San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-04-28
GERMAN FOLK LORE.
THE COMING GERMAN DAY
STREET PAGEANT.
A Representation of Heroes and
Heroines i'm Ancient German
Literature-The Progress
and Prospects of the
Celebration.

The success or the German Day celebra-
ton last October. the short time in which
il was, arranged. the successful repre-
sentation of the chosen topics, the in
tereSt and comment it created, and finally
the financial outcome of the affair, pro-
duced in the minds of the leaders. as well
as all others interested in the celebration,
feeling of satisfaction that eventually
resulted in the determination to hold.
during this year, another such celebra-
ton, this time grander and far more bril-
liant, in every respect. Meetings
were held, the matter was fully
discussed, and the celebration was
outlined. Another street pageant
was decided upon. Topics for repreSen-
tation were presented, and it was decided
that the next parade should depict scenes
and situations characteriZing the poetry
and literature OF the German nation.
Among the topics discussed, was that of
German mythology, but this was laid
over for some following celebration. 1t
was with this intention of giving pictures
| from the masterpieces of German poets,
from those OF the indistinct past, to those
| Of the present day, that Capt. Edgar
Schramm, president OF the German Day
Association, was commissioned to attend
the Mardi Gras pageants of one our east
ern cities, and make selections
there from, of the costumes and masks
necessary for the correct presentation of
| the topic decided upon. However, with
| the vast lot OF stock from which TO select
| but little proved available, and as now
and then some beautiful historical figure
group or picture passed in the procession,
the captains mind ran back into the
knightly past, and he pictured the stir
ring situations, powerful and passionate
heroes and herons that ufigured in the
epicS of early German literature. As he
continued to inspect the costumes, from
which he was TO make his selections, he
felt more and more convinced that the
epics, made up Of the proud person
ages that figure so conspicuous
in German folk lore, was the
most fitting topic for this years cele-
bration. Thus the theme of the street
pageant in the coming celebration. in
stead of pictures from German poets Of
all ages, will be the rep esentation of the
heroes, with the stirring tales OF their
deeds, as handed down to posterity from
the interesting legends Of the German
nation.
The earliest bit of Germanic literature
handed down to us is the translation into
Gothic, during the 4th century, of the
Bible. Other productions followed, all of
| them more or less of a religious nature,
with the first German poem in rhyme in
| the 9th century. Then between the years
| 1880 and 1910, we have a revision OF the
great ancient epic, The Nibenlun-
| in crude, but stirring verse, of the adven-
lures of the heroS and heroines whom
tradition was won't to associate with the
fabulous Nibelungen treasure. Then
followed among other poetic creations
and revsOns, Gudrun, an epic of knight
ly strife and life, followed by other pro-
auctions distinctive of this knightly
period, among the "Percival." These
three mentioned epics are the source
from which the theme for most of
the floats in the coming pageant
will be selected. the "Nibelungen lied"
hOwever.in being the most thoroughly rep
| resented. This poetic legend. which has
been termed the llliad Of German ltera-
rure. treats of an imaginary treasure
for the possession of which the knights of
the age were in continuous struggle, not
| withstanding the fact that the treasure
had ever brought miSfOTtunate and final
| ly death to the pOSSeSSOrS. The chief
figure in the epic is Siegfried, a power
| ful but inSubOrdinate youth. who on ac
count of these unbrideable traits, was
sent from his home. Siegfried in his
wanderingS becomes u smith, and while
| in this profession he perfectS for his use
| a sword OF such keeneSS of edge. as to cut
q floss Of wool floating on the waters
| surface. He next makes the acquaintance
| of dwarf. VINO Initiates him into num-
| erOuS mysteries, and perfectS him in the
art of SwOrdSman- ship. Then
| this powerful youth encounters the
| dragon which continually guards the
great Nibeungen treasure. By his Supe-
riOr skill and power. Siegfried Stays the
| dragon. and proceeds to burn him to a
| crisp. A large quantity OF fat bOilS out of
| the hide of the monster, and in this, Sieg-
! fried batheS his entire body. when. as the
substance cOOls, he finds that he is envel-
| oped in a hard. horny substance, impen-
| etrable to either sword or spear. This
covering is complete, except for one small
spot upon his shoulder where, as he was
| taking the bath, the leaf of lily had
fallen, and thus preventing the covering
of this portion OF the body. Siegfried,
now pOSSeSSOr of sword, which for
keennesS, had no parallel, covered
by an impenetrable horny cover
ing, poSSeSSOr Of the Nibelungen
treasure, and versed in numerous myS-
terieS. goes out into the world for further
adventures, meeting in the most romantic
manner the beautiful Brunhilt. woOing
but finally forsakng her. Then he meets
Kriemhilt, sister OF King Gunther Of
Burgundy, whom he wins in marriage.
Then the scenes shift Siegfried now
shines In the armament Of the epic, but as
dim light, the interest in the poem CEN
tering about the strife, fued, and petty
iealonsieS of Brunhilt and Kriemhielt,
over the qualities of their respective huS-
bands. In this connection Hagen, a faith
full adviser of King Gunther, appears in
the account. Anxious Kriemhilt tells Ha-
gen Of the vulnerable poing sbOut Sieg-
fried wringing from him the pledge to look
after her husband, and protect his vul-
nerable point from the assaults OF the enc
nv. in a battle in which Siegfried was
about to participate. TO make the I'M
nrntected nnint ever visible TO the ewes of