Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1863-02-19
a TRUE STORY OF THE GREAT
FRITZ OF PRUSSIA.
FROM TALES IF THE DAY.


has undertaken the task of giving to the
public true delineation of the character
of Frederick the Great of Pru> STA. Yet,
not one of them has escaped censure, for
having evinced either Partially to, or pre-
iudice against, that remarkable man, who,
though so many years removed from the
worlds stage, retains SO much of the pres
tige with which he was invested during
life. Nor can human judgment well
weigh the aggravating or Iallia,ing cir
cumstances which secretly ruled his ac-
tons, or assign to the actor in the scenes
which prect eded Frederick entrance into
public life, their due share in forming the
ste My sharp, salient points, the deep,
dark shadows which lowered and d sfgured
his personal character, even while his he
roic perseverance amid overwhelming diff
culties, his total abresation of self and
disdainful confronting of individual dan
g'r and privation, chained victory to his
chariot wheels, and not only then made,
but still makes, friedrich the Grea5 he
worshiped Idol of the Prussian nation.
But amid all his harshness, his appar-
ert delight in tyrannous acts, whi h
might suggest the thought that he sought
to revenge himself for his known depriva-
ton of domestic happiness, by wantonly
trampling on the softer feelings OF others,
there vet occur occasional traits of q high
and chivalrous generosity in Frederick the
Greats history, which warrant the con-
clusion that, under another training than
that of his weak, cruel, and hypocritical
father, he might neither have been the
heartless brother, the pitiless husband,
nor the unwearied dissemination of Volta
rian infdeity, by which he inflicted an
injury on hi people, for which all his &C
qisition of territory and worldwide fame
were but poor indemnifcations.
One such redeemir 6 trait is presented
to us in the following anecdote, furnished
by Van Horn, a German author of estab.
lished reputation.
Lieutenant-C Colonel Kraft Qet us call him.
whose regiment had been disbanded at
the conclusion of the Seven Years War,
lived in Berlin on a small pension, or, to
speak more correctly-as the man had a
large family-sustained bare existence
in the EXTREMIST penury. Though brave
man and an able officer, Lieutenant-C Colo
mel Kraft understood not the art of put
ting himself forward, and equally little did
he possess the talent of eking out his slen-
der income by any remunerative occupa-
ton. When, therefore, morning after
morning, 'bread, bread,' was chimed out
in various cadence by seven young voices,
sword ran through the bosom of the
brave soldier, who felt in his Utmost soul
how much easier it was to face the enemy
than hi, hungry children, when cupboard
and purse were alike empty.
An application to the King was the
most natural mode through which to seek
assistance but cold Fritz as the Prus-
sian monarch was commonly styled in the
army, was unhappily well known for two
peculiarities first, temper of such iron
unforgivingness, that, if he had taken
offence Mt any one, that mans career was
closed-he was never employed again
and second, memory of such tenacity,
that not hope existed of entrapping him
into forgetfulness. No sooner did the
offender come before him, either personally
or by name, than every circumstance
which had excited the monarch's displeas
ure stood revealed, III all the freshness Of
their first coloring, en- the tablet of his
memory. Now, unfortunately, poor Lieu
tenant Colonel Kraft had on one occasion
been guilty of some strategetical error,
which drew upon him the kings displeas-
ure at the time, and still weighed heavily
in the scale against him.
We all have our Furnishings no less
than other mortals, only, unhappily, their
mista es, extend farther and press heavier,
than those of other men. But what is
worst, the kings displeasure seldom fails
to draw along with it the disfavor of his
courtiers, and seldom is one of them found
who can discover any merit in him "whom
the ng deGgtheth not to honor" And
by natural sequence, the pension or half
nav allowance of Lieutenant Colonel Kraft
was the very lowest his rank would per-
NIT. 1t did not, and could not, suffice to
feed and cl,the his family, and yet he was
not himself conscious of any breach OF
DUTY his offence amounted, at the utmost,
to an error of Judgment. The poor de-
pressed mau therefore sent IN petition
after petition, in hich his state of AFFECT
misery was placed in the str. ngest hight ;
but all remained unanswered. Day after
day he placed himself IN the royal ante
chamber, and solicited an audlence-.he
King W, uld not hear of him; nay, he one
dav got into towering passion when the
tficer in waiting ventured to utter the
petitioners name in the royal presence.
Embittered in spirit by repeated disa-
rointu ent and keen sense OF mus lce'
the unfortunate Lieutenant Coionei DE-
came Desperate, and feeling Of deep hos,
tility to his sovereign took possession VI
his heart. u,,p:.,,
But, stubbornly obstinate as cold Fritz
unquestionably was, in holding fast any
opinion he had once taken up, lie was
yet no inaccessible to reason, when t",e'
place and person happily inspired 10 W,
tain his ear; and once convinced ne was
ready to cor fess his convictions:
Now, it so happened tina. Lleu1ena Nv
Colonel Kraft could sill boast, even IN us :
fallen fortunes, that rarest OF blessings
courageous friend in the kings court, VINO
on. day, Selling favorable moment s.a'
ted to the king, frankly and freely, as pe,
came a soldier Zone such as "Old fritz
in his heart deeply loved, the position o.
Lieutnant- C olonel Kraft-allowing, to DC
sure, that he was impetuous, hot-blooded,
and, it might be, rashly inconsiderate' Du'
asserting, at the same time, that he war,
notwithstanding right hearted fellow, q
rood husband, a fond father, and an able
Officer to boot, of which he brought for
ward MANY incontrovertible proofs. The
King listened; the ad1uced facts brought
conviction, and he royalty resolved to
make amends to the old officer tor the IN
Justice he had suffered. But before the