The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1871-08-03
r,nree old Legends Of BerlIn.


were almost equally felt by the other two.
The Youngest became desperately enam-
ored or the daughter OF Maestro Rapposi,
an Italian, who was the electors chief ha-
nelImeister. The maestro lodged In house
belonging to an uncle of the three bro
theirs. md consequently GOttbold had an
onnortunity OF declaring his. passion,
of which he was not slow to take ad-
vantage His avowal having been heard
with, favor blythe young lady, he lost no
time in communicating his good fortune TO
his brothers, and consultation was fortfi-
with held as to the best means OF obtaining
the consent Of the father to the union OF the
lovers. The Italian was very proud OF his
position, and was not to be approached
lightly, and IA Bruno, the elder brother,
had distinguished himself much by playing
on the violin before the elector, and had
thus gained the post of second Kapellmeis-
ter, he was deemed the most fitting nego-
tiator. Unfortunately, the very deserts of
Bruno on which Gotthold had relied, de-
stroyed his efficiency, for Rapposi saw in
the young musician q dangerous rival, and
hating him accordingly with q professional
hatred, met Bruno's proposal with stern
declaration that all intercourse between
Madcmoiselle Rapposi and Gotthold must
immediately cease.
"The sight Of a public execution, was,
in the days in which | am speaking, regard
ed as fitting recreation for persons of in
dubita5le responsibility, and thus far it was
but natural that the Italian maestro and
the three brothers found themselves in a
dense throno assembled to see the last sen-
tence of The law inflicted on an unfortu-
nate young person, guilty of infanticide.
As it happened, they all stood close toge-
thcr, and the attention of the crowd was
diverted from the criminal by loud shrek
followed by the fall Of the italian, who
pointed to q knife which had been plunged
up to the hilt into his bosom, and immedi-
atelv expired. Bruno, who stood nearest
to the deceased, was at once arrested
on suspicion and, in spite Of his proteS-
tatlons that he had neither struck the
blow himself, nor knew in the least who
| vas the assassin, he was speedily sentenced
TO death. No sooner, however, had the
sentence been passed than each of the re-
manning two brothers, without communi-
| eating together, resolved to save Bruno by
| all act Of sclt-sacrilice, and accordingly both
appeared before the tribunal, each declar-
| ing that he was the real murderer. Bruno,
| to Illustrate their generous intentions, be-
| lied his former protestationS Of innocence,
and, in his turn, took the crime upon him.
| self. Here, then, was Il difficult case, for it
! was clear that three persons could not have
Killed man with one knife, and the per-
picked judges referred the case to the
elector, who hit upon curious ordeal as
an eXpedient for aScertaining the truth.
| he ordered that the three brothers should
each carry 4 linden tree TO certain church
yard, and plant it with its head downwards,
adding that the one whose tree did not
.row under these difficult circumstances
should be executed as Il murderer"
"rhe brothers proceeded to the desig-
mated chGrchyarG, accompanied by all the
clergy. tie magistracy, and many citizens
Of Berlin, and then, after many prayers had
"e,n said, and many HYMNS had been sung,
they planted their trees, which solemn act
nertolmed, they returned home, where
thcy were SLOWED to remain unguarded."
Ihc upper branches Of the trees all struck
;oot into the earth, and the original roots
We're transformed into branches, which in
stead of growing upwards spread horizon
| tally IN rich luNurlance.
Well, rs one good turn deserves an
other, said Edgar, "Fll give you 4 story
| from Berlin, Which, at any rate, has the
merit OF hemg mole probable than yours,
| anu which refers to fine house. which, |
| neileVe, IS still Iii existence. Frederick the
tIreat, 1t seems, TO reward a certain citizen
for valuable services to the State, built him
IL HANDSOME house, which was decorated
with II number Of statues. Another citizen.
! VINO llVeu III lhe unmeulate c vicinity, re gard
ed With an cnfiouS eye the favor shown to
his ne'2hbor, and put himself ut the head of
cllarltahlc movement with the view of
gaining similar prize. This plan
proved, to 4 certain extent, success
iu, as the king built Il house tor
him likewise. Wei, when the second
house was built, completed, and presented
to It's 1ulure occupant, that unpleasant
| gentleman gave Signs of discoutent so
manifest that they did not escape the
notice Of the King, who good. humoredly
asked him the cause Of his dissatisfaction.
| The explanation WAS to the effect that the
man rit disappointed because his house
Was not, Ike his .neighbor'S, adorned with
| statues. Frederick promised to remedy the
defect, and on the following day an artist
recrivcda an order to decorate the grumbler'S
house with calves heads, to the number of
ninety-nine. with these said the King,
II trust he will be satisfied. The hun
dredlh calls head he,will furnish himself
Now there is "a story which points moral,
and which there is nothing incredible at
all. Some Of the calves heads, l am told.
! are still to be seen, though the entire num-
i Der has been diminished by the operation
/ Of time." ...
/ wilt tell you another tale from Berlin,
rhe moral purpose of; which is much the
same as that conveyed by the story of the
| three brothers. In the time Of Frederick
| William, celebrated as the Great Elector OF
tBrandenburg-that is to say, in the latter
halt Of the seventeenth century-there
lived at Berlin wealthy iun-keeper. with
a daughter notable for her beauty, whose
hand was sought by Heinrich and Rudolph,
two of the electors hody.2uard. The dam.
sci preferred Heinrich, who was of mild,
even temper, to Rudolph, whose nature
was somewhat stormy and as the former
had ingratiated himself with the lnn-keeper
by rescuing him from gang of ruttians, biz
suit was accepted, and Rudolph retired, in
ternally vowing vengeance, and resolving to
do mischief at the earliest opportunity. An
! occasion presented itself, when the be:
trothed lovers met at, o retired spot, and
he became concealed witness OF the In:
teryiew. Infiamed with jealousy, he rush
ed from his hiding place as soon as Hem.
lrieht had left the spot, thrust his sword
into the damse's bosom, and fled unob-
served. Her lileless body was found soon
afterwards, and popular suspicion was dl'
vided between the two admirers. On the
one hand, RudoIph'sy disappointment and
consequent jealousy were well known or
the other, Heinrich had been the last per-
son seen with the deceased. Both were
arrested, but, in accordance with the Gus
tom of the age, both were pat to The tori
ture, and both protested their innocence
! The elector. in bis perplexity, deereee
that each of the parties accused shoulo
throw q pair of dice, and that he, whose
tthrow was lowest should be deemed guilty
of murder. ..,,...
| The body-suards were all assembled t, t.
/ witness the trial of the dice. For the taDie
4 stood q drum, near which cofhn wa!
.Enlaced. while reverend gentleman was II