The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1876-03-10
The Father OF Carl Schurz Dies In
Serene Old Age.


Christian Schurz, the father of Sem
ator Schurz, now Of New York, and
Mrs. Edmund Jussen, of this city, died
in Monce, Win County, ILL.,, on the l.th
inst. He was born in 1896, in the small
village Of Duisdorf, in the Rhenish
Province Of Germany. He was a school
teacher in the village Of L.Dlar, near
Cologne, where his son Carl was born,
and formed no exception 10 the general
rule which consigns the German teach
er TO lifelong poverty.
At very early age Christian Schurz
placed his boy al the Gymnasium. of
Cologne, one Of the best educational
Institutes in the Rhenish Provinces. and
though he was poor, he managed to
raise funds to keep Carl at school un-
Ill he passed an examination for adj
mittance To the University nj Bonn.
But he made Carl appreciate thorough
IN that he was making extraordinary
efforts in his behalf, and exercised a
strictness and superintendent over his
child Of which the average American
boy can form no idea Carl came home
only once 10 enjoy his fall vacation,
when, instead of the best testimonial
(No Al, he could produce only No.
/, and the boy lowered around the faith
err house and peri mbulatcd the adjoining
forest for almost day before he could
summon courage enough TO cross the
threshold.
Next door to the village home Of Carl
Schurz there was one of those wide and
sinsple public halls, which, on feast
DAYS. served As a ballroom for the
Young people Of the village. Here was
the first theater IF Carl Schurz's elo-
quencc. The old gentleman used to con-
duet his son Carl 20 this hall and place
him on the platform erected for the VII
lage musicians, and command him 10
recite either some composition Of ms
own or to declaim the classic poems IF
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 i'm
proyiSed rostrum, aud sharply criticise
the Youthful orator. He made Carl un-
derstand that he wanted him perfect in
every thing; that the usual plays and
frolics of boys were fit only for the chill
drcn Of rich parents; and that If he de-
sired To make his way in the world, poor
as he was, he must study and labor in
cessantlv. And thus he imbued Carl
with an ambition and love for study
which have served him well throughout
his eventful life.
The revolution Of 1913 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 Car
was taken prisoner at Ra>tall, and was
sentenced to be shot. lie wrote to his
father q last farewell. and the grief.
stricken old man at once started q
Rastall 10 recover, if possible, the
body Of his son. In tears, and stag
gering under his terrible grief, he called
on the commander Of the Prussian gar.
rison and demanded the remains Of the
young martyr to liberty. His JOY may
be imagined when he was told that Car
had escaped from the fort the night be
fore the morning fixed for his eXecu
ton. He returned home with light
and Joyous heart. and did not see hi
son again until he met him on the sol
Of the United States Republic in 1852
Since then the old man has led truly
happy life He has lived for his birds
and his flowers, and fairly reveled il
the ever-increasing renown of his boy
until Saturday last he was carried u
his grave. the casket containing his re
mains being deeked with profusion o
lilies and roses, and blessed with TN
love of his children and friends, VIII
will ever cherish and honor his memory