The Irish standard., 1890-12-13

tradition, who regarded the story as a
mere fable. and the subject finally came
Up again when Joseph Eutych Kopp
submitted 1t to a thorough investiga-
tion by searching the records Of the
three car tons and publishing his results
in his '.Uskunden eur Geschichte der
Eidgeno ssschen Bunde'' 1885 1857, his
= R-ichsge schichte'' (1845 1859 and his
I" Geschlchts Batter aus der Schweiz
1858" To understand the commotion
produced IN Switzerland by Kopp's ex.
pose, we must try to imagine what
would be the result in the United States
it George Washington were suddenly
declared to be a legendary character.
Every one sided for or against the truth
Of the tradition; 10 one could remain
neutral; but gradually the multitude
have gone over TO this recognition that
Kopp was, in the main, right. and that
William Tell can never again figure as
the founder of the Swiss confedtracy
He is not mentioned by any OF the
chronic]ers of the early history of the
confederation. In fact, it is not until
1477, more than a century and half
after Tell is supposed to have lived,
that we can find any reference to him,
and this was in a ballad by an unknown
poet, entitled Song OF the Origin Of the
Confederation"
As regards the simple story OF the
shot, apart altogether from its historical
application, there Can be no doubt now.
after the investigations which have been
made in all directions, that we have to
do here with widespread household
myth belonging equally to many
branches of the Germanlc family, but
preserved with special tenacity in the
retired and conservative valley of Uri
The same legend occurs in various parts
Of northern and central Europe. IN Lee
land, Norway, Denmark, Holstein, on
the Middle Rhine and with another mo
tive in the English ballad of William of
Cloudesley. There is always a skilful
archer, who is punished by being made
to shoot an object from the child's
head, and who, in almost every case, re
serves an arrow with which to s]ay the
tyrant in case of failure. The names OF
the men and places and the local color
ing vary, of course, in the different YER
sions, but the structure Of the story re
mains the same in all.
The one which bears perhaps the
greatest resemblance to that of William
Tell is to be found in Danish history.
"Gesta Danorum," written by Sake
examinations in the twelfth century.
Here the story is told of Tokl, and King
Harold Bluetooth. Toki boosted that
be could shoot small apple set on the
top OF stick at a considerable distance.
His enemies Informed the king, who
ordered hina 10 Shoot the apple off his
sons head, threatening that, if he
his head should pay the penalty
of his idle boast. Toki shot the apple
at the first shot, but having drawn three
arrows from his CULVER the king asked
why he brought so many. THAT l
might avenge on thee" he replied, "tbe
error of the first bY the points of the
others, lest my innocence might happsn
to be afflicted and thy justice go uDpun
ished''
There is also a remarkable likeness
between the old Eoglish ballad OF Will
liam Of ClOudes]ey and the song of the
Swiss confederation. The author ?of
the ballad Of Tell, and the notary OF
Sarnen, NAV have copied the Older &C
counts. adapting them to Swiss condi
tlons; bat 1t is more probable that they
were all derived from some common
Older source, from which proceeded also
the Icelandlc, Norwegian and other
versions.
The legend Of William Tell is mythl
No Gessler ever held Office in the three
and all the facts i'm support Of
the legend crumble at the touch OF
strict inquiry. But nothing could be
mole heroic than the ceaseless struggle
waged by the early patriots of Uris
Schwyz and Unterwalden against the
of the house of Haps-
burg Austria or more admirable than
the patient wisdom with " hlch they
finally won their ndependence.--At Allan
tic Monthly.
A Christmas Reunion.