The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-09-26
EVERY INCH A KING.
.'5s" - vs. 7u1
SOMETHING ABOUT A MONARCH
s. FAMOUS IN ENGLISH HISTORY.

I FAMOUS IN ENGLISH HISTORY.
The MiIIenary OF AIfred-The. Great
Ruler who Governed England a
Thousand Years Ago. and Whose
Memory Has Been Celebrated.
From the Philadelphia Record
This month England proudly cele-
brated the one theusandth anniver-
sary of the death of King Alfred the
| Great.
Winchester, the ancient capital of
the Saxons and burial place of Eng
lands greatest King, was most
prominent in the celebration.
A statue of King Alfred designed by
Mr.. H. Thornycroft, the well-known
English sculptor. was unveiled with
appropriate ceremony.
THE most perfect character in his
| tory" as a celebrated historian de-
clares Alfred the Great to be, was born
at Vantage, in Berkshire, England, in
the year $50 A. d. ~
His father, Ethelwulf, before reign
ing as King of the West Saxons, had
ben a monk. His mother, Osberga, had
| Osburgha, was the daughter of Oslac,
King Ethelwulf's cup bearer.
The ancient chroniclers who wrote
| of Alfred the Great. Simeon, Ethel
word, Assear and Florence of, Wor-
cester, trace his pedigree to Wooden,
and on back to Adam. Even after the
introduction of Christianity the people
believed their kings to be descendants
of Geat, a god often mentioned in Ger
manic mythology.
nGh
sons, Alfred being the youngest, and
his royal fathers favorite. At the
early age of four years King Ethelwulf
took his son Alfred on a journey to
France.
The date of Osberga's death. Alfred's
noble, pious mother; is not stated, but
probably took place before her young
est sons first foreign journey.
h AT the. age of seven Alfred, accompa-
MED his father to Rotre.r This long
| and difficult journey, attended by great
magnificence, doubtless left an indel-
fble impression upon the. boy -Alfred's
mind At any rate, in future years ne
was deeply interested in geography
and accounts of foreign manners and
customs, some of which he himself
wrote, ~
While in Rome the splendid, liberal
Ethelwulf bestowed upon the Pope
marvellous and beautiful gifts, among
them a crown of pure gold, two golden
vessels called Rancas, a sword wrought
in pure gold, four Saxon dishes OF a
silver Gilt and several rich and val
liable robes. r..
The Saxon King likewise gave gl1ts
of gold to the clergy and mobiles ana
gifts of silver to the common people.
During his stay in Rome Ethelwnit
rebuilt the Saxon school which his an
cestor Ina had founded, and which
year previous to his visit had been
burnt to the ground.
On his. way through France to Rome
Ethelwulf sought the hand of judith,
daughter of Charles the. Bold, and
great granddaughter of Charlemagne,
and in the following October was mar
ried for the second time tf I'M
1t is owing to Judith, his stepmother,
that the future King of England be-
came renowned for his love of intel
lectual pursuits and literary attain
ments. B-
The story is told that the Queen Of
fered a beautiful Illuminated book OF
Saxon poems to the step-son who
should first learn to read. ALFRED won
the coveted prize. He was then II
years of age, and his fondness for
books and studious habits dates from
that time.
A Tradition of AIfred's Marriage.
An interesting story, possibly a mere
tradition. tells us that when young
man Alfred visited the castle OF
Mercian noble of high rank, who re-
ceived the young prince with delight,
presenting him to his wife and three
beautiful daughters. =.
At supper Ealswitha, whose grace
and loneliness -eclipsed her sisters, was
given the honor of waiting upon AL
fred. Struck by her beauty, the young
prince openly and lavishiy praised her
charms. Ethelred, alarmed, whispered
to his wife the father1y fear that OPP
pressed his heart.
The next morning the chieftain host
appeared before his royal guest, drawn
sword in hand, his three lovely daugh-
ters clad in mourning, and in deep
distress, by his side. What is this
see ?" asked the young prince in
arnazernent ga father" answered
Ethelred, whose honor is more dear
to him than life itself. My motive for
this is quickly explained. 1 am sub
iect, but not a slave; you know well
my illustrious ancestors. ] will now
make known to you my sentiments.
may be mistaken. but I thought last
night ] discovered a particular atten-
ton 10 one u my uduShNClSs II yON
have any designs upon the honor of my
house you see the. sword that shall
in an instant sacrice these unhappy
but willing victims. But if pure
fame is kindled within your breast,
my alliance need not be deemed un-
worthy even OF royalty. Choose there
fore. and name her that is born to
such distinguished honor"
Alfred, impressed with the mobiles
bighminded daring. held out his hand
10 the trembling. beautiful Ealswitha
who afterward was proclaimed his
wife.
Alfred was 10 at the time Of his mar
rage. The union seems to have been
an exceptionally happy one.
Alfred the Great came to the throne
| of WesseX, the West Saxon country,
Il