Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1880-09-01
After visiting numerous other points of
interest, we halt for a few days

interest, we halt for few days
AT HEIDELBERG,
to see the famous old castle. Tt is, in
deed, grand old ruin, one of the most
extensive and interesting in the entire
country. shall not attempt to describe
it; it Is about the fortieth or fftieth one
we have seen, and differs only in lite
greater size, completeness and good
state of preservation from most of the
others. Each has its bloody and eventful
history related by the guide: built by such
a prince in such century; destroyed by
the French in such another; restored in
the style Renaissance by Count de What's.
his name in another century; improved
in another by the Elector What-you-may
call him, and now owned by Duke Won
DUsENBURG, at whose expense the present
repairs are being made, and who gra-
ciously permits the nobility and gentry of
foreign countries to be shown through the
premises by his only licensed guide, at
stranger insists on giving it,
| THESE OLD CASTLES
mark the beginnings of strong govern.
ments among the people who lived here
in the ancient days. The way the thing
was worked up was about this: Some
sharp fellow, wiser than his time, and hav
ing q considerable number OF erbarian
followers - lawyers, probably - would
select an elevated spot, not easily Access
sible, and commanding view of
a considerable extent of country,
and would build an impregnable castle
upon it, so that he and his follow
would be safe from attack. He would
then issue an edict announcing himself
as the head center and governor, dlvinely
appointed, over as big a portion of country
as his audacity happened to dictate, and
require the entire inhabitants to pay an
annual tribute to him of say
one-tenth of their products. If they
objected to paying it he would
send out a gang CT his retainers
who, crying God save the King" would
gobble the whole, and butcher the object
ors, or sometimes generously spare their
lives, but cut off their ears, or one of
their hands, or sometimes slit their
tongues. At his death this high privi-
lege fell to his oldest son, unless some
other chap happened to be bold and
strong enough to suppress the young gen
tleman and usurp his place and power,
which often happened. This was sub.
stantially the origin of the "Divine right
of Kings" and the origin also of taxa
ton. As time wore on and money came
into use, these taxes in kind were
graciously mitlgsted, and money accept
, ed in lieu of them. With this the Gov
ernor could buy all the necessaries and
luxuries for himself and his pets, and
arms and grub for his soldiers, and could
csrry on war against his neighbors or
defense against them as suited
the time and his inclinations. In mon
archical countries, and indeed in our own
loved America, the resemblance between
the ancient and modern methods of doing
these things is easily traceable.
1t was not long before another set of
enterprising men sprung up, tor whom
there was no chance to be
KINGS OR GOVERNORS,
as there were too many alrecy, and these
were greatly In doubt as to what would
become of these souls after the mortal
coil had been shuff1led off. Likewise
that there must be an overruling power
and great first cause somewhere An In
visible Governor, as it were, who probably
controlled the whole business both here
and hereafter. Selling upon this human
view of the situation, this second crop of
aggravators, calling themselves priests,
monks and the like, invented divers subtle
theories upon the subject and went about
proclalming them, avowing their capacity
to furnish suitable bridge across
which any disencumbered soul could
march safely to the Elysian fields; pro-
vIded only that their souls, while in the
body, believed that this could be done;
and provided, also, that they contributed
annually to the aforesaid priests, monks
and what not, another tenth of all their
products; and the souls of those who did
not believe and would not shell out &C
cording to programme should be perpet-
ually cremated in a fiery furnace, where
there should be whipping and whaling
and crashing of teeth. But as this class
was large, a way was devised to let up on
them in case they changed their minds
and determined to believe and pay. This
consisted of sort of half way house
where such souls were to be confined to
last in fires till the foul crimes done in
any day of nature are burnt and purged
away"
And so the followers of this
SYSTEM SIIRDIIING THE PEOIsI e