Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1868-07-02
THE TWO APPARlTIoNS.

| In nv youth | was passlGaateiy iona q
the stage, and had a particular rage fol
the horrible. Being much disposed tc
travel, and tolerably fluent IN the German
language, I one fine morning, accompan-
led bv nv carpet bag. set eli on trip to
Germany, determined to gratlfy my IA
yorite propensity by seeing all the wild
and imaginative traditions. Of that country
got up in a manner of which we have nc
idoa here.
was amply rewarded fot ny pains, and
spent several months watering about
from one town to another u searel If no
velty. In Orf5 y: :i.,Ssa2 a2Ste.so,. - I'D
at small village called hlrschelm. II.
Alsace, as | had seen flaming red bill
stuck up against the first cottage | came
to, announcing that the company belong
ing to Henry Speilmann would perform
that night. at the hotel called the Golden
Fleece, The Robbers, a drama BY Schil-
Ter, and The Tower of Nes,e, transla-
ted into German for the benefit Of the
country people,
Delighted at the idea Of such a treat, |
hastened to seek an inn, but having gone
twice round the village IN ABOUT ten min
utes, ! found there w&s but the one
where the performance MAS to take
place,
was vexed at this would rather
not have seen the actors before they ap-
peared in their respective characters on
the stage. OF course | should have to
dine with them, which wolld destroy all
! the illusion besides, the country people
| had assembled in crowds at the door, and
stared with open mouths at the actors who
had just arrived.
However, [ contrived to elbow my way
| through them, and entered the principal
room of the Golden Fleece.
There a strange sight met my eyes
| All the inns or hotels in Alsace are near
" the same They have very long rooms
; furnished on each side with wooden ta-
bles and benches. In the middle of the
apartment stand an enormous cast-lron
stove.
But, at that moment, the room was IN
the greatest disorder. 1t was completely
filed with people, who pressed round the
table, on which lay extended the body
Of man, who had hardly been dead an
hour, as the blood yet streamed from
deep wound in the heart and inundated
the floor.
Everybody talked, screamed and gesti-
culated, and the host, Maitre heh!, the
( loudest Of all. at last understood that
the diseased had killed himself, which had
much shocked the order and regularity OF
the inhabitants Of Kirschcim, where, as
the principal brewer informed me such
thing as suicide had not happened for three
hundred years at least.
The magistrate at length arrived, took
cognizance of the event, dispersed the
mob. and ordered the desceased TO- be re-
moved to the apartment which he had oc-
icupicd previous to the event. Then |
took an opportunity o9 asking the host II
he could accommodate me with room.
Il have not one left, said he 1.-The
whole place is taken up by Maltre Spell
maan ana bis company, and that Is no
tritle notwithstanding, they are very ae-
colnmodating people, and sleep five in the
same room They have taken all even
to the barn, where the splendid perform
ance YOU have seen advertised, is to take
place
Yes said I 'but the dead person
can YOU not give me the room he occu-
pied 2
And where would you have me put
the body, sir? Besides, his time viii not
be up TIL tomorrow yon can take his
room then, if you will do me that honor
Bv-the.bv, said he, turning to his wife
you must seek for some one 10 Sit u
with the body"
And the host. politely saluting me, p,a
ced chair for me- at the Ere, saying din
ner would be served Immediately.
was st,I undecided as to whether
i, should remain, as l knew not where Il
procure s bed after the performance wa:
over, when the hostess returned, to le
: her husband know that no enc could be
persuaded to sit UP with the dead on &C
count Of bis not having died like Chris
tain.
"What nonsense" said the host; will
' all their religion they don't do what tru,
religion commands them. tell you wha :
wife, I've great mind to sit up my
self .
YES, truly" said the wife, ii voul,
we'll suit you, after being harassei all ia.
and al tie evening, 70 spend the night i
PRAYER besides, do you even know Or
bv heart for, as TO reading them, yot
know you can't
Bti cot . said the hest, irritated s
this sarcasm, you'd better DO il your
self then. wife for there isn't in all tn
: village 4 tongue equal to yours for put
a ting UP small prayer for your neightoys
whether for OF against them.
The quarrel began to be rather hot
~NetI Will 1T up said / If W
viii hav.'a good frs Lighted, aud g.7e II
better char than this one
The host aud his vile looked al me i
!. the greatest astouishment.
: "Wiil 4ou really, sir = said tie hos,
r twell. thai is very Kind Of You yoa ma
Il reckon on a good fre. 3 comfortable arm
char. large Bible aud. : added he, in
whisper, q capital pipe, and some re;
Porto Rico. accompanied by bottle
NIX very best brandy -
What had chiefly determined me
rendering this service to the dead was,
must be confessed, the following reason
re night was coming on, the rain poured
'r torrents, ana l considered that to pass Il
G;cut N 4 comfortable private apartme
ana an easy chair would oe far F-efer26
: . the ,ubllc roon Of : country IN and
xo2 -el te1c2