The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1870-09-22
DAILY PRESS.
PORTLAND
Thursday Morning, September %, 1870.
An HnieFesting Discovery in Aix-L,n.Chu.
pclIe.

peiIe.
During the operations consequent on the
undertaking of the restoration of the Cathe-
dral of Aix-la- Chapelle, the foundation stone
was accidentally lighted upon, and upon lifting
this chest was discovered, wherein the most
interesting documents were found, which had
been placed there on the foundation of the
cathedral or chapel of the Emperor Charlie
mango. According to this, it appears with
certainty that the name of Aachen (the Ger
man name for Aix-la- Chapelle) is of pure
German origin, and not as has hitherto been
credited, derived from the Roman aqua, or
even from the Roman name Arisgranum. In
this document, ii is precisely stated: "Ths
place shall be called Ascen." At the same
time, the history, written on parchment and
in monks letters, is related in the following
manner: In the year of our Lord 76S, the
heir apparent to the French throne, the son
OF Charlemagne, who was but three years of
age, suddenly vanished from the courtyard of
the then hunting castle, where he had been
playing. After the child had been sought for
in vain within the walls, the King sent his
men in all directions through the forest, but all
turned one after another without having found
any trace of the child. The sorrow of the
parents, as well as of the whole of the courti-
ers, was very great, since the child seemed ir-
revocably lost. AS, however, the last troop OF
searchers made their way through thicket in
the depth of tie forest and came TO a clear
place they discovered infallible traces of hu-
man being lin the original the expression is
somewhat more drastic). "Hallo," cried the
searchers, "here the youngster must be-"
They thereupon searched every bush and
thicket in the neighborhood, and "behodp
says the chronicle, ''there under wild rose
bush lay the child in a sweet slumber." The
happy finders now, half drunk with joy, has
tened to the castle and laid the young Prince
at the feet of the King. Highly rejoiced, he
caused the wonderful manner of his finding to
be related, and then resolved to go on the
next day to the place where the rose bush
was and see the traces by which he was found
for himself.
Early next morning the Emperor, with
great number of knights and gentlemen be-
sides his counsellors, Alcuinius, Paulus, Dia-
corus and Equihard, proceeded TO the place.
They found the traces, and made circle
round them, in the middle of which stood the
King He then declared he would build
chapel on this spot, and that it should forever
bear the name of Aachen, in honor of this
discovery. In order, however, that no part of
this wonder might be forgotten, the restored
son, who hitherto had been called Carlmann,
should bear the name of Pipin. He next al
lotted the rose bush Tor the garden of the roy
al mother; but after his and his wife's de-
mise his sons were to give it consecrated
place where it should grow and bloom
through thousands of years. Hdesheim is
the place, where Louis the Pious, the only
remaining son, planted the rose on the foun-
datiOn OF the cathedral. Charlemagne in
vested Aachen (Aix-la- Chapelle) with extra
ordinary privileges. Its citizens were in the
whole empire free from personal and military
service, imprisonment and tribute. Ax-la-
Chapelle also possessed the right of asylum;
its air made al men free, even those who
were under the ban of the empire. All COM
petent judges who have read this document
are convinced of its -Frankfort
correspondence of Chicago Republican.