Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1883-08-23


Maurice de SAKE vas con Of the Hing
Of eaxouy, and Q fine lad be vas-tail
and strong and handsome, and a. brave
g q lion. But the king, like certain
ed woman Of whom you may have
heard, had 70 may children that be
didn't know what te do; and %, a.
Maurice bad such q lot OF elder bro
thess a. 70 have not much chance Of
succeeding 10 tbs crown, or anything
slss that would keep him In bread and
butter, his father sent him cot 70 seek
his fortune, like many another prince
in those days- So he went over to
Fsancs and entered the army Of hing
Louis XIV.
Nov, ss that time there vas always a
var going on somewhere or other, and
the french armies we're fighting in ev-
ery part of Europe; and the king cared
very little who bis officers we're, or
where they came from, If they were
only brave men and clever fighters. and
ready 70 20 wherever he chose TO send
them. 90, a. 700 may think, It was
not long before our friend Maurice,
who Vas quite a. brave a. any Of them,
and q rood deal cleverer than most, be-
gan 70 make his way. First he got 70
b lisutsnant, then q captain, then
major. then q colonel; and at last,
while he was still quite young man,
he came ont a. Count de SAKE and
Field Marshal of the Army Of Flan-
dsrs, With fifty thousand men under
him! That was pretty good promotion,
wasn't il?
Curiously enough. tbs one thing that
this great general specially prided him
sslf upon was neither his skill in war
fare nor his favor at court, but simply
his strength. There was nothing be
enjoyed 20 much ~ showing of the
power Of his muscles, and astonishing
the people about him BY bending an iron
bar, or telling horse with one blow Of
his fist; and be was fond Of saying that
hs would give his purse and all the
money In II 70 any man who was strong
Or than himself. II he could ever fall In
With him.
Nov Il happened that one day, while
the French and German armies were ly-
ING quite close to each other, Marshal
de SAKE sent message to the enemy's
camp, asking some Of the German Of
Acess ~ dins with him; aud after the
meal be began to boast of his strength,
o. usual, till at last an old German gen
sral, Who sat on his left, said he would
like TO ssS specimen Of what his Ex-
sslIsncy could do. SAKE made no an
swer, but took up large silver dish,
which was standing before him, in his
strong white dngers, tfor, big and pow
srful a. his hands were, they were
white and smooth - any iAdy's, and he
was very proud Of them and, without
more ado, rolled II up like q sheet Of
p.ysS! . u.. ..,, ,s.. a.,
agsinY" asked SAKE, handing it to the
German general; and. although the lat
ter was strong man, and tried his
best, hs found the task too hard for
him, and he was forced 70 own hiiasslf
beaten.
"Your Exoellsncy's strength Is very
great" said he; but, nevertheless, ven
tuSe 70 think there is one man In Flsn-
ders who can match It,"
"And who may he bsT asked SAKE,
frowning.
"A Blacksmith In the village Of Schsy-
sniaasn, Dirk Hogan by name. All the
country ar0and knows Of his exploits;
and when met with him myself, saw
suoh things q should have thought i'm
possible, had my own eyes not witnessed
xQDm,
When the marshal heard this, he was
quite unhappy; and the first thing he
did nsxt morning WAS TO send of mes
0ongegs In every direction TO inquire for
. village called Scheveningen and man
named Dirk Hogan. And. sure enough,
some Of them came back with news that
there Was such village, and that Dirk
Hogan, the blacksmith, had been living
there until quite recently; but that now
he had sold his forge and gone away,
and nobody knew what had become Of
him.
This was decided disappointment for
oaxe but hs had something else to think
Of just then. Tho snemy's army had
lately received strong reinforcements
and seemed inclined 70 attack him, and
hs Vas riding out one morning reconnoi-
tsrinR their position, when suddenly his
horss stumbled and cast shoe.
Thers's village just ahead of us,
your Exoellency," sald one of his Of
neess. shall ! ride on and see II oan
ind blacksmithf'
DO o." answered SAKE, and the Of
ncer came back presently to say that he
had found what hS wanted. 30 the horse
~ led 70 the door Of the smithy, and
The smith himself came out TO have a
look q IL.
The monsnt he appeared, SAKE fast
ened his eyes upon him a IL he would
look him right through. And vel he
might. for this smith was such man as
one does not see every day; very nearly
- tall - SAKE himself, and even broader
aeroas the shoulders. while upon his bare
arms the huge muscles stood out under
the tanned akin like coils Of rope, The
marshal felt at once that be could never
- comfortable till be had had trial Of
u1reugth With this stardy looking fellow;
% hs bsds him bring out one Of his best
hosseshoes.
The smith did 20; and SAKE, looking
ct y satd quietly:
This ware Of yours In but poor stuff.
ny friend; II will not stand work. Look
He took Il In his strong hands, and
With one twist broke the iron like q
biscuit.
Ths smith looked at him for a mo-
mept, and then. without seeming at all
taken abaek, brought out a second
nosssshos, then third; bat SAKE broke
TN - easily ~ he had broken the
Asus.
OSsnSs uolQ Suo tnAIonaI, 6oo
We - ne ptoking and choosing among
enAA . trashy lot; give me tho first
shoe that comes 70 hand. and we'll cry
Qaits."
Tks smith produced fourth shoe
anA 0ttsd u On. and SAKE toaned him
xssueh crown. coin about the sixs
Ct atlvee dollar. The Dutchmau held
70 up 70 the light and shook his head.
"fhireoin Of yours 10 but poor metal,
mynhssr," said be. saying the words Just
- the marshAl had spoken his. "It
won't stand work; look hcrer'
He took the coin between his finger
and thumb. and with one pinch cracked
u % two like wafer.
u 90 nov The masshal's turn 70 stare,
and the okhosFs exchanged winks behind
hte back, ~ much ~ 10 cay that their
champion had met his match al last.
Haxe brought out another crown, then
third; but the smith served them In
HE manner.
"Come,' said he. initiating the mar
ahAl's voice 10 perfection. !" eco itx nc
- p(ckinR and ohoosing among such q
trashy lot. Give me the flrss crown thai
comes 70 hand. and yell CRY quita."
T0o frenehsnAn looked AZ ths Dutch
1An the DutchmAn Looked at the
Shns. 10Th Ar- ;..s~ .