Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1878-07-18
MORGAN PRUSSIA.
The Irishman Who Outwitted q Mon
. arch. 'E.A.

aIcll. 1:@r
George the fourth, who was remark
able for his dexterity in telling story
when Prince Regent, was fond of collect
ing winstances of the whim and humor o
the Irish peasantry. One Of those was tn
history OF Morgan Prussia.
Morgan, the gay and handsome sol
of a low Irish farmer, tired of home
went to take the chances Of the world
and seek his fortune, BY what means h,
traversed England, or made his way Il
France, is not told. But he at length
crossed France, and probably withou
much knowledge or much care whether
he was moving to the North OF Soutt
Pole, found himself in the Prussiau ter
ritory. This was in the days Of the frs
Frederick, famous for his tall regiment
of guards, and for nothing else ,axcept
his being the most dangerous compound
of fool and mailman amoung the crown.
ed heads of the Continent.
He had but one ambition, that Of in.
specting twice a day a regime mt of 8
thousand grenadiers, not one Of whom
was less than six feet and a half high
Morgan was an Irish giant, and was in
stantly seized by the Prussian recruiting
sergeants, who forced him to uolunteer in.
to the tall battalion. This turn of fate
was totally out of the Irishman's calcula-
ton, and the prospect Of carrying mus
ket till his dying day on the Potsdam
parade, after having made up his mind
to live by his v its and rove the world,
more than once tempted him to think of
leaving his musket and his honor behind
him, and fairly trying his chance for
escape. But the attempt was always found
lmpracticable; the frontier was too close
| ly watched, and Morgan still marched up
and down the Potsdam parade with dis
! consolate heart, when one evening Tur-
kish recruit was brougt in; for Frederick
looked to nothing but the thews and
sinews of a man, and the Turk was full
seven feet high.
"How much did his Majesty give for
| catching that heathen!' said Morgan to
his corporal.
"Four hundred dollars" was the an
sWer.
He burst out into an exclamation of
astonishment at his waste: Of royal
| treasure upon Turk.
"Why, they cannot he got for less" re-
piled the corporal.
"What a pity my five brothers cannot
hear OF it," said Morgan; "I am dwarf
70 any one of them, and the sound of
half the money would bring them all
over immediately" 80.
AS the discovery of tall recruit was
the we'll known road to favoritism, five
were worth at least pair Of colors to the
corporal. The conversation was immedi-
ately carried to the sergeant, and from
him, through the gradation of officers, to
the colonel, who took the first oppertu-
Unity Of mentioning it to the king. The
colonel was instantly ordered to question
Mo,gan but he at once lost all recollec-
ton of the subject.
"He had no brothers: he had made
the regiment his father and mother and
relations, and there he hoped to live anu
die.'
But he was still urged more strongly,
and at length confessed that he had
brothers, even above the regimental stand
ard, but that nothing on earth could stir
them from their spades.
After some time the king inquired for
the five recruits. and was indignant when
he was told of the impossibility of enlist
ing them.
"Send the fellow himself" he exclaim-
ed, "and let him bring them back"
The order was given; but Morgan was
broken-hearted sat the idea of so long an
absence from the regiment.' He ap-
piled to the colonel to have the order re-
voked, or at least given to some one else.
But this was out Of the question, for Erred
erick's word was always irrevocable; and
Morgan, with a disconsolate face, pre-
pared to set out on his mission. But a
new difficulty struck him. "How was he
TO make his brothers come unless he
showed them the recruiting money?"
This objection was at last obviated by the
advance Of a sum equal to about three
hundred pounds sterling, as first install
ment of the purchase of his family.
Like loyal grenadier the Irishman was
now ready to attempt any thing for his
colonel or his king, and Morgan be-
gan his journey.
But, as he was stepping out of the gates
of Potsdam, another difficulty occurred !;
and he returned to tell the colonel that,
Of all people existing, the Irish were the
most apt to doubt travellers story, they
being in the habit of good deal of ex-
ercise in that style themselves; and that
when he should 60 back to his own
country, and tell them Of the capital
treatment and sure promotion that SOL
dier met with in the guards, the proba-
bility was that they would laugh in his
face. AS to the money, There were
some who would not scruple to say that
hoo kCl<, + of
But, undoubtedly, when they saw him
walking back only as a common soldier,
he was sure they would not believe a
syllable, let him say what he &would
about rising in the service"
The objection was Ineligible enough,
and the colonel represented it to Freder-
ick, who, doubly outrageous at the delay,
swore 81 lenadier oath, ordered Morgan
to be made sous oDfcier, or upper sergeant,
and with sword and epaulette, sent him
instantly across the Rhine to convince
his five brothers of the rapidity of Prussian
promotion. Morgan flew to his home in
the County Carlow, delighted the firesides
for many mile round with his having
outwitted king and whole battalion
Of grenadiers, laid out his recruiting
money on land, and became a man Of es-
tate at the expense of the Prussian treas
ury. ;.... 49,
One ceremony remains to be recorded.
Once year, on the anniversary of the
day on which he left PotsdamE and its
giants behind, he climbed hill within a
short distance Of his house, turned him
self in the direction of Prussia, and, with
the most contemptuous gesture which he
could contriye, bade goodby to his Majes-
ty.i The a'atse was long a, great source ot
amusement, and it hero, like other heroes,
bore through life the name earned by his
exploit--Morgan Prussia. So ..,... ..-.~.
!<tltfE --~T LII -7-~T0IIe r .IEII T.. III!
His Mother Tongue. s4tf =, &
A bluff, hearty, well-dressed party in
spectacles had just banged his valise up
on the counter, land registered his name.
p5'iWant some rooms. Wife and babies
60, = 4.