, 1872-12-07
A FAMOUS MYTH.
The True History OF the William Tell
Story

William Tell is very hard to kill. German
writer's in the last century demolish him. over
and over again, but to little purpose. He re-
manned the Swiss hero, and what 1s lar Worse
sert their undying ug1iness, and pretend to
prove, by their presence there, the truth OF the
story. The giant has been recently slain once
more as an lnpostor. Once more ? Half dozen
times; and each slayer takes himself for the
sole and original champion. Swiss professors
even have been at the work Of demolition.
Three or four years ago Mr. Barring Gould, in
his IS s'Curious Myths Of the Middle Ages" set up
. dozen Of those myths, and boTled them all
that the legend of William Tell Was as fabulous
as any other historical event." Mr. Barring
Gould, however, does more than some others
have done. He traces the story as far back as
it can be traced. This is the order Of the
/. In the tenth century a. tippling, boasting
Danish soldier, named Toki, -swore he could
drive an arrow through an apple placed on the
point OF q stick at great distance. King Harald
Bluetooth told the boaater that the apple should
be placed on his sons head, and if Toki did not
send an arrow through it at the first attempt,
his own head should pay the penalty. Toki per-
formed the feat with perfect success; but Harald
porceiying he had brought other arrows de-
manded the reason thereof, and Toki replied
that If he had injured his son he would have
driven those other arrows into the Kings body.
The story WAS first related by saxo Grammati-
Gus in the twelfth century
3. But in the eleventh century the above
prototype of Tell had SUCCESSORS or imitators.
King Olaf, the Saint Of Norway, challenged
Eindridi among other things, to shoot with an
arrow at writing tablet on the head Of Eindridls
son. Each was to have one shot. Olaf grazed
the boys head, Whereupon the boys mother
interfered, and Eindrldi was Withdrawn from
the contest. Olaf remarked that his competitor
had 8 second arrow, which Elndridi confessed
that he intended for his Majesty if anything
very unpleasant had happened to the boy
8. A year or two later in this eleventh century,
another Morse archer, Hemingr, had q match
with King Harold. Harold set spear ahaft fora
mark in the ground. He then fired in the air; the
arrow turned in it's descent and pierced the spear
haft. Herningr followed suit, and split the
Kings arrow, which was perpendicularly fixed in
the spear shaft. Then the King stuck knife
il an oak His arrow went into the haft.
Hemingr shot, and his arrow cleft the haft and
went into the socket Of the blade. The enraged
King next fred at a tender twig, which his arrow
pierced, but Hemingr's split q hazel nut growing
upon it. "Top shen PIT the 1e,1 nut or on your
do not pierce it with your spear at the first
attempt, your life shall be forfeit" OF course,
the thing was done. Hemingr il supposed to
have had his revenge by, sending an arrow
through Harolds trachea at the battle of StAm-
ford Bridge. where he fought on the English
side.
1. In the Faroe Isles, the above Harold is
said to have had q swimming match with
certain tfGVL1s WuO uQk Ql43 UCdt A4AA4s UAL 6Ht0
him ducking. Harold condemned him to
shoot hazel nut off his brothor's head under
the usual penalty, and with the usual result.
S. The same story is told Of one Puncher
(suggestive name) with this difference, that
the object aimed at WAS coin.
6. In Finland, it is q son who shoots an apple
of his fathers head, for which feat some rob-
bers who had captured his sire gave him up to
the son. ...
7. In Persian poem Of the twelfth century,
King in sport shoots an arrow at an apple on
the head Of his fayorite page, who, though not
hurt, died of the fright.
8. The story, with q difference, is told OF
Egil, in the saga Of Thidrik, of no particular
g. It is familiar to us in the English ballad of
William of Cloudesley, chronological date Of
event uncertain.
the fourteenth century. We need not tell his
well-known tale again. It is only necessary to
remark, by way OF comment, that the Tell and
Gesler legend was not set up till many years
afterwards, and that in no contemporary record
is any mention made Of either Tell, desler,
or the apple incident. No Vogt named Gesler
ever exercised authority for the Emperor in
Switzerland; no family bearing the name
OF Tell can be traced IN any part OF that
II, and lastly. The heros name was not Tell
at al, but MLeod, and he came from Braemarl
Mr.. Barring Gould has quite overlooked him.
subIoined, in order to make the roll Of legends
complete It is taken from 1.-THE Braemar
Highlands their Tales, Traditions and History"
by elizabeth Taylor. The King referred to is
Malcolm Canmore:
ing one day in the royal forest. A favorite
hound Of the Kings having attacked MLeod,
was killed by him. The King soon heard OF the
slaughter of bis favorite, and Was exceedingly
to death. The gibbet was erected on Craig
Choinnich, !. e., Kenneth's Craig. As their Was
less Of justice than revenge in the sentence,
little time WAS permitted ere it was carried into
north gate Of the castle. The King, in great
state, surrounded by crowd of his mobiles, fol-
lowed in procession. SorroWiug crowds Of the
people came after, in wondering amazement:
As they moved slowly on, an incident occurred
woman with child in hor rushing
through the crowd, and throwing herself before
the King, pleaded with him to sparo her hus-
bands life, though it should be at the expense
of all they possessed. Her impassioned entreat-
les we're met With silence. Malcolm was not to
be moved from his purpose OF death. ~-6eeing
that her efforts to move the King we're useless,
she made her way to her husband, and throwing
her arms around him, declared that she would
not leave him-she would 60 and die with him.
Malcolm was somewhat moved by the touching
scene. Allen Durward, noticing tho favorable
moment ventured to put in the suggustion that
"A splendid archer, is hep replied the King;
then he shall have his skill tried So lie
ordered that M'Leod's wife and child should bo
placed on the opposite side of the river; some
thing to serve as 8 mark was to be placed on
the child'shead. # M' 'Leod succeeded in hitting
the mark without injuring his wife or child, his
life Was to be spared, otherwise the sentence
was to be carried into execution. Accordingly
ESQ the legend goes) the young wife and child
were put across the river, and placed on Tom
ghainmheine; according to some, little farther
down the river, near where O boathouse once
stood. The width Of the Dee was to be the dis
tance separating M'Leod from his mark. He
asked for bow and two arrows, and having ex-
amined each with the greatest care he took his
position. Tho eventful moment came, the peo-
pie gathered round him, and stood in profound
silence. On the opposite side of the river his
wife stood, the central figure Of crowd Of eager
bystanders, tears glistening on her cheeks as
she gazed alternately at her husband and child
in dumb emotion M'Leod took aim; but his
body shook like aspen leaf in tho evening
breeze. This was trial for him far harder than
death. Again he placed himself in position;
but he trembled to such degree that he could
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