Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1896-07-07
KEEN BLADES.
Famous Swords in the Hands OF
Heroes.
Stories of Mighty Weapons That
Slew Dragons and Earned Great
Glory for Their Owners.
BY HESTER ENGLISH.


Two hundred years ago, when our
country was only one Of the colonies OF
Great Britain, the highest ambition OF
every manly boy, was to possess q
sword: a long. bright, well tempered
steel weapon, with which when he gre"
10 manhood. he would be called upon
often 20 use. in defense OF his home, MS
country perhaps his mother and sweet
heart. his life and his honor. But our
courts Of Justice well drilled policemen
and perfect firearms now supply the
place and necessity of the sword, as a
means of protection and one must visit
a museum or armOry 10 test and eX-
anime today these really beautiful
weapons concerning which such Won
dertul and romantic stories come down
10 US.
Surely every American boy has seen
the sword itself. or az least picture
of the blade that General Washington
bore dur.cg the Revolutionary war; the
one ne drew from the scabbard and
h0u-ished in the air when he rallied the
reIcat.ug American forces at the battle
of Monmouth.
A famous blade. known as "Curtana.'
or the sword Of mercy, was borne be
fore Queen Vic-iria when she went on
her coronation procession. through the
streets Of London. This is a broad,
bright sword. the handle of solid gold
and The blade, almost a yard long, bro
L.r off az the tip This is supposed TO
D. ,ha, very ancient sword that a
Knight of King Ar,hur's court found
D ,f wh A
the knight was not only very strong
but a brave and true man as vel, he
Sua-ched the sword, by one wrench Of
his stout arm. from its resting place.
Only the tip was left embedded in the
Stone
Tn Westminster Abbey is kept the
broad sword Of King Edward Ill, who
fought the battle Of Crecy, cutting down
over a hundred Frenchmeu with that
one weapon. they say. But the list Of
famous swords is long and their his
tory interesting. L, includes the JOye-
use Of King Chariemange NOrglay of
Sir Bevis. COl0da and TiZona Of the Cid
CampeldOr Flamberge and Hakon's
Quers,einbeis. Prince RGlacd's Duran
dana. Perseus' Harpe. King Arthur'S
EXcaliber R5nand's, which was made
OF steel. as finely tempered, that with
one blow 10 crack in half a mill stone.
A TALL BLADE.
J0yeuse Of Ch3rlemange was said 20
be the largest sword that any man had
ever worn. In his armOr the King
measured twenty feet and JOyeuse was
just half THAI length. The giant King.
Strong and handsome as he was tall
and brave. with his great black eyes
flashing, and curling raven locks, toss
ing about his ruddy cheeks rushed once
into conflict, against the Sarace1s. and
lifting JOyedse on high cut clean into
a stan OF seasoned cypress. thick as a
mans knee, from which foaJed the
enemy's standard He split the head
OF Ilbranim, the ferOc.Ous King of Sc
vile. from crown 10 chin. with his be
loved JOveuse, and that same day eight
Moore fell before Christian steel JOY
NuSe was buried with this unconquered
warrior at AK. and when, many years
afterwari, his tomb was opened, faith
ful chroniclers say. King Charlemange
was found sitting erect. a silver beard
flowing over his broad breast and JOY
euSe claspsj in his hand, all ready 10
80 again 10 battle should France need
him.
A FAMOUS WEAPON.
Next 20 Joyeuse perhaps Duranfana
was the most miraculous sword of an
eent times. She was owned By the
Knight Prince Roland. King Charlie
magne's nephew, who always spoke of
her as "Jhe true, the noble anc the
brave. " With her Roland achieved
some splendid deeds. as. for example
cutting. with Durandana. q path through
the solid rock, that to this day is used as
pass In the PyraneeS and is called the
"Breche de Roland Al last the Sar-
acenS fell upon him and his chosen
troupe of one hundred Paladiers at the
battle of ROuceSvdlles. Though Char
lemagne and his army We're far away
and there were a great many more inf
ds,S than the little company of knights
could hope TO conquer, Roland charged
The enemy. killing at once their king
and many followers.
Bat one by one the doughty Paladiers
Were Gu, down. Roland at last. bleed
Ing and worn. made his way from the
field 20 f&ll on the grass beside his
sword. fearful less some S3racsn might
rob him of Durandana he tried 10 break
her in pieces. But striking the sword
against the solid rock only cleft the
granite like cheese, leaving no mark
on he blade. In despair he lifted the
magic ivory horn defiant and blew so
mighty blast that it burst in his hand.
and Char.emagne, twenty miles away.
heard The cali. when he wished 10 turn
back. fearing danger had oyertaken his
nephew Gan ION, a traitor. persuaded
him twas a false alarm and only Sir
Baldwin and Sir Bevis came to his res
cue While looking for water with
which TO Soothe the dying prince. 4 Sar-
Scea attempted to steal Durandana, but !