St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1889-02-16

AARON MUNcHAUSeM.
rss raF. ni.tory Of tI.s Most AesoO
rlishsd lAar u the Last Century.
Does any one nowadays read Baron
Munchausen, or has he been quite SUI
perseded by Jules Verne and other
modern wonder-wOrkers? In l1S5 aP-
reared a narrative OF ''Marvelous
Travels and Campaigns In Russia.
published under the name OF Baron
Munchausen. though its author was
Z. K Raspe. a native Of Cassel. As
the Munchauscns were actually an Old
md powerful family. I: is rather sur
prising that Raspe should have adopted
their name. though an ingenious reason
for his doing SO has been recently
elaborated.
Before his time there appeared In
HaIbcrstadt handsome, wcll-dressed
stranger, wbo called himself Baron
Carl Friedrich Munchausen. He was
we'll received there. and soon married
nm elderly hciress. who considered MS
title an ample exchange for her money.
The Baron told her dazzling stories oi
his wealth, although he confessed that
it was at the time 50 involved by law
suit and sundry other legal eomplica-
tions. that he could not obtain the use
Of it. In order to hasten these pro-
ceedings. he proposed going to the
north OF Germany. and they accordingly
we mt to Jever. near which there was
an 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 neve'
tired of hearing about his extraordi'
nary adventures. He had visited the
Holy Land, Greece. Egypt. Nubia. and
had most remarkable tales to tell o.
the events which befcll me in those
countries. One day, however. he went
too far, ard referred to his previou:
marriage with a daughter OF Major
General von Werder. One OF the ladies
present seemed much perplexed. and
finally told Munchausen that she
could not in the least understand this
statement, as she knew that Genera
von Werder's only daughter had mar
ricd a gentleman insSaxonJ. The Ba
ron blushed. stammered. and admitted
that he he'd manufactured tho entire
| story.
Strange 10 say. his acquaintanccs
merely laughed at the occurrence. and
contented themselves with calling him
a boas.er.. As yet they did not doubt
his pre,ensions. Suddenly the to~r
was electrified by the news that the
Baron's wife had been shot while lyin.
in her bed. 1t was the Baron WHIT
found her, but she was quite dcat
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. AL
the evidence obtained by the polic'
pointed to his own guilt. and he wa
accordingly arrested. Then Their
were found among his papers letter
addressed to Baron Scharrenschiid
and he confessed under pressure tha
this was his true name, and that h
had assumed that OF Munchausen. Al
though it was known that he had Al
interest in his wife's death. bein'
greatly in need of her money. b
would not acknowledge that as tn
reason. but declared that he had don
the deed in attempting to shoot Pc
dog which had annoyed him. Thi
explanation only proved tina. he wa
willing to lie to the last, rs neither b
nor tine Baroness had such dog.
Application was made to the re:
Muuchausens for any Information the
might have concerning the BsFo
Scharrenschiid. and it came out tbs
the imp0stCr bearing that name hat
with no recommendation except h
manner and assurances, married an
deserted daughter o: the house. ]
l7O4 the man was executed under Ii
name of Scharrcnschild. but who b
was and whence he really came coul
never be discovered. These OccuI
-ences were not soon forgotten in &c
many, and any man who talked boas
fully Of travels duels or aLyeutur,
was said to be another Baron Mul
chausen. The encyclopedias attrib'5
the origin Of the name to the existen'
of a real Baron Munchausen, who W;
famous for his large stories; but as
died in 1897. and must. therefore. ha'
been living when the book was FIR
, published. the account here give
seems moro probable.-Gentlens14