The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1896-07-04

Drink to the Health of the Presi-
dent of the United States.''
making my choice..'
for had you selected the water ordeal,
we would have been compelled to duck
you three times in the river Rhine. AS
the case now stands, it will be our
pleasant duty to drink some toasts.
with you at your own expense sgsz.-.. &
e hat is a condition,' replied, as
the man who had conducted me to the
customs house now undid the buckle,
to which make no objection. Good
company is cheap at the cost of few
bottles Of wine
with that we marched through the
quiet streets Of st. Goar, the members
of the strange society into which 1
had fallen waking the stiffness with a
rousing Rhine song. We thus came TO
the principal hotel of the place land
there entered noiSily, and found a
large room prepared for us, with long
table and numerous seats. When all
had placed themselves around the ta
BILE, with the spokesman at the head,
he stood up and explained that four
toasts were to be drunk. One to the
memory of Charlemag gne who inaugu--
arted this good custom of initiating.
strangers in St. Goar, making them
thus fellows of the town and sharers&
in all it's ancient privileges; the second
toast was for the reigning sovereign OF
England; the third to the prince of the
district in which St. Goar is situated,
and the fourth to the members Of the
society whose duty it was to carry out
the ancient custom.
"I have but one objection to the
list said. I, therefore, propose that
we drink to the health of the president
of tie United States in place of that
of the sovereign of England; for con-
fess, don't see what the English mon
arch had to do with this ancient GUS
TOM
''At this, however there was a
mighty outcry, members Gathering
their glasses against the table, and;
shouting that no substitution would be-
allowed. We would drink the toasts;
in their proper order,' they cried.
"'That is very true, said the man at.
the head of the table; but, although we
will not allow substitute, we will
welcome an addition
''There were cries of unanimous ap-
proval at this and found myself sad
died with another toast. The bottles
were brought in and the toasts solemn
lN Ouc dllCI duOCllcI. " uout
this was finished, was told l had to-
make a donation to the poor of ST.
Goar which I did in a manner which
I hope was satisfactory to those pres
ent and to the poor that were to be the
benefciaries of my act. After this The
Hanseln book was brought in. The
spokesman explained that the ancient
book they were not allowed to have,
but that they had obtained new one,
and that my name would be the first
to be inscribed il it. This signature
made me member of the society and
native of st. Goar from that time on;
therefore, do l disclaim Turpentine-
vile and all it's saw mills"
Such was Smiths story to me- and I
have since looked up the custom of
which he speaks. I find that it was al.
legged to have. been inaugurated by
Charlemagne. and that it was discen--
tinued in 1927. when the steamers be-
gan to run. Whether the venerable
custom is about5to be revived do not
know but it certainly looks probable.
because, as I said, Smith has never
vet been convicted of telling false.
hood.-Detroit Free Press.