The evening times., 1896-07-10
KEEN BLADES.
Famous Swords in the Hands of
Heroes.
BY HESTER ENGLISH.


was only one OF the colonies of Great
Britain the highest ambition Of every
manly boy, was to possess Il sword,
a long. bright, well tempered steel wea pUD,
with which, when he grew 10 manhuod, he
would be called upon often to use in de-
fense of his hoIIe, his country, perhaps his
motLcrands wee etheart, his life and his honor.
But our courts Of justice, well drilled
policemen and perfected firearms now
supply the place and necessity of the sword.
as u means OF protection and one must visit
a museum or armory TO test and examine
today these really beautiful weapons
concerning which soIne wonderful and
romantic stories come down to us.
Surely every American boy has seen
the sword itself, OF at least Il picture, of
the blade that General Washington bore
during the revolutionary war; the one he
drew from the scabbard and flourished in
the air when he rallied the retreating
American forces Il tie battle Of Monmouth.
A famous blade, known as "Curtana,'
or the sword or mercy, was borne before
Queen Victoria when she went Oh her coro-
nation procession through the streets OF
London. This is a bread bright sword,
the handle OF solid gold and the blade, al
most yard long, broken off at the tip.
This is supposed to he that very ancient
sword that knight Of King Arthurs
court found half buried IN a block OF
IdGDIe. As tue Knight was LOT only very
strong, but a brave and true man as well,
he snatched the sword, by one wrench of
his stout right arm, from Its resting place.
Only the tip was left imbedGed i'll the stone.
In Westminster Abbey is kept the
broad sword of King Edward III, who
fought the battle OF Crecy, cutting down
over hundred Frenchmen with that one
weapon, they say. Bat the list of IA
nous swords is long aud their history
int II ba nf
King Chariema gne, Morglay OF Sir Bevs,
ColoGa and TiZona of the Cid CanlpeaGor,
Prince Rolapd's Durandana, Perseus '1Iarpc,
King Arthur's EXcaliber, RenaDd's Flani-
berge, and Hakon's Quersteinbeis, which
was made of steel, as finely tempered,
that with one blow it cracked in half a
milestone.
Joyeuse OF Charlemagne was said to
| be the largest sword any man had ever
| worn. In his armor the king measured
| twenty feet and Joyeuse was just half
| that length. This giant king, strong and
| handsome as he was tall aud brave, with
| his great black eyes flashing, aud curling
raven locks, tossing about his ruddy
| cheeks, rushed once into conflict, against
the Saracens, and lifting Joyeuse on high
| cut clean into staff OF seasoned cypress
| thick as a mans knee, from which floated
the enemies standard He split the heaC
| of Ilbranim, the ferocious king of Seville
from crown TO chin, with his beloved JOY
euse, and that same day 5000 Moors fel
before Christian steel. Joyeuse was buriet
with this unconquered warrior at AK
and when many years afterward his tomt
was opened, faithful ctrouiclers say, kini
Charlemange was found sitting erect, ;
silver beard flowing over his broad breast
and Joyeuse clasped in his hand, all read!
to go again TO battle should France neet
him.
Next to Joyeuse perhaps Durandana
was the most miraculous sword OF an
cient times. Sue was owned by the
Knight Prince Roland. King Charlie
| magne's nephew. who always spoke ~
her as 1.-The true, the noble and the brave
With her Roland achieved some splendi
| deeds as, for example, cutting, W i'll
Durandana. n path through the solid rock
| that to this day is used as a pass in TIN
Pyrannees and is called the ''Breche d
Roland" At last the Saracens fell upo
him and his chosen troup of 100 Paladeir
at the battle of Roucesvalles. Thuugl
Charlema gne and his army were far ava
and there were Il great many more infidel
than the little company of knights cuui
hope to conquer Roland charged the en'
: my. killing a once their king and many 70
lowers.
But one by one the doughty Paladier
were cut down. Roland at last. bleedin
and worn. made his way from the fie
TO fall on the grass beside his sword; feai
ful lest some Saraccn might rob him u
Durandana. lie tried to break her in piece:
But. striking the sword against the soil
rock only cleft the granite like checs
leaving no mark on tile blade. In despa
lie lifted the maj gic ivory horn. Olefant, an
blew so mighty 4 blast that it burst in hi
hand. and Charlemagne, twenty miesawa!
heard the call. When he wished to tUr
back. fearing danger had overtaken h
nephew. Ganelon. a traitor. persuaded hii
twas a false alarm, and only Sir Bladwi
and Sir Beyis came to his rescue. Will
looking for water with which to soou
the dying prince, a Saracen attempted