Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1868-09-23
THE WINDALLL.

Ex-G Governor Fairfield, of Michigan, 10
d campaign speech delivered at Xenla,
Ohio, related the following beautiful Incl
dent Of Prussian history:
Il remember-if you will pardon me
for this word Of Illustration: | know a
windmill is an ordinary thing, aud there
is nothing beautiful about it-but [ re-
menloer seeing. one that seemed beautiful.
1t had. It's history Its history you will
allow me to revert to. When Frederick
the Great was Emperor Of Prussia, be
went cut little way and built him a pal
ace at San Souci. lie and the Empress
were seated one Sabbath afternoon In their
beautiful groun S, and the Empress said
I don ike that old windmill over there :;
| wish you would buy the grounds and
tear it away, as it mars the beauty of our
grounds, being right alongside, and SO
near them he E.. Ill do 1t tomorrow,
said he So on the morrow lie went to
the miller and told him he ished to buy
his little hon e3tead. i don t wish TO sell,
said the miller But, said the Emperor,
i must have it. I wish to extend aud
beausify nay grounas, and your windmill
Is an eye-sore to the Empress But,
said he, my grandfather is buried yonder,
and nv father is buried there, and this
has been the home Of nay ancestors for
generations l want to live and die here
and l cannot sell it," The emperor, get
ting cut Of patience, said he would order
his men to tear the mill down, and take
possession OF the grounds Said the mil
Ter: May 1t please your Majesty, there
are laws in Prussia, and | can sue you.
4 don't care said the Emperor, anu went
on and tore down the mill. The miller
sued him, and the courts decided against
his Majesty, and declared chat he should
rebuild the mill, and pay, to the last far
thing, all the miller had lost.
The Emperor bowed his head went and
rebuilt the mill, AMI paid all the damages.
Af er awhile Fredrick the Great was In
his grave, and the old miller was gone
but by and by another miller was there,
and another Emperor was on the throne
The miller wrote to his reigning Majesty,
that so many years ago his grandfather
had refused to sell his windmill and
homestead to him, but said he, / am
poor and need tie money, and [ will sell:
and hope the price may be such as tc
please your Majesty; must have $1,000.
The Emperor, with his.own hand wrote 4
reply. lie wrote simply This: You say
you are poor, 1 am sorry for it, You
are willing to sell your windmill fol
| $4,000. The windmill cannot be sold
1t belongs to Prussian history. Enclosed
find my check for S5 ,000 Yours respect
July And the name and the great sea
Of the Emperor was affixed. stood near
that mill on a beautiful afternoon, sucL
as this has been, and Wandered among
the trees, Or listened to the singing birds
and caught the fragrance from ten thou
sand beautiful flowers that filled the all
with their perfumes; l thought the mos
beautiful thing of all saw was that WIND
mill with It's ungainlY arms, and as
watched it swinging around those arms
the tears came uubidden to my eyes, 10
| it seemed to me to swing those giant arm
around as for the defense OF the humbieS
men-for the poor as well as the mighty
! And that is the glory of goyernmen!
| everywhere. Certainly, then, II there
any class of men anywhere that ought
be protected by the government, 1t IS tn
men who hitherto have been dePnved {
their rights and have been tramp'ed
the dust" loud sPplause,l