The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-04-05
GERMANY.

A Berlin Editor Sentenced to One
Months ImprisOnm ent-Freedom Of
the Press in Germany-Satire in the
Empire in the Nineteenth Century
A Curious Trial. Blasphemy ''-The
Prussian Government and Insult to
Religion and His Holiness the Pope.
FRANKFoRT-oN-THE-MAIN, Germany,l
March 10, 1874.
DR.. Paul Lindau, the dramatist and editor or the
Berlin, weekly journal Die Ge0esacdrt has just been
sentenced to one months Imprisonment by q
Berlin criminal court for publishing In his journal
an al ticle styled by the Prussan State Attorney
..blasphemous.n The article question was one
OF seres entitled .byteJe eirses EfystOndrs y and
was written by DIR. Johannes Scherr. or Zurich
lunder the pseudonyme OF ''Zacharlas Zinnober'),
the author OF "History OF Religion History
OF Literature" "Blucner and His Tlmesn and other
works and essays; but this gentleman, being with
out the bounds OF Prussian jurisdiction, the Prus-
sian government determined to hold the editor
oil the journal in which the essay published
sponsiDie DIR. Scherr had, however, the good faith
Immediately 10 publicly acknowledge himself as the
author OF the incriminated article and TO bear the
punishment Tor It, The charges urged against
Lindau were--Utterlng Insult 10 the person Of His
Holiness the Pope, public blasphemy OF the Holy
Trinity, the virginity OF Mary ana OF the person
OF the Holy Ghost. Lindau, in his defence, denied
it was simply a satire, the justification OF which
could not be denied.
THE INCRIMISATED ARTICLE
/ have the article before me. Though 1t is writ
ten all ogether satircal strain 1t is deeply Of
fensive to members OF the Catholic Church. whose
visible head is here very needlessy ridiculed.
Scherr Is gosSping with a travelling companion
about matters political and religious and, OF
course, the Lady OF Lourdes, French revenge in
falnbity and His Holiness the Pope come in for
share OF discussion and satire-as Is Scherrs Gus.
tom. Speaking OF His Holiness, DR.. Scherr let's
Rabeais tell story, Ito which Arlstopheles Ger
vantes, Swift, Mollere, Fiscnart good fellows
listen and iaugh.n lie tells how His Holiness,
shortly after the declaration OF the dogma OF in
falliDlity, is troubled with conscientious scruples,
to calm which he determines to pay visit TO
heaven.
s.Who would have thought gays Schcrr, chat
the Nervousness Uouiu nave gTv"u uoforo
his own Godnead. But what does he do TO calm
his spirit. He takes the keys OF heaven, unlocks
the treble sacred gates and merely acknowledges
the presence OF the doorkeeper, Peter-who by
the way had been on earth simple fisherman
with a condescendlng nod. He enters the presence
OF God.Father without any ceremony. The old
Testament Herr-to whose weaknesses as Is wen
known that OF arableness never belonged
was just about to take his sieSt0 and
was in no good mood at being thus disturbed.
Reuere,s0tsstne domino coLega,' began the
sei.idoHzed Pho. Colleague Colleague
How2 How Is this What does he wish q
This and that what have nothing to do
with that, dummrton thickheadD Had he, in
stead OF wasting his time with sweating curses
out OF every pore given his attention TO the study
OF ecclesiastical history he must have known that
since the introduction Of the Christian calendar
have nothing more TO do with the affairs OF
your terrestrial rookery, for the reason that all
such business, With all the deot and credit, Is
given into the hands Of my son. Away with himp
somewhat rritated at this uncoilesgue.Iike recep-
ton His Holiness betooK himself 10 the apart-
ments OF the Son, where he was receive. with all
goodness. But when be had asked now then bad
the news or His dedication on earth been
received In heaven, the Son answered, very
moody, That Is a very tIcklish anu dlnacuIt