The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1868-08-11
The Wild Man of Vienna
a GERMAN TRADITION.


Wild Man, one of the most venerable
houses in the Austrian capital, for we
fud ii mentioned in history during the
siege OF Vienna by Matthias Corvinns
in the year Ass.
To this house and to the name it has
adopted is attached singular tradition,
Enthusiastically German in its details,
which we obtained from an authentic
source, our informant being no other
than the present owner of the estsb-
lishment, to whom we are indebted for
the following narratives:
In the year l444, when Ladislaus,
King of Hungary, fell at the untortu-
nate battle OF Varna, overcome by the
countless army of Amurat, which en-.
tirely routed the Christian forces, there
was, among the few who escaped the
carnage of that dreadful day, a lancer,
named Georg, OF the Valley. This
young fellow was of prepossesslng e&-
terror, and by no means wanting in
courage, but it would seem he knew
his hands, for he contrived. after the
encounter which proved fatal TO so
many of his countrymen, to escape I'M
observed, and to gain the neighboring
forest, so as, at least for the time, TO
place his life in safety. So far SO well,
but even there his position WAS very
eQuivocal one; he could not continue
in these wild and deserted haunts with
out certainty of starvation, and he
could not venture beyond without risk
of-discovery and capture. a stranger
TO the locality, Ignorant fthe language,
how was he TO set about finding his
way out of the intricacies of the wild
erness, and what chance had he OF
reaching his home even il he met with
fellow being who was not an enemy?
No wonder that our hero was Pre-oc-
cupied With these embarrassing retiec-
tons; and no wonder that faint,
weary and helpless, almost within
sight OF the CORY field strewn with the
liieless bodies of his comrades. he
should fall prey to all the fatal sug-
gestions of despair.
Georg sat down beneath tree, rest
ing his chin in his hands, and, staring
into vacancy, was giving way 10 the
gloomiest thoughts, when a sound fell
upon his ear which told him of the APP
proach of human footsteps. His first
impulse was to welcome any incident
that could bring change in his misera.
BILE prospects; his second to appTehend
some ambush and to IDistrust all
strangers. He accordingly rose, and
stealing cautiously round, concealed
himself behind the trunk of the tree
which sheltered him, SO as to observe
the new conner from behind as soou as
he should have passed; but he was
counting without his host, for, as If he
had guessed his intention, the stranger,
instead of pursuing tho path, turned
abruptly of and passed by the very
spot whittier the unfortunate refugee
had retreated. Further Discrimination
he now telt would be worse than use
less, SO putting bold face on the cir
cumstance, GeorE locked up ana
saluted the new conner, albeit net much
treasured by his aspect
He might be about fifty years OF age,
aud the dress he wore WAS bizarre, to
say the least of it; it consisted of a
tightly fitting black velvet suit, over
which was thrown dark ctuTet-color
ed cloak, large enough to cover his
whole person, while broad brlmmed
pointed black felt hat shaded his fea-
lures. He returned the young mans
bow with a smile which was meant TO
be friendly, but scarcely masked the
sinister ex presston of his deep"set eyes.
"You don't seem to be in very pleas
ant position, Mr.. Soldier" said he.
HE who fights and runs away-you
know the rest, 1 dare say; but you see 1t
isn't enough to run away; the question
is-what are you TO do neStY
"True enough, Sir Stranger" replied
Georg, ''and that is what um constd-
erIng."
conclusion has your wisdomshiP come
to-"
Georg look up, first because be had
no answer to give; and secondly, be-
cause he was mystified by the tone and
language of his new acquaintance.
zone would think" he said at length
'that you had some expedient TO otter
by your asking so many questions.
"Well done, well done! evasive but
shrewd,' snid he ofthe cloak; land you
are not far wrong either, for L could
offer you more than one expedient; that
is, If you like to hear them"
"Beggars mustn't be choosers," said
Georg, with a sigh. but perhaps you
YOU are not making game of poor
devil"
"You've hit IT again, my dear fellow,"
said the stranger; "Tor, as you say, you
are poor miserable devil, while on
the other hand I am rich, powerful
devil, for TO tell the truth, L am the
DsviI himself. Now don't start in that
foolish way, when you can see-for L
am sure that You are sensible young
man-that 1 have come to yoH 10 a
friendly spirit and you have nothing
to be afraid of.
"Your speech is fair enough, but what
are your intentions?" said Georg, who
was determined to do nothing rashly.
They depend entirely on yourself L
am ready, ii you say the word mot only
| to insure your safety, but to start you
with luck and money enough to enable
| you 10 nave Jolly tune OF IL as 4OuS no
| you are for this world" -tF
4 Georg felt sorely tempted, and almost
| forget his approximations In the contem-
| plntion of this brilliant prospective; he
! hesitated; and the devil, anxious to
follow up his advantage, hastened to
conclude the matter.
"Then it's a bargain ~ he said, ex-
tending his open hand.
But the action recalled the young
| man IN his senses: he mechanically
Withdrew his own.
"There are two parties to bargain, -
he replied, "and as yet we have only
4 talked of the terms on one side please
Ego on and tell me what is expected on
the other"
:'oh, dear mew answered Lucifer,
| with a shrug OF Indifference, ga mere
nothing just your signature to this bit
/ of parchment, and you will never hear
of me again until you have exhausted
all the epjoyments mean to bestow on
you"
temptuously, aud in a tone of bitter dis
appointment, said then You may
i Just 90 back whence you came, Tor nc
4 signature of mine will you ever get,
can tell you,n and he turned and went
away in rage. :,
Now, now, you hot. headed fellow
said the Devil, who had no mind TO let
his victim escape, "do wait DIT, ana
dOn'ugfve me the trouble of running
after you this hot day; listen TO reason
and see how much more generous am
with you than you deserve. Will make
you another proposal rather than leave
you in the wreIchedness in which !
found you. will undertake to befrtend
you as before suggested, on the Simple
condition that for the next three yeals
you will neither wash nor shave mol