News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1901-06-05

l. 4A,-EN LEfSfF}~~ e DaCk-
- | \ EC4453D ward or forward
" a generation the
great Corsican would indeed have
found doughtier sword than his own
barring the Soad when he sounded the
battle cry, "on to Berlinw
Like Napoleon, Frederick the Great
was man of destiny. At first a de-
spised and buffeted princeling, he be-
came the life and soul of martial Prus-
STA. Al times an Outcast, then a prison
er with the shadow of the gallOWs over
him, the life of the heir to the throne
from the age of Is to % was one to test
the fiber even of a scion of royalty.
After a reconciliation with his father
Frederick led a life of secluson and
study until called to reign. He was
then 2S years old and at once set to
work to Overturn the opinions of the
wise men of Europe as to what would
happen with a scholar and a rhapsodist
en- the throne. The old king had left a
good treasury and 10000 of the finest
troops in the world. In short time the
emperor Of Germany died and the
young king of Prussia saw his chance.
He first dispatched an ambassador
to Vienna, Offering to the young Aus
trian queen, Maria Theresa, the sup.
port of Prussia for her husband, Fran.
els l, as emperor and a large treasure
if in exchange Austria would allow
Prussia to annex the province of Sile.
STA, on its southern borders. The EN-.
bassador had barely passed from sight
when the young king, in the prime of
manhood, marched into Silesia at the
head of 10000 men and in a six weeks
campaign overran the territory.
The offer to Maria Theresa was re.
iected, for Silesia had been under Aus.
trian control a hundred years Not
single court in Europe but resented the
audacity of the "parvenu king" Eng
land sent to Vienna the amount OF
gold Frederick had offered and it was
rumored that Austria, England. Poland
and Russia would combine to carve
up Prussia.
Only one stronghold in Silesia hau
held out against the Prussians. This
was tue region around Glogan and
Neisse. Frederick brought to the field
10000 more soldiers and was about tC
storm Neisse when he learned that an
Austrian army was marching to raise
the siege. With 10000 troops he fell
upon the Austrians blockaded by
SNOW at the village of Mollwitz. He
RoiIa1 +o ct1rnriSn tho caD,n ar no m ioht
have destroyed the enemy at a blow.
The Austrians were in line to meet
1he prussian attack and in one i'm
petuous charge routed Frederick's cav
airy, the king fleeing with it over 81
miles. But, while the king went tC
Ehe rear, his stout soldiers fought on
resisting, one after another. five
charges of their eXultant foe. These
were the Incompatible fighting ma
Ghines bequeathed to Frederick. and
they never for a moment wavered
That night they bivouacked on the red
lened field, with the Austrians in
8ight
Nlollwitz settled the fate Of Silesia,
but Frederick stood before the world
d personal coward as well as royal
conqueror Privately he gave as his
rCasOns for making war ambition. in
terest and the desire to make people
kalk about me-" His cowardice was the
talk of a day, for the shrewd eyes of
Europe saw that the Prussan army it.
self was invincible. Alliances were
sought on every side. but Frederick
gurned from them all. Assuming an all
of thoughtlessness and frivolity he ma.
lured still deeper plans of conquest.
Even NOltaire could not penetrate his
secrets. Writing of him at the time the
great Frenchman called him a little
man, pale and thin. Generally his com.
plexion was sallow, for he suffered
much with ague. When the death of
the emperor awoke him from lethargy,
be lay in bed with fever but immedi-
ately sprang up. and the fever left him.
During his campaigns he arose at 4
O'Clock and kept the saddle all day. On
one campaign to steal a march on the
Austrians he covered 700 miles in a sin
gle week and on another did not close
his eyes for six nights.
The year following Mollwitz found
Frederick in the field again, pushing
on through Moravia toward Vienna
With the help of France and Saxony
this country had been torn from Aus
1Tia. The Austrians with unusual ener
gy tried to cut the Prussian column of
from the French at Prague. With 3d.
900 men the impetuous king fell upon
The Austrians and after four hours OF
the fercest battle. in which he regain
ed the honor lost at Mollwitz, drove the
anemy from the field leaving 1000 kill
ed and wounded.
As result Of the victory Of Chotu
sltz Silesia was coded to Prussia and
Frederick at once cut loose from
France. He declared that he would
rest from war and attend to the affairs
OF his kingdom. But the armies Of
Maria Theresa defeated the French
and the valorous queen threatened t
retake Sllesia from Frederick. At the
head of au army he again marched to
ward Vienna, but in spite Of his cour
age and energy came near defeat. III
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