Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1879-11-19
THE WIZARD KING.
Odin, the Famous Ruler Of Sweden.
Magic Power Of His Mind.
Chs,n nhor.

tEy uOt lAT IEOW Vic " Quhlut U1u tOWA vi
Upsala, in Sweden, are hundreds OF lit
tie sepulchral mounds, amid which thres
great tumuli, standing close together
are said to mark the graves of Odin
Thor and Freya-her6es in their life
time, gods in their death. Close beside
them for centuries rose the temple
which was the most sacred shrine OF
Scandinavian worship. 1t glittered ali
over with gold, and q golden chain, nine
hundred els in circumference, ran round
its roof. In the temple were three
statues, around which lowered all the
principal NEUROLOGICAL traditions Of the
north. The central figure was that OF
Odin, or Wodan, the wizard king, who
is said to have come in the dawn OF
Swedish history from the domains OF
Asir, which extended from the Euxrine
to the Caspian, and whose capital was
Asgard. He landed in Fumen, where
he founded Odense, and left his son
Skiold as a SOVEREIGN. Thence he passed
into Sweden, and established his
government at Sigtuna, not far
from Upsala. His existence is af-
frmed by the Saxon Chronicle. He
was called "the Father of Victory" for
if he laid his hands on the heads of his
generals, and predicted their success
when they went to battle, that success
never failed them. He was also, says
Snorro Sturleson, "the father of all the
arts of modern Europe" Tradition has
endowed him with every miraculous
power. He could change bis looks at
pleasure-to friends most beautiful, but
demon to his enemies. By his elo.
quence he captiyAted all who heard him.
and as he always spoke in verse, he was
called "the A-tifcer of Song" His
verses were endowed with such magic
power that they could strike his enemies
with blindness or deafness, or could
blunt weapons. To listen to the sweet.
ness of his music even the ghosts would
come forth, and the mountains would
unfold their inmost recesses. He was
the inventor of Runic characters. he
could slaughter thousands at a blow,
and he could render his own followers
invulnerable. At his will he could as.
sumo the form of beasts; at his word
the tlre would cease to burn, tie wind
to blow, or the sea to rage. If he buried
his spear between two armies, it secured
victory to those on whose side 1t fell.
The dwskfs (Lapps) had built for him
ship called Skidblander, in which he
would cross the most dangerous seas with
safety; but when he did not want to use
it, he could fold it up like a handkerchief.
Everything was known to Odin, for did ne
not possess the mummified head of his
enemy Mimir, which was all-wise, and
he had only to consult it? Yet with all
these gifts snd attributes, Odin remained
human; he no power over death. When
he felt his end approaching, he assem-.
bled all his friends and followers. and
giving himself nine wounds In . circle
allowed himself to bleed to death. Tht
body of the great chieftain, was burned
and his ashes were buried under thu
mound Upsala; but his spirit was be-
lieved to have gone back to the marvel
GUS home in the Valhalla OF Asgard, oi
which he had sooften spoken, and whith
er he had always said tina. he should
return. Henceforward it was considered
that all blessings and mercies were gift
sent by Odin. The younger Edda tell
that all who die in battle are Odin'l
adopted children. The Valkyri@ picl
them out upon the battlefield and con
duct them to the Valhalla, where theJ
have perpetual life in the halls of Odin
Their days are spent in hunting or thu
joys of imaginary combats, and they re
turn at night to feast upon the inexhaust
ible flesh of the boar Sshrimner, and II
drink out of horn cups the mead formet
from the milk of a single goat, which !
strong enough nightly to intoxicate q
the heroes. Huge logs constantly burn II
the palace of Odin, for warmth Is tn
northern idea of heaven, while In thei
"hel" it is eternal winter. When
Scandinavian chieftain died in bal
tie, not only were his war
horse and all his gold and silver place
upon his funeral pyre, but all his follow
ers slew themselves, that he might ente
the halls of Odin properly attended
The more glorious the chieftea. tn
greater the number who must accompan
him to Valhalla. To Tejoin Odin j
Asgard became the height of . warrior
ambition. 1t is recorded of Ragna
Lodbrook that when he was dying n
word of lamentation was heard troI
him; ON the contrary, he was transporte
with Joy as he thought OF the feast pr
pairing for him in Odin's palace. $500!
soon, he exclaimed, l shall be seated
the splendid habitation of the gods, an
drinking mead out of carved horns! .
brave man does not dread death, and
shall utter no word of fear q enter Il
halls of Odin." But stranger than q
legends concerning Odin is the fact tn
his memory is still 80 fresh that "Go
Odin " is yet used by the common pc
ple where an uncivil wish - to Il
!. lower regions would find expression
, this country. The fourth day Of Il
week still commentaries Odin,
Vodan-in old Morse, Odinsgard;
. Swedish and Danish, Onsdag; in En-
: lish, Wednesday.