Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1871-01-06
The Sunken City.
A LEGEND OF THE zUYDERzEE.

oiA CCututtCo aSoJ oeafOtVu hS'A wv
first place. The ships Of its merchants COW
cred the seas, and imported the productions
of all zones. Such ON extensive commerce
raised the wealth of this town to hitherto
unknown extent 1t is true that there were
hero. IS elsewhere, many poor, but the wealthy
vastly outnanbered them. High life, luxury
and magnifcence, tho usual companions Of
great riches, prevailed, for in foolish pride
/, and ruinous zeal each citizen tried to outvie
the other in ponp, splendor aud cxtravagant
banqucts. Tradition relates that there were
many houses which equalled palaces in their
grandeur. They were constructed Of marble,
the interior ornameuted with the most artistic
decorations, covered with tho richest tapes
tries, provided with the rarest furniture, the
doors bound with tho most precious metals
instead Of iron.
But of all tho Stavorcn merchants none
could compare in riches with the virgin Rich.
berta. The success with which each of her
specuations was rewarded, and not seldom
with unexpected profits, seemed to show to
hor what degree fortune could lavish her gifts
on mortal, and how long allow her fayors to
be enjoyed.
The commercial feet Of tho virgin mcr-
chat visited the remotcst seas, aud not only
returned each time with the richest profits
but loaded with tho most expensive wares
with ornaments Of diamonds, pearls and pre-
cious stones, which we're employed in the
palace of their mistress and shone on its
walls.
Such uncxamplcd good fortune Richbcrta
could not support with indifference and if
the maxim that "grcat misfortunes are
easier to be borne thar immoderate happi-
ness," be true, Richbcrta was destined to
be q glaring proof Of the truth Of this as
sertion.
Her pride and vaiuglory kept step with
tho increase of her riches, and she showed
this both by contempt for her fellow creatures
and by preparing the most luxuriant and
extrayagant feasts, less with the intention
Of amusing and s'dcning the town, than to
give her guests the opportunity to admire the
ever 'chan.,ing splendor of her apartments
and be astonished at the foreign and costly
food and wine, and thus excite their envy
At one Of these scnseless repasts, offering
nothing to the mind and leaving the heart
void, strange guest was announced. lie
came, ho said, from foreign countries, had
seen many royal Kingdoms and tho splcndor
Of their courts, and had come to admire Rich
berta's riches, which fame reported to be mi.
raeulous.
The filtered mistress begged tho stranger,
to take seat at her side. IIc appeared to
be still a robust old man, in tho picturesque
costume Of the Orient. II cnnduct was both
diguiGcd and noble US he stepped to Rchbcr.
t., expecting the welcome from her hand,
which, according to the usage Of bis country,
is given symbolically by the offering of bread
and salt.
But there was no bread on her luxurious
table, which groaned under its burden of
rare, epicurean Dishes and from which the
simple nourishment Of poverty was ban.
ished.
Silently tho stranger seated himself, and
white taking refreshment related, in manner
which bound all eyes and ears upon him, OF
his travels by land and water, OF foreign ma.
tions and their customs.
Every guest was entranced with his words;
but not so with the virgin Rchbcrta. Her
vanity could expect nothing else than that
the stranger should be loud in the praises of
her riches, the brilliancy of her feast, and
would mako comparisons giving fresh nour-
ishment to her pride. TO these subjects,
however, he made no illusion; till, finally,
driven to desperation, she demanded it &C him
herself, when he confessed that only with
kings had he found sach spIendor and extra.
vagancc; and what made it moro singular
to him was that ho should miss here the
best and noblcst thing that the earth pro.
ducod.
M, In vain did she attempt to obtain fuller
explanation Of the strange guest, and being
questioned too pressugly he disappeared, and
was not seen again.
dT 1tiohberta's pride and curiosity, equally
Yoyoited, allowed her no qu;otudo. She
p3ssessH d 10 valuables ell that could be mon.
) isioned; however, "the best and noblest
thing" was venting She consulted schol.
ssnfs sLd philosophers, sent for magicians
and astrologers, but none knew how to name
.xhatstbing which for yearssho had not pos.
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