, 1875-01-24
A REMlNlSCENCE Of BREMEN,
The Career Of q German Lu.
crezia Borgia.
Durics Three Husbands, and Detect
ed in the Act Of Poisoning
a Fourth,

Her Horrible Punishment by Disease,
and Death Of the Executioner.
[Erttten for The Chicago 7ribet,,e.]
It was after pleasant voyage from the Thames
in tue good ship Adolphe, in the early summer
OF = year now grown sufficiently venerable on
the scroll OF time to be privileged from too fa-
miliar mention. that found myself On the Weser
with the fair city OF Bremen, occupying both
sides Of the river; before me. The ship was
owned by her commander, in whom soon dis
covered very agreeable and Intelligent mess-
mate; and it Was with much tatiiacton learned
on arrival that our acquaintance VAS to be con-
! tinued on shore sitter 80 favorable \ beginning.
Capt Arndt'B private residence Was near the
Schutting, the finest public square IN the city,
! and, during my stay in the town and its vicinity,
| I was frequently \ guest at his unostentatious
| bnt truly hospitahle tabls. Moreover. through
! lhe kindness Of lis family and their friends
! seldom found mysalf companionless in my RAM
| bles.
In city Of 10 great antiquity it must needs be
that many objects OF high historic interest pre-
scut themselves to the visitor; yet, while these
| will be ouly sought out and appreciated, it is
readily to be noticed that there is quite enough
| Of the modern element there to attract and
| reward large share OF attentive observation.
Aad thus it ts that though Bremen was founded
BY Charlemague in the eighth century, 1t has to-
| day more Of tho general appearance, even in the
old town, which modern commerce bestows than
one would be apt to imagine, aud enjoys with
great justice the prestige Of belng cne Of the
best built cities Of Germany.
The most striking relic Of tho antique Ia tho
Cathedral built by Adalbert, the Archbishop Of
that day, in L. D., 1850. It still rea1s it, lofty
tower near 400 feet into the air and contains that
wonderful vault, the BIeikeAer, which, owing to
it's singulariy preservative quality, presents to
view in the freshness OF yesterday bodies which
we're laid theso in ages loug passed. away. The
ancient fortress erected by the great son Of
Pepin is now only discovreable BY tradisionary
outlines, and ita site il covered BY pleasure
grounds 80 lovely and 80 suggestive Of FAIRY
land Tint one feels almost inclined to attribute
tho metamorphoses OF the rough applaass Of
erim-v -vlsaged war ioto sYlvan shades, sparkling
fountains, and nowery partetras to the magic
wand Of some or other OF the weird sofcerers,
this tims 3 benevolent one. to which German
history lends an occasional page.
But I must defer further description OF this
place for some future occasion, my EteHens OBJ
iect being to relate, veil as can 1t this dis
tant day, the story Of serles OK fearful crimes
which had been discovered not lopg previous
to my arrival, aud OF which beard
what particulars can now Tenomber
Il the Captains table, The trial which followed
| must, no doubt, have boen officially reported.
but have neger yet been able to lay my hands
upon any authority upon the auoject-
Between Bremen aud Vegesack. which vas
formerly the chief port OF the Territory, there re-
siued on handsome estate q gentleman who en-
joyed the eatise respect Of the neighborhood in
which he hyed. In ea1lg Lie ha had married
Spanish lady who died 10 the third year q t1er M
heritiug the features OF her mother, little
Gretscheu VAS soou found to possess 4er dispo-
sition Is we'll; for rumor had already begun to
proclaim, that all had not been ha7piness
infancy had naturally enough awakened
har father, Which led to tho most
iujudcioua Indulgence In the msnagosnen. and
education Of the child At the age Of 16 the
death OF her father lett her sn Orphan the ward
OF her uncle, aud even then tue almost undls-
puted mistress Of liberal fortune. Time duly
relieved her Of the habl!iments Of woe aud the
gentle restraint OF her guardian. aud she sought
the atlurcments Of society: with tha eagerness Of
one on whose young brow tho shades OF grief
had never fallen. Possessed of wealth mud moro
than ordinary beauty, Ehe At once became
1eigniu9 belle, aud might hare counted her ad-
mire1a By The score. Sholt!y after entering her
lYAh year nhe succumbed to the entrea;les Of the
handsome young Balon OF Feils:ein, and tie
wedding was celebrated With the usual 9esti7i-
tea. 70 those who had known Gretschen's nay
wardness sud temper tho change which WAS OBJ
served iu her manner after 1er marriage seemed
indeed wonderful Her affection for her bus
baud bortlered on idoatry. and the slightest e1-
preston OF his will became 10 her the highest
fav, Had sho indeed found he1 Pet1uchio OF
what was tho spell BY Which this happy change
has been brought about? TIC Weddeo lie u tho
young pair mas ono continuous honeymoon and
no cloud WAS ever kDown to mar its serenity.
The wedding bad taken place in the doweIy
month OF MAY. When the holly was being gath
cred for Christmas the Baron was on bed OF
sickness, receiving the undivided aud unrenlt-
ting attention OF his fond and beauteous wife.
Wien tie festival had passed. the Blron WAS
borue to tie tomb, and Widows woeis
cpyoIoped the fair form Of the Weep
ing Grelschen. But Time. the great res1orer. :.
sooner or later heals the deepest wounds. and
Grotschen has been preva.'ed upon to enter
again upon tho world and isa vanlt,ea- Sh ia
more chArmiog than ever. in her ~ldowhood, and
lovers &re again at her feet. wealthy met-
cnaus. who bad been driven well nigh to mad
neea by his former rejection, now grows cour-
ageous, realizes tho truth OF the proverb
FAINT heart never won fair lady" AMI boldly
carr1ea OF tho prize. tEha a1tsr seals 10 him the
reward of his valor, and a bright vista OF happl-
meas opens before him. Ho calls oretschen nls
o,yn ID the soft midsummer, aad when the snows
have eliminated in the succeeding winter they
vic with the whiteneas Of the marble whose IN
ecription records its erection by disconsolate
widow to tho memory Of the dear departed, who
died on the day Of sncl! a date, deeply lAmented;
and Grcrscaen's name is to be seen On the stone.
tbs tears Of sympathetic friends again fall for
one 80 young aud SO afflicted, aod prayers are
not waiting that she may be oonsolel in good
season by lifelong union which will o6lltetate'
or al least tone dowa, ths soE1o"s Of her Still
hopeful stage OF existence. Early 10 the ne1t
year OF her second wldowhood the Advocate
Blelssein confesfes to the soft impeachment OF
his truly-snyious companions, who have Witness
ed hin animation in tue presence, his abstraction
in tho absence, Of afetsehsn: Brilliant ,, in bis
s,,d cenerous, tho darling OF his house. Ithe
cyuosure OF his circlo-who moro worthy tnan
10 TO prust, away the tear OF soi1o" and bid III
t1sces of griaf to dsAppear2 He presses his
suit add is met With ever 30 gontie rou'ou-
etrance against third marriage; and thus bus
;ut1ames him the moro TosB ase at l4u2th luter-
changed. and Grctschen becomes tha Hife Of !