The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1876-04-13
ROMANTIC HISTORY.

all the coming Tomorrow will bring but woe
ROMANTIC HISTORY.
The Strange Story Of the Rise and Fall Of g
Danish Prince.
''Give me few pennies madam -
said Gypsy woman to a handsome
matron who was leading a twelve-year.
old boy, of very prepossessing appear.
ance, by the hand, in the summer of
l749, in Halle, in Prussia; ''giye me a
few pennies and will you your own
and your sons fOrtune.''
The matron was the wife of the Rev.
DR.; struensee, an eminent clergyman
or Hallae, and the boy was his second
son, John Frederick Struensee.
Nine. Struensee was a God-fearina
woman, and at first blush the offer of
the Gypsy to tell her fortune almost
shocked her; but then womanly curios.
lty got the better of her, and so she
gave the woman a groschen and told
her to reveal the future to her.
"Your life will be to the last an I'm.
ruftled one. You will die blessed by a
loving husband and affectionate chill.
dren.''
''Good! Good - exclaimed the cler.
gyman's wife. "And now tell my son 8
fortune.
The soothsayer gazed for several
minutes at the palm of the handsome,
golden.haired boy. AS she was doing
50 her face assumed somber express.
ion. At last she shook her head gloom.
lily and said:
''Poor mother do not ask ME to re.
veal to you what I read in your boy s
hand!'
sis it then, so terrible - exclaimed
Nine. Struensee, turning deadly pale.
''For heavens sake tell me what it
is! Do not torment me by further de-
lay!''
1T is your will,'' said the Gypsy
woman, land so I will tell you.
Your son, Madame, will become great
and illustrious. He will stand near "a
royal throne A Queens smile will
brighten his life-path. But then"
She stopped short.
''But then!' asked Mime. Struensee,
in almost breathless suspense.
''Then, replied the soothsayer SOL
emnly, he will ascend scaffold, and
his head will fall under the execution
er's ax!'''
The mother uttered a sharp cry Of
pain. Then she turned savagely upon
the Gypsy woman and cried:
"Begone vile imposter! was foolish
to listen to your nonsense. Begone I
say, or I shall call landreiter and
have you locked up!''
"Indeed you will not!' said the
soothsayer calmly. l have told you
the truth, and if you live you will
mourn over his terrible fall" So say.
ing she turned away.
Madame Struensee returned with 4
heavy heart to her husband home.
A few years later DR.. Struensee re.
ceived call to the principal Lutheran
Church at Altoona, then one of the larg.
est cities in the Kigdom of Denmark
His son had, meanwhile displayed in.
telectual faculties of the highest or.
der. After a brilliant course in college
he studied medicine at the Universities
of Goettingen, Kiel, and Paris, and in
1853, when but little over twenty
years of age, he became a practitioner
of medicine. In that capacity he was
wonderfully successful. His skill as q
physician became proverbial, and his
commanding appearance and rare con
versational powers added greatly to hi:
popularity.
In 1866, King Christian the Seventh
of Denmark, made his entry into AL
tona with his bride, the charming
Queen Caroline Matilde, an English
princess. The king, owing to youth
full excesses, WAS in feeble health. The
Burgomaster of Altoona upon hearing
his sovereign complain about his all
ments, said to him:
''Your Majesty, we have in our mids
an eminent physician, DR.. John Frede
rick Struensee. Young as he still is
he has performed already many almos
miraculous cures. If your Majest!
should place yourself under his treat
ment, there is every prospect of YOU
recovery, than which nothing could b.
more agreeable to your loyal subjects.
After consultation with his wife
the King OF Denmark sent for DR.
Struensee. The latter put many ques
tions to the King concerning his health
and then said:
''Your Majesty can be cured provid
ed you will keep your mind at ease.''
':Alas!'' exclaimed the King, with :
profound sigh, ''that is easier said thai
done. A King is often only misera
BILE creature. The royal castle at Co
penhagen is not an abode Of happiness
You have doubtless heard about tn
intriguessof the warning cliques there
have tried in vain to put an end t.
them. Itremble in thinking of my re
turn thither.''
.'Sire,'' said DR.. Struensee, almos
solemnly y, ''you owe it to your people +
save yourself from an early death
which see written in your face if yo'
should continue worrying as you hav'
hitherto done: :''@|t";
5.fla ..:,. 49, ..