Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1876-03-15
Carl Schurz's Father,


Few knew that Carl Schlrzs father was
IN this country till the recent announcement
Of his sickness aud death Ia Illinois lie has
been living there in happy retirement for
twenty-five years. taking great pride in the
son he had trained so piousy and vigorously.
and enjoying also the neighborhood of a
daughter Mrs Edmund Jusson, Of Chicago.
Christian Schurz was a school teacher Ia TIE
village Of Liblar, near Cologne, Prussia.
where his son Carl was born, aud formed no
exception TO the general rule which con
signs the German teacher 10 lifelong poverty.
But he resolved to give his son the best edu-
cation then TO be obtained IN that part of
Germany. The best years Of his life and
most Of his scauty means Were religiously
devoted to this all-absorbing purpose. The
untiring energy aud ambition of the elder
schurz in this direction were truly remark
able. lie compelled Carl 10 walk almost
daily distance of ten miles, when he was
still Of very tender years, 10 take lessons on
the piano; aud when the boy bad reached
the age of ten years, he performed with great
success at several concerts, to the infinite
satisfaction of his father. lie early placed
the boy at the gymnasium Of Cologne, one of
the best educational institutes in the Rhenish
provinces. and managed to keep Carl at
this school until he passed an examination
for admittance to the university at Bonn.
But he made Carl appreciate thoroughly
that he was making extraordinary efforts in
his behalf, and exercised a strictness aud a
Superntendence over his child of which the
average American boy can form no idea.
Carl came home only once TO enjoy his fall
vacation. when, instead of the best testimo-
NAL (No. ! Al, he could produce only No. l.,
and the boy lowered around the father-house
and perambulated the adjoining forest for
almost a day, before he could summon up
courage enough to cross the threshold. Next
door to the village home of Carl Schurz there
was one Of those wide and simple public
halls, which, on feast days, served as a ball
room for the young people of the village.
Here was the first theater of Carl Schuns
eloqucnce. The old gentleman used to con-
duct his son Carl to this hall and place him
on the platform erected for the village musi-
clans, and command him to recite either
some composition of his own, or to declaim
the classic poems of Goethe and Schiller.
And, while the shrill and boyish voice of the
young student was resembling through the
room, the old man, solitary and alone, would
pace up and down before the improvised ros-
trum, aud sharply criticise the youthful ora
tor. lie made Carl understand that he
wanted him perfect in everything; that the
usual plays and frolics Of boys were fit only
for the children of rich parents; and that if
he desired to make his way in the world,
poor as he was, he must study aud labor in
cessantly. And thus he imbued Carl with
an ambition and love for study which have
served him well throughout his eventful life.
The revolution of ISIS brought dark hours
of sorrow and grief to Christian Schurz. A
true republican at heart himself, he was
proud of the eminent position which his son
held among the rebels. But the day came
when Carl was taken prisoner at Rastall, aud
was sentenced TO be shot. He wrote his fa-
ther a last farewell and the grief-strickeu old
man at once started to Rastall to recover, If
possible, the body Of his son. In tears, and
staggering under his terrible grief, he called
on the commander of the Prussian garrison
and demanded the remains of the young
martyr TO liberty. His Joy may be imagined
when he was told that Carl had escaped from
the fort. the night before the morning fixed
for his execution. lie returned home with
a light and joyous heart, and did not see his
son again until he met him on the soil of the
United States republic in 1852