The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1871-09-28
TMentH.tMo Years in Prison.

issued o ouriously interesting volume
the story of Leonora Christina, Countess
Ulfeldt. who endured imprisonment for
twenty-five years. The Countess gives
her own narrative in the form of diary,
and it 10 now published for the FIRST
time, with an introdu ction by Herr
Ziegler, the editor Of the volume. The
events described took place nearly two
centuries ago, but they have never been
fully known till now. The long captivi-
ty of tho Countess, it appears, was
owing to the personal spite of Sophia
Amelia, the wife of Frederick the Third,
King of Denmark. Whether it be that
this Queen envied the beauty and &C.
complishments of the Countess Ulfeldt,
and her husbands influence with the
King, or that the Countess Ulfeldt, as
Danish historian states, had offended
the Queen by trying on the crown that
was being made for her, and letting it
fall on the floor so that one of the large
Jewels was broken, the conduct Of the
Queen can bear but one Interpretation.
The Danish historian who records the
suecdote about the crown, says that it
shows the Queen was not so bitter
against the Countess without cause,
although it must be admitted that her
anger was carried too far. The rage of
the Queen when she found that her son
| had promised to set the Countess free
after only eight years imprisonment,
and the exercise of her influence, by
which she was able to prolong the i'm
prisonment till her own death, betray
the existence of some personal motive.
The Countess Leonora was one of the
daughters of Christian the Fourth, King
of Denmark, by a morganatio marriage.
She became the wife of Corftz Ulfeldt,
who, after stormy youth, passed in
various countries and services, had taken
high position at the Danish Court.
The prosperity of Ulfeldt and his wife
was not disturbed for some time after
the accession of Frederick the Third.
But though the new King had full con
fidence in the former favorite, the new
Queen began from the first to intrigue
\ against him. The Athenoum sums up
the narrative thus: A plot was organ
lied by her means in order to accuse
Corfitz and his wife of intending to
poison the King, and though the accusa-
tion recoiled on the heads of the sub
ordinate instruments, some suspicion re-
mained. The King was gradually es-
tranged from Corfitz Ulfeldt, one diff
ference led to another, and at length
Ulfeldt resigned his offices and left the
country. His estates were at once con-
fiscated, and he was deprived of all his
| dignities while IN revenge for such
treatment he went to Stockholm, where
his services were gladly accepted by
Queen Christina.
For some time sitter this Corfitz Ul-
feldt proved dangerous enemy to Dem
mark. At his instigation the successor
of Queen Christina made war on Den
mark, and the daring march of the
Swedes on the ice across the Great Belt,
which led to the Peace of Roeskilde,
was entirely suggested by Ulfeldt. BY
this peace the Danes had to surrender
twelve ships Of war, besides several
pieces of territory, and one of the articles
of the treaty was, that all Count Ulfeldts
estates were to be restored. The victory,
however, bore no lasting fruits The
Danes were naturally incensed with
Ulfeldt, and Queen Sophia Amelia man
aged to instll suspicion into the mind of
the King of Sweden.
Some time afterward charges of treach-
cry were brought against him by the
Swedes, he was confined in fortress,
and tried for high treason. Acquitted
of this, he was secretly informed by his
Danish enemies that the verdict was adj
verse to him, and under this impression
he fed from Sweden to Denmark, where
he and his wife were instantly imprison-
ed. The amnesty granted them at
Roeskilde was set at nsught, and it was
not till after six months of cruel and
brutal treatment that they regained
their liberty by an absolute submission.
Released from prison with the loss OF
most of his estates, and with enfeebled
health, Count Ulfeldt received permis-
sion to travel in Germany, where he
died.
Leonora Christina in the meanwhile
had been sent by her husband to Eng
land to seek for aid from Charles the
Second. During his own exile the re-
stored King had been under great obli-
cations to Count Ulfeldt, and was still
indebted to him in large sum of money
But it was not easy to get at Charles
and although when the Countess Ul'
feldt had an interview with him he was
very friendly, and promised to pay hil
debt, he did not keep his word. After
waiting long time without any result
the Countess started for the Continent
but before this the Danish Government
had heard of her being in England, and
had made application to Charles for hel
arrest.
As this seemed the most convenient
way of paying his debt, and as, more
over, he had given the Countess SAT,
conduct, Charles got rid at once of hi
obligation and his promise, and allowed
the Danish Ambassador to take her il
custody. She was sent to Copenhagen
and confined in the blue tower of thu
royal palace, where she remained TO
twenty-five years. With this her diary
begins, and is continued through he
captivity. 1t is remarkable for thu
minute detail in which all the events o
daily life are narrated, and for the ex
treme frankess with which Counties
and daughter of King enters into mat
ters which are generally kept secret
The insults to which Countess Ulfeld
was exposed, the occupations she de
vised for herself, her relations with thos
who waited on her, her occasional peep
from the window, and her vague i'm
pressions of what was passing in tn
outer world, occupy almost the Who'll
record.
VERY PERsoNAL.-A correspondent
of the Tribune writes from Chicago ths
; any man in that queer town who hs
confidence in his luck begins to build hi
tower without counting the cost, an
| -, l. e o. 10 hal l. y