Liberal Republican. [volume] (Dallas, Or.) 1872-1???, 1873-11-15
PRAGUE AND ATS MEMORIES OF
THE CARLIs f PRETENDER,
BY Ms. DODGE. |

Any one whom business OF
pleasure detained in the time. honored
town of Prague for several weeks
duIlng the years of 1859 to 1863
inclusive, will hardly have forgotten
two remarkable personages he cannot
have failed ottentimes to see. The
| elder OF the two was tall, mild
hammered, gray-haired gentleman,
STOPPING little in his gait, scholarly
In ms appearance, and dressed in the
habit of Spanish eclesiastic. the
younger was well,grown youth of
fifteen of manly bearing, with regular
features, dark skin, black hair, and
expressive black eyes. The LITTER was
the first born of Dona Maria Beatrix
and Don Juan dc Bourbon, Don
Carlos, the now Duke of Madrid aud
claimant of the Spanish throne; and
the former, Don Rumon, siuce well
known from his archaeological works,
then both tutor and chaplain to the
prince. The mother. with her two
children, hunted from Modena
when the estates of her father
were taken from him, had found
hospitality in the palace Of her uncle,
the Emperor Ferdinand, and here, IN
Prague, her eldest son aud heir was
receiving bis educat on.
To Protestau: or Catholic there is no
city in Europe so rich 10 memories as
Prague Deeds Of conservatives aud
reformers are sown thickly in every
part In Bethlehem plaoz aud the
city Hall; in Crosse Ring aud the
Hskaberg in the Hrudschin as thry
call the antique palace Of the Bohemi-
an Kings at the great Bridge aud all
along The banks of the swift flowing
river ,acts Of heroism and cruelty, reh-
gion and superstition, daring aud cow
ardice, which have occurred in the gone
centuries, move continually before ones
mind like ghosts that will net down.
To take advantage Of these memories
in the development of boys mind
which was unusually susceptible to
historic Influence, no man could be
better qualified than was Don Ramon.
to persuasive power OF conversation he
added accurate knowledge of local
occurrences. His manner OF teaching
his royal pupil had about it an
irristible charm Take for example,
talk at the gates of the ancient Town
Hall. " Here" he said, right under
this oriel window, twelve Hussites were
beheadcd in 1922 and from yonder
door in the same room, the Hussites, at
another time, flung down upon the
enraced populacc, first the burgomaster,
and then upon the cry Heave them
over five members of the council.
Just round the corner of the platz, in
1921, Ohio Won Loss and twenty six
defenders of the Protestant faith
ascended the scaffold, each in success
ion kneel;ng in prayer, arising, laying
aside his garments, and receiving the
deathblow.
No one who knew the character of
Don Ramon can have any doubt that
he taught his pupil the facts of history
fairly, whether they made for or
against the chnrch. Indeed the truth
about this is no matter of conjecture,
for there were those then in Prague,
who, without being obtrusive, were not
infrequent listeners to the talk OF the
old man eloquent.
" That old blind King" he said one
day, "John Of Bohemia, was unhorsed
In this Square; and another, though
not Of royal blood, yet King CT men,
and blind also,-that warrior Of the
two-fold weapon, sword and Blbl,, who
beat the Emperor Sigismund at the
head OF 10000 men, and who, even
after his total loss OF sight, continued
to lead successfully the Hussite troops
in their war for liberty, the grand old
hero, John Zisca, died here The type
of heroes of the middle ages, man of
the Venitian dandalo mould of immense
bravery, and utmost devotion, Zisca's
name will live so long as religious