The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1875-02-11
a merchant named Riberach. The

of a merchant named Biberach The
change was a great misfortune for Caspar.
In his new home, out of the experienced
hands of an educator like Daumar, he
was treated and exhibited like natural
curiosity He was made an object of en-
tertainment for the family and guests OF
the merchant Questions of all kinds were
put him, and his answers awaited with
the utmost attention The effect on the
youth was disastrous. His vanity was first
awakened. But. in the end, he came to
dislike his surroundings, and obtained
very false notions of the world he was IN.
In the summer OF 1890 Caspar's guar
evil effects of his life in the merchants
house, took charge of him himself; and,
for year and half he led happy life
in the Barons family He was lndustrl-
Gus, and labored to improve himself, with
the happiest results Both Iucher and
Daumer bore witness to the amiabillty and
cheertulness Of their pupil; as did also
another eminent man who happened to
come in contact with him, President Won
funerbach
It was about this time that an English
Lord-the eccentric Stanhope-appeared
on the scene as the protector OF the youth
1t had been conjectured by some that Cas-
par was of noble descent. Stanhope es-
housed this view with enthusiasm, and had
the boy given over to him. in spite OF the
opposition of Daumer and Tucher, who
Knew that the noble Lord could have none
but a bad influence over him. Caspar had
been heard to pronounce a few words in
the hungarian language, and Stanhope
jumped at the conclusion that he must,
therefore, have been Of Hungarian origin.
He took Caspar with him on his travels
through Hungary. His supposition, how
ever, as to the boys origin, was ground
less; and, when he discovered it, he lost
all interest in his protege. He put him
under the tuition of wellmeanlng but
incompetent Bavarian school-master, much
to the loss Of Casrar His former teachers,
however, never gave up their interest III
him.
Now we come, after this short but
strange biography, to an end altogether
in keeping with the rest. On the Hin OF
December, 1888, Caspar was, while out
taking a walk, mortally wounded by an
unknown man, at Ausbach, near the mOnu-
ment erected to the memory OF the poet
u. All efforts to discover his murderer
were in vain.
Attempts to discover Caspars origin did
not cease with his death. For years every
trace OF him was followed up, in the hope
OF solving the mystery OF his life. There
were scientific men who occupied them
selves for long period of time with the
| Of b;s, aptooa1ant- t)nIOInnS
differed concerning him. BY some he was
| looked upon as a model of human good
ness and innocence; by some as a stupid
peasant lad by others, again, as an i'm
poster 1t was now supposed that he was
the son of IN English or German noble
man; and now it was asserted that he was
| the illeoitimate son of Bavarian soldier.
| 1t was said also that he wasa Baden Prince,
son of the Archduchess Stephanie; and
this surmise was supported by several cir
cumstanceS.
Two years age, the son ofthe school-mas-
| ter to whom Lord Stanhope had intrusted
Casper, published a volume purporting to
convey authentic information concerning
| him This book was something of an at
tack on Daumer, who therefore published
a work in answer, entitled ''Caspar Hau-
| ser; His Nature, Innocence, and Suffer-
ings" In this production Of his, Daumer
repeats his conviction that Caspar Hauser
was the son of the Archduchess Stephanie
of Baden The Archduchess was an adopt
ed daughter of Napoleon L., the daughter
of Josephine by her first marriage. and
vile of Archduke Karl of Baden. She lost
two sons in the most mysterious manner.
and it is said that her husband died OF
poison, 1t is supposed that Caspar was
the elder OF those two sons. The daugh-
! tiers Of the Archduchess lived in every in
| stance. The party interested in the ex-
tinction of the male line Of Stephanie's
| descendants was the mother Of the Counts
| Of 1lochberg, and their sons. Countess
| Won Hochberg was married to the Mar
| grave of Baden, and exceedingly anxious
that her sons should ascend the throne.
But this could not happen unless the sons
OF the Archduchess were made away with,
and unless the Margrave Louis came to an
understanding IN the matter with his NOR
ganatic step-mother 1t happened as the
Countess wished The Archduke Karl and
his nephew Ludwig died without male is
sue, and Ludwig recognized the right of
descent in the Margrave. 1t was a sus-
picious circumstance that both of Steph-
anie's sons should die or disappear shortly
after their birth the more as the moth.
er had always been a remarkably robust
| woman. There are very many circum-
stances going to show that Daumer's hy-
| pothesis is correct, and that Casper was
Stephanie's son, in whose cradle a dying
child was placed in his stead. But of this
there is no certainty, and it seems that the
history Of the boy will remain in the flu
ture what it has hitherto been,--a mys-
terry.