Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1872-09-25
A ROMANTIC TRAGEDY.
Romeo and JulIet in switzerIan,


An American maiden, scarcely more
than child, daughter of an American
lady of fortune and social repute, ac-
cording to an extraordinary letter in the
Herald, is sent out to Europe to learn
the languages, under the care of "a
competent governess," living in Zurich,
who has also the supervision of. two or
three others. This maiden is about
sixteen, and while at Zurich she makes
the acquaintance of young man,
scarcely more than lad, a native of
Poland residing in Switzerland to ae-
quire the art Of medicine. In time an
arrangement is made by which the
maiden is to teach the lad English, while
he teaches her German. Our narrative
is somewhat obscure as to the nature
and the origin of this arrangement; but
we suppose it was approved by tie
competent governess." At all events,
the studies began, and with result
that our readers may fancy. Romeo
and Juliet spoke the same language; but
we question if things would have turned
out differently had he spoken German
and she English; for love hath Lam
gaage of its own, apart from the gram
mar and glossary There were long
walks by the brawling brooks, frequent
communions, persistence in the new
study that quite drove medicine out of
the young mans mind, and thefiner ac.
complishments out of that of the young
lady for, as we have said, she was six
teen and he twenty. In time the mother
came from America with three other
daughters. She discovered the nature
OF the "studies that engrossed her
childs attention, and instantly forbade
them. To make the prohibition effec.
tual she left Zurich with her family for
Lake Lucerne, leaving the young Pole
TO continue his study of medicine. and
to find his happiness in other ewes than
those of Miss Juliet. ;...a r-.TO -,
But love, as Madame Mother might
well have known, is not to be dissolved
or defeated by seas or streams, or even
the wild Swiss mountains. The student
followed the. maiden to Lake Lucerne,
decorated himself in wig and false
beard and other mystifying toggery, and
took apartments in a small hotel near
his helOved's new home, telling curious
landlord--not without suspicious, we
would think, in these Commune times. as
to the rig and whiskers--that he was in
love, and that a cruel parent stood be.
tween him and everlasting peace Then
came little notes for the student, timidly
handed to the hotel porter by maiden
hands, and hurried meetings and strolls
by the banks of the lake, where Tell ia
said to have split the mythical apple,
and to have defed Gessler's imperial
chapeau. But Madame Mother in time
discovered this, and announced that she
would leave Switzerland, and Eu-
rope eveni to prevent the rela-
tions which had fascinated her daugh-
ter. This cruel mandate was an
noupced TO the student, and it moved
him deeply. he asked for one more in.
terview. The next day his beloved
would leave Luoerne and 90 to distant
lands. The meeting was permitted " for
twenty minutes, says our correspond
ent. "Are you afraid to dieG' said
Romeo. No" said Juliet, when the
time comes. And in fash the stu
dent drew a small pistol aud fred it at
her temples. She fell upon the ground.
dead. He then put the pis.
tol to his own forehead and fired, and
fell by her side. 1t was thought, when
assistance came. that both were dead |
The maiden, however, was severely but
not dangerously wounded, and is now
free from danger. The student was
more seriouily injured. It is thought, |
however, that youth and health will save
his life; but he will never again look
upon his beloved, for the shot which was
to have taken his life has robbed him of
his sight, and he lies in the Gersau Hos
pital hopelessly blind