Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1889-03-12
BARON MUNcHAusEN.

plished LIAR OF the Lat Century.
. Does any one nowadays read Baron
Munchausen, or has he been quite SUI
perseded by Jules Verne and other
modern wonder-workersP In l7S5 APP
peared q narrative OF Marvellous
Travels and Campaigns in Russia, "
published under the name OF Baron
Munchausen. though its author was
E. r. Raspe, native OF Cassel. As
the Munchausens were actually an old
and powerful family, it is rather sur
prlsing that Raspo should have adopted
their name, though an ingenious reason
for his doing SO has been recently
elaborated. /
Before his time there appeared in
Halberstadt handsome, weli-dressed
stranger, who called himself Baron
Carl Friedrich Munchausen. He was
we'll received there, and soon married
an elderly heiress. who considered his
title an ample exchange for her money.
The Baron told her dazzling stories OF
HE wealth. although he confessed that
It was at the time so involved by law
suit and sundry other legal complica-
tions, that he could not obtain the use
| OF II. In order to hasten these pro-
ceedings. he proposed going TO the
north OF Germany, and they accordingly
we mt TO lever, near which there was
IN estate actually belonging TO the
Munchausens, and on this property the
Baron attempted to raise money by
means OF mortgages. Neither the ten
ants nor notaries doubted his title to
the estates, but the more cautious
money-lenders insisted on delay and
further inspection of his claims.
Meantime, the Baron and his wife
were cordially entertained by the neigh
boring dignitaries, who were never
tired OF hearing about his extraordi-
nary adventures. He had visited the
Holy Land. Greece. Egypt, Nubia, and
had most remarkable tales to tell OF
the events which befell me in those
countries. One day, however. he went
too far, and referred to his previous
marriage with a daughter OF Major
General Won Werder. One Of the ladies
present seemed much perplexed. and
finally told Munchauseu that she
could not In the least understand this
statement, as she knew that General
Won Werder's only daughter had mar
ried gentleman in bSaxony. The Ba-
ron blushed. stammered, and admitted
that he had manufactured the entire
story.
Strange to say. his acquain tances
merely laughed at the occurrence. and
contented themselves with calling him
a booster. As yet they did not doubt
his pretensions. Suddenly the town
was electrified by the news that the
.Baron's wifo had been shot while lying
In her bed. 1t was the Baron who
found her, but she was quite dead
when he gave the alarm, and though
he appeared TO be frantic with grief.
he could make no suggestions In re-
gard TO the possible murderer. All
the evidence obtained by the police
pointed to his own guilt, and he was
accordingly arrested Then there
were found among his papers letters
addressed TO Baron Scharrenschild,
and he confessed under pressure that
this was his true name and that he
had assumed that OF Guschausen. Al
though 1t was known that he had an
interest In his wife's death. being
greatly In need Of her money. he
would not acknowledge that as the
reason, but declared that he had done
the decd In attempting 70 shoot a pct
dog which Ind annoyed him. This
explanation only proved that he was
willing TO lie to tho last, rs neither he
nor the Baroness had such dog.
| Application was made TO the real
Munchausens for any information they
might have concerning the Baron
Scharrenschild, and II came out that
the impostor bearing that name had,
with no recommendation except his
manner and assurances, married and
deserted daughter OF the house. In
1704 the man was executed under the
name OF Scharrenschild, but who he
was and whence he really came could
never be discovered. These occur
rences were not soon forgotten in Ger
many. and any man who talked boast
fully OF travels. duels or adventures
was said to be another Baron Mum
chausen. The encyclopedias attribute
the origin OF the name 10 the existence
: of q real Baron Munchausen, who was
famous for his large stories; but as he
died in 1797. and must, therefore, have
been living when the book was first
published the account hero given
| seems more probable. Genften'aD'
Magazine. -. -..