Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1871-02-16
Misfellamenus.
The Wandering jew.

Antwerp that the historic "Wandering
Jew" has been seen I'm that HeighbOr-
hood. He is reported as having passed
rapidly through the market place, and
as having on the outskirts of the village
addressed a few words to some children,
who, bolder than their companions,
! had followed in his path. He was
dressed in worn and dingy antique
garments, carried a long staff, and,
with his profuse beard streaming in the
wind, presented such an awe-inspiring
appearance that the terrified villagers
fled from him in fright. When he
paused and spoke to the children he
told them to go and inform the people
that new ruler had arisen in Europe,
who would bring Belgium, Holland,
and other countries under his sway,
that many strange vicissitudeS would
be witnessed and that many proud
heads would be brought low. On being
questioned as to his name, he replied,
"Seek not to know. have been here
before in the past. I shall be here
again in the future. Until the end of
time shall I walk the earth unceasing-
Ely.n The apparition then waving his
hand turned from the children and re-
sumed its plodding walk, and disap-
peared in the distance. r
The report of this appearance of the
Wandering Jew" has caused great ex-
element among the believers in the le-s
gend, and the truth of the story is cred
tied throughout Belgium. The legend
of the Jew who had witnessed the cru
cifixion, and had been condemned to
live and wander over the earth until
the time of Christ's second coming,
originated in the middle ages, and can
be traced back to the Chronicles of the
Abbey of st. Albans, which was copied
and continued by Mathew Paris. This
chronicle relates that, 1928, certain
Archbishop of Armenia Major came to
England on visit to sacred places, and
while enjoying the hospitality of the
Abby of St. Albans, among other
strange stories related that there was a
man named Joseph living in Armenia,
who had witnessed the crucifXiOn.
This man, originally called Cartaphilus,
was porter in Pilates service, and
while Jesus was passing out from the
Judgment hall, impiously struck him on
the back saying, "Go quicker, why do
you loiter?" Jesus looked upon him
with severe countenanee, and said,
"I am going, but you will wait till /
return" And accordingly Cartaphilus
is still waiting his return. After
Christ's death he. was converted and
baptised, and his name. was changed
to Joseph. In 1912 the Wandering
Jew appeared at Hamburg, telling
a story similar to the above. He, how
ever said that his name was Anasucrus,
and that he was shoemaker who
struck Jesus on the back while on the
way to Golgotha. This particular per-
son is described as a tall man, of about
fifty years of age, with long hair hang
ing down to his shoulders, barefooted,
and wearing strange costume, con-
sisting of sailors trousers, gown
reaching to the knees, and a long man
tie flowing down to his feet. HespOke
good German, in the Saxon dialect. In
1915 the Wandering Jew appeared in
the Netherlands, and this time used
the Spanish language. A few years
later the Wandering Jew arrived at
Strasburg, and going before the Magis-
trates, informed them that he had vis-
tied the city just 200 years before,
which statement it is asserted, was
proven to be true, by reference to the
Town records. He next was heard of in
the West Indies, and again in France,
where, IN l604, he caused considerable
sensation, his presence being accompa-
MED by destructive hurricanes. On
April %, IVA, an, Individual claiming
to be the Wandering Jew appeared in
Brussels, and told his story to the moe
mon people; he, however, had changed
| the popular name of this character and
called himself Isaac Laquedem. This
legend has formed the subject of numer-
Gus popular ballads in the different
languages of Europe, and also of poems,
tales, and novels by distinguished au-
thors. 1t may here be remarked that
this curious myth seems to have orig
mated in that passage of the Gospel Of
st. John, xxi. %, where Jesus says Of
John, eff I will that he tarry till j
come, what is that to thee ? follow thou
me. Then went this saying abroad
among the brethren that this disciple
j should not die" .a'.'.,.a '.',...