The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1870-01-01
Frederick the Great and his Father,

/ Fritz had now attained eighteen years of
/ age, and Wilhelmina twenty-one. Fritz
was very fond of music, particularly of his
flute, upon which he played exquisitely,
being, however, careful never to sound its
notes within hearing of his father A eel
ebratsd music master from Dresden by tho
name of Quantz, was his teacher. He
came occasionally from Dresden and spent
week or two at Potsdam, secretly teach
ing the young prince. The mother of Fritz
was in warm sympathy with her son, and
aided him in all ways in her power in this
qualification. Still it was very hazard
GUS measure. The fierce old king was
quite uncertain in his movements. He
might at any hour appear at Potsdam, and
no one can tell to what lengths, in case of
discovery, he might go in the intensity
OF his rage. Fritz had an intimate friend
in the army, young man of about his own
age, one Lieutenant Katie, who, when
Fritz was with his music teacher, was sta
toned on the lookout, that he might give
| instant warning in case there were any in
dications of the kings approach. His
mother also was prepared, when Quantz
was at Potsdam, promptly to dispatch
messenger to her son in case she suspected
his father of being about to turn his steps
in that direction.
Fritz, having thus established his out
posts, was accustomed to retire to his room
with his teacher, lay aside his tight-fitting
Prussian military coat, which he detested,
and called his shroud, draw on a very beau
tiful, flowing French dressing gown of scar
let, embroidered with gold and decorated
with sash and tags, and with his hair dress
ed in the most fashionable style of the
French court, surrender himself to the in
diligence Of his own luxurious tastes for
sumptuous attire as well as for melodious
sounds. He was thus, one day, in the
height of his enjoyment, taking his clan
destine music lesson, when Lieutenant
Katie came rushing into the room in the
utmost dismay, with the announcement
that the king was at the door. The willy
and ever-suspicious monarch had stolen the
march upon them. He was about to make
his son very unwelcome surprise visit.
A bomb bursting in the room could
scarcely have created greater panic
Katie and Quantz seized the flutes and
music-books and rushed into wood-closet,
where they stood quaking with terror
Fritz threw off his dressing gown, hurried
on his military coat, and sat down at the
table, affecting to be deeply engaged with
with his books. The king, frowning like
thunder-cloud- he always frowned
when he drew near Fritz-burst into the
room. The sight of the frizzled hair of
his son "kindled the paternal wrath into
tornado pitch" The king had wonderful
command of the vocabulary of abuse, and
was heaping epi'hets of vituperation upon
the head of the prince when he caught
sight of dressing gown behind screen
He seized the glittering garment, and, with
increasing outbursts of rage, crammed it
into the fire. Then searching the room,
he collected all the French books, of which
Fritz had quite library, and sending for
bookseller near by, ordered him to take
every volume away, and sell them for what
they would bring. For more than an hour
the king was thus raging, like maniac,
i'll the apartment of his son. Fortunately
he did not look into the wood-closet. Had
he done so, both Quantz and Katie would
have been terribly beaten, even had they
escaped being sent Immediately to the scat
fold.-From "Frederick the Great" in
Hdrper's MaGazine for ,Janunru