The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-08-22
OUR GERMAN LETTER.
European Notes-Legerd OF a RemorseIess
Baron An Astrologer and a Clock
Observations of a New Orleanian Abroad,

| European Correspondence of the Bulletin
| BONN, July, 1875
Dear BuNetin-The following legend of thos
wonderful old times when Germany was unde
the sway of the marauding Barons, is on,
that have considered worthy of transmitting
to the BULLETIN for publication, and will
merely say, as regards its authenticity, that i
is as much entitled to that claim as mos
of the improbable medieval legends are, ani
though not recorded in the list of those pro
vided specially for the edifcation of the tour
ist who journeys through Germany, it will
compare favorably with those of the Rhine
the Hartz Mountains, the Black Forest, etc.
and has the unusual merit of involving nc
connection with the Devil or with supernatu.
raj beings of any kind
A story based upon this legend appeared q
great many years ago in one of the New Eng.
land magazines, and it is possible that some
of the readers of this paper may chance to
have seen it. OF course I can only give a
brief sketch of the story here, but that will
suffice to set forth the leading points.
"Once upon time" or to be more precise,
toward the close of the thirteenth century,
there dwelt in one of the mountain castles Of
Southern Germany certain remorseless
Baron" of the name of Rudenheim, who,
like others of his time, kept small army of
retainers to support and carry out his bold
plans; which plans, after the fashion of the
times, consisted for the most part in the max
ing of raids upon the lands of neighboring
Barons, and in levying blackmail upon travel
ers, and the public in general
This Baron Rudenheim was bachelor
and his immediate family consisted solely of
one lovely and gentle niece, whose guardian
he was, and who presided over his domestic
affairs. 1t was generally known in the country
that he had got possession of his estate by
some underhand operation, and the popular
belief was that he had caused the rightful
heir to be murdered or spirited away some
twenty years before the time Of the
story, while the said heir was yet child;
but there was no positive proof against
him, and in those lawless times such
matters ~eic thought lightly of, as they
were of the commoness occurrence. WE'LL
upon the evening of CERTAIN summer
day, the bold retainers of the Baron returned
from q raid with an elderly prisoner whom
they had taken with the belief that he was a
man of consequence in disguise. from the
fact of his noble appearance and dignifed
bearing, and for whose release they thought
a ransom might be obtained. This person
was travelling with two servants, and his eff cts,
which were not very bulky, were reserved to
be examined in the presence of the Baron
himself The surprise and disappointment OF
the jolly robbers was very great, however,
when they discovered that the dignifed pris-
soner, instead of being nobleman, was merely
q learned astrologer, travelling from Germany
into Italy, and that his baggage consisted
chiefly of scientific instruments, books, charts,
and other similar properties, |
which would be of no use to them, and were |
not capable of being converted into cash.
The Baron, after bordering awhile as to |
how he could make anything out Of this unu-
sual sort of traveller, at length decided to have
The astrologer cast a horoscope of his own
the Baron's) destinies and generously prom
sed to release the prisoner if he discharged |
he task satisfactorily.
Accordingly, the man of stars was assigned
chamber in one of the castle towers in which
10 work out his calculations, and the whole
from the stern Baron down to
he warders on the gate, waited with impatient
curiosity to hear the result.
Several days thus elapsed, and finally word
vas conveyed to the chief that the wise man
lad worked out the horoscope and was pre-
Jared to answer, and as it was then late in the
venipg and grand carousal was about to be-
i'm in the castle hall, the Baron determined
o hear the verdict in the presence of all his
etainers as they were gathered around the
estal board.
So after preliminary libation of wine had
one the rounds, the grave stranger was
rought in and commanded to speak. He
TODD boldly up, chart in hand, and amid pro-
ound silence thus addressed the lord of the
astle 'Baron Ludwig Won Rudenheim,
ave faithfully studied thy destiny, as it is re-
orded by the planets of heaven, and though I
~ answer may anger thee, even unto caus- &
1g thee to put me to death, l am yet ready to
eclare TO thee thy fate. if thou commanded.
Speak" said the Baron, "snd swear by {
~ soul that, be thy words what they may,
1ou shalt live" $50 be it" replied the sage, +
1 know nothing of thy history, or of thy s
eeds, fair or foul, but of thy fate have S
sad in the stars that which will now relate.
at is now summer, and before the flowers of
mother summer shall fade, thy doom shall l
vertake thee, and the castle shall pass into t
,e hands of another; more, the stars have 8
OF revealed" Then arose frightful clamor, f
nd the authority of the Baron alone suficed I