TO inspire fear and respect. His tall
thin figure, his naughty attitude, the stern
expression of his face, his wide forehead,
} that seemed formed TO command, his black
( hair, close shorn and harsh, his little dark
! eyes, in which the flame Of authority shone,
| his naughty and suspicious look, his thick
moustaches and tufted beard, produced at the
! first glance, q startling sensation. His usual
dress consisted of justaucrops of elk-skin,
covered by white doublet and cloak; round
his neck he wore Spanish ruff; in his hat
), huttered q large red plume, while scarlet
pantaloons, and boots of Cordovan leather,
carefullypadded on account Of the gout COM
9 pleted his ordinary attire. While his army
: devoted itself to pleasure, the deepest silence
I reigned around the General. He could not
endure the rumbling of carts, loud converse
! tions, or even simple sounds One OF his
chamberlains was hanged for waking him
without ORDERS and an officer secretly put to
death because his spurs had clanked as he
: came to the General. His servants glided
about the room like phantoms, and a dozen
i patrols necessarily moved round his tent or
palace to, maintain perpetual tranquility
Chains were also stretched across the streets,
: in order to guard him against any sound.
al Wallenstein was ever absorbed in himself,
u ever engaged with his plans and designs
He was never seen to smile, and his pride
i rendered him inaccessible TO sensual pleas
e ures. His only fanatacism was ambition
e This strange chief meditated and acted inees.
sanity, only taking council of himself anc
J, disdaining strange advice and inspiration
, When he gave any orders or explanations, hi
e could not bear to be looked at curiously; wher
9 he crossed the camp the soldiers were obliged
q to pretend that they did not. see him. Ye
n they suffered from an involuntary shuddel
when they saw him pass like supernatural
being. There was something about him mys
J. terious seldom and awe-inspiring. He walkeC
d along surrounded by this magic influences
1f like saddening halo. His troops firmly be
r. lieved that he was in communion with tn
D spirits of darkness, that the stars had no Sc
o. crets from him, that the Growing Of cocks o
y the barking of dogs never reached his ear
y. that bullets, sabres and lances could no
in wound him, for he possessed a talisman tina
at rendered him master of fortunes, They fol
n lowed him as personifcation of fate.
Y Though champion of Rome against the in
r novators, the gloomy captain only put fait
We in dreams of the occult sciences. While
+ youth he was accompanied in his travels b
e. the mathematician and astronomer, VerduI
IN gas, who taught him to read the stars. Z
er also resided for some time at Padua, in ordt
in to learn from another professor The room
On of his palace at Prague were covered wit
n emblems of divnation and allegorical figure
IS. His ambition led him to the desire of per
etrating the secrets of the future; the Italia
astrologer, Semi, lived beneath his root, an
n the visionary couple frequently passed ii
is night in chimerical studies Never did Wa
en- lenstein set out on a new enterprise until
rs had consulted the luminous Pythonesses
rs the armament, for these dumb counsello
)r, were to him Bible and Gospel. A peasal
of would not have behaved in different way
ne |