The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1871-05-11
THE suNKEN CITY.
a Legend Of ne zpyder Zee.
[Transla.ed from the aerman. |

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Holland, SIX centuries ago, stavoren held
the FIRST place. The ships of its morch-
ants. covered the seas, and imported the
productions Of all zones. Such an extern
siye commerce raised tLe wealth Of this
town TO hitherto unknown extent. True
there were poor here, as elsewhere,
but the wealthy vastly outnumbered them.
High life, luxury and magnidcencs-tho
usual companions Of great riches prevail
cd, for, in foolish pride and ruiuous zeal,
each citizen tried to outyie the other iu
pomp, splendor and extravaganza Of ban
quets. Tradition relates that there were
many houses which cqlaIed palaces in
their grandeur. They were constructed of
marble, the interiors Ornamented with the
most artistic decorations, covered with tho
richest tapestries, provided with tbo rarest
furniture, the doors bound with the most
precious metals instead Of iron.
But ofall the Stavoren merchants, none
could compare in riches Yith the virgin
Richberta. The success With which each
of her speculations was rewarded-and not
seldom with unexpected prOdts-seemcd TO
SHOW to her to what degree Fortune could
lavish her gifts on a mortal, and how long
allow her favors 70 be enjoyed.
The commercial aeet Of the virgin mor-
chant visited the remotest seas. and not
only returned each time with the richest
profits but loaded with the most cxpen-
sive wares, with ornaments of diamonds,
pearls and precious stones, which were en-
ployed in the palace of their mistress and
sbole on its walls.
Such unexamplcd good fortune RiGiber.
ia could not support with Indifference; aud
If tho maxim that greet ,misfortupes are
easier to be borne than immOderate happi-
ness be true, Richberta was destined TO-
be glaripg proof Of the-trpsh of this as
sertion. 81 .fs s
HOrpride and gain-gkry keptstep with
the increase Of her riches, and she Slloned
4his bolh IN fhe contenspt af hsr lallowl
creatures aud BY preparing the mcst. ldxu.
rant and extravagant feasts, less with The,
intention of amusing and gladdening the
town than to give her guests tho oppOrtu-
nifty to admire the ever changing splendor
Of her apartments and be astOhishcd 1T the
foreign and costly food and wine. and thus
excite their envy. 'At one Of these sense
less repasts, offering nothing to the mind
and leaving the heart void. q very strange
guest was announced. Hc came, he said,
from foreign countries; he had seen many
royal kingdoms and the splendor Of their
courts; and he had come to admire Rich
bcrta's riches, which fame reported 70 be
miraculoas.
The aatterOd mistress begged the stran-
ger to take seat at her side. he appear
ed to be still a robust old man, Ia the pic
turcsque costume of the Orient. His con-
duct was both digni6ed and noble as be
stepped to RichBerta, expecting the well
come from her hand which, according to
to tho usage Of his country, is giyeu SYM
bolically by the offering of bread and salt.
But there was no bread on the luzuri-
Gus table. which groaued underits burden
Of rare epicurcan dishes, and from which
the simple .nourishment Of poverty was
banished.
Silently the stranger seated himself, and
while taking refreshments, related iu q
manner which bound all eyes aud ears up
on him, his travels by land and water, Of
foreign nations and their customs.
Every guest was entranced with bis
words, but not SO with the virgin Richber-
ia. Her vanity could expect nothing else
than that the noble stranger should be lcul
in his praises Of her riches, the brilliancy
of her feast, and would make comparisons
giving fresh nOurishmont to her PRIDE
To these subjects, however, be made no
allusion; till finally, driven to desperation,
she demanded it Of him herself; when he
confessed that only with kings had he
found such splcndOr and extravaganza;
and what made it more singular to him
was, that he should miss here tho best aud
nOblest thing the earth prOducedI
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