The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1892-03-24

Frederick the Great, King of Prussia.
The subject of this sketch was born on
Jan. 21, 1712. His father was grandson
of the Great ElectOr. but possessed few of
the virtues of his illustrious grand parent.
He was frugal and Industrious, fond of the
chase and accustomed to ruling his house
hold and subjects with unexampled tyr.
amy. With the young prince Frederick he
was unusually severe. He took pains that
he should be instructed under his own eyes
in the forms of government, the rules of
war. and such history as related to his own
family and times. He caused a room to be
fitted up with all the appliances of war in
order that the prince might become familiar
with them by practical observation. When
Frederick was fourteen years of age he was
raised to the rank of captain. at sixteen he
was made major. and at seventeen he was
promoted to Lieutenant colonel. He had to
perform all the duties connected with those
offices. always be at his post; besides he was
compelled to subsist on the coarse diet of
the PruSsian army. About this time Fred
erick and his friend Katie attempted to
make their escape to France. They were
both arrested and placed in close cOnfine.
ment. Katie was executed before the eyes
of the prince and for time his own life
was in imminent danger. However. he be-
came reconciled to his father. who declared
that. Though always severe and often
harsh in his treatment of his son, he loved
him with parents love-"
In 1740 Frederick William died. and Fred.
OBJ fxuo nfv. oil nf
himself at the head of affairs. To the ques-
tiOn. "What treatment his former enemies
might now eXpect?" he replied, II will
heap burning Goals upon their heads.''
Division of time does for the individual
what division of labor does for the cOmmu-
nifty. By strictly following this rule was
Frederick able to accomplish so much. He
rose at o'clock in winter and at in sum-
mer. He, first attended to his correspond
ence, which he half finished before break
fast. He then gave audience to his min
listers and heads of departments covering
affairs of state, all of which he conducted
personally. After dinner he reviewed his
troops and distributed the necessary orders
concerning them, watch: words. counter
signs, etc. For the rest of the day he was
free to do as he pleased-play on his flute.
write bad verse, or admire VOltaire and his
works of whose writings single sentence,
he said. was worth all HOmer's Iliad.
Frederick William thought himself shab-,
billy treated by Austria. and he left it to his
son to avenge him. Frederick lost no time
in doing it. He Immediately plunged into
war with Austria. and during two short
wars, between 1741 and 1746. he wrested as
much territory from her to keep him en-
gagged in death struggle the rest of his life
to retain.
Frederick made active preparatiOns for the
struggle that he knew was now to come.
He did not. however, neglect literature. 1t
was about this time that Voltaire came to
Berlin to assist the king in his literary
labOrs. Frederick paid him 5000 thalers a
year, besides comforting many offices of
honor upon him. During four years they
equarreled and made up and quarreled again.
In 1858 VOltaire took his departure for
Paris. but was stopped at Frankfort by
order of Frederick, who caused his baggage
ito be searched. Voltaire was furious. but