Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-11-17

probation OF military chietain. In one
OF the English collections is the celebrated
two-handed sword OF the Scottish hero, Sir
William Wallace, which an ordinary man
can scarcely WELD. These long blades were,
as Scott tells US, worn at the back, and
drawn from the scabbard over the lett shoul-
| der-a most unique manner OF bearing arms.
Usually, the sword has been slung to belt
on the left side. The japanese who had the
distinction of wearing two or more swords,
these indicating the rank of the wearer,
wore them stuck in a sash or belt, on both
sides.
THE SWORD AS A SYMBOL.
In its present status, as an emblem Of
military authority, the sword is older than
the scepter or the crown. It was for CEN
turies a custom for kings to have their
sword-bearers, both as defense and to ex-
hibit this symbol of power, and such Gus
tom is still in vogue in many Eastern lands.
The Kings of England from the time of
Edward the Confessor, were accustomed to
have blunt sword borne in the coronation
procession. as an emblem OF mercy. This
sword was, curiously enough. called "cur-
tana" (the cutter). Flaming swords, lr
those with wavy edge, were worn BY the
Dukes OF Burgundy as emblems OF author
| itY.
| The sword also became the emblem of JUS
tlce, on which oaths were sworn. This Gus
tom prevailed during and after the crusades.
The guard of plain sword was simple
bar betweeen the blade and handle, and
this forming cross was used by the Knights
for the purpose of binding oaths. Shakes
peare speaks of it. Hamlet says to Hordtio:
.Never to speak of this chat you have seen,
swear by my sword"
And LeonGto, in "Winter's Tale:''
Swear by this sword
Thou wilt perform by bidding.
Sometimes the sword had the name of
Jesus engraved upon the handle, by reason
of this custom OF swearing by it.
In folk lore the sword is frequently given
magic powers, freeing the hero from great
perils, and frequently acting for ITSELF In
the Hindoo Katha Sarit Sagara, a sword
goes forth at the owners wish, and 'conquers
all enemies, even demoniacal ones. In a
folk tale the sword Kreischinger performs
similar feats at the bidding of its possessor.
In another, dwarf gives Hans a sword
which is so small that it can be carried in
the pocket, but, like the ship Skidblander,
it grows, and cuts down all who oppose it.
In the old "Girla Saga" a sword named
Graystele figures. 1t is forged by dwarfs,
the tabled swordmakers OF the middle ages,
sword Dharmi, the property of an Arthurian
chief, was forged out of thunder bolt that
had fallen and killed some animals.
The old astrologers and alchemists made
use of a "magic sword" in some of their in
carnations. This was plain, double-edged
rapier, with a steel blade and ivory handle,
dipped in the blood of male goose. It
must be prepared on the day and hour when
Mercury is in the ascendant, from the first
to the third hour of the night Three COM
mon masses were then said over it, and on
the handle certain characters were inscribed
with needle made for the purpose. This
sword was used to call up certain spirits,
and then to keep them at proper distance
from the operator.
AS a suicidal weapon the sword has had
its day. The example of Brutus and Cato
did not prove to be contagious, and more
efeetual means of ending life are usually at
hand.
A SYNONYM FOR WAR.
The sword has entered largely into figura-
tive language. Many expressions contain
ing the name of the weapon are in common
use. and some of them are very old. The
Bible contains a great number of them,
the sword being almost the synonym for war
to the Jews. "He smote them with the
edge of the sword" is frequently
used, and ''to put to the sword"
meant indiscriminate slaughter. An ex-
preston in Revelations, "Out of His
mouth went a two-edged sword" referring
TO the Savior's power to condemn and then
to save, has given us a phrase. "Your
tongue is a double-edged sword" cuts both
ways. Symbolical of peace is the saying to
''beat the sword into a plowshare. It
would. however, need to be either a very
large sword or a very small plowshare. "He
that lives by the swor shall perish by the
sword, is a saying by no means true.
More of those who get their living by the
sword die of disease than by violence
Shakespeare uses, in "Henry w. Gu
ri1 as term with regard to the sword:
Come, brother John, full bravely hast thou
Thy maiden sword.
A young soldier was said to flesh his
sword the first time he drew blood with it.
Many an officers sword goes now un-
heshed.
Pistol says, in "Merry Wives:
Why. then the worlds mine oyster,
Which with sword will open
Another saying of Shakespeare's with |
regard to the sword still puzzles the COM
mentators. It is in "Coriolanus":
Here clip
The anvil of my sword.
MAY it not have been 'handle ?''
Some commentators also think there is an |
allusion in the lines from "Antony and Cleo
patra":
He, at Philippi, kept
His sword e'en like dancer.
There were many varieties of these
dances, which are popular even to
this day among the Highlanders.
They seem, according to Scott, to have in
herited it from the NOrsemen. CLAUS
Magnus tells me that the youth among
Them danced this among ''naked swords and
dangerous weapons" Scott gives a long
poem in dialogue form, used by the Shet-
anders, who still keep up the custom. Ger
tain characters were represented, and the
dancers leaped over the swords, clashed
hem together, and manipulated them other
wise.
In former times, when men lived by the
'word, great achievements with it were re-
ported. Several OF the knights of romance
Ire said to have cut man cleverly in two
pieces, and like Sir Beirs of Hampton:
To that burgess stroke he sent.
Through helm and hauberts down it went,
Both man and horse on that stound,
He cleaved it down to the ground.
King Arthur cut giant Is feet high
they were abundant in those davs) so that
lalt of him fell on either side OF his horse.
Wayland, the smith, made ''Balmung"
or the Nibelungen hero, Siegfried. In a
rial of skill, the maker Glove Amilias to
he waist, but SO fine was the edge that the
'ictim was not aware of the fact until he
moved, when he fell asunder
F. S. BAssETT.