The sun., 1903-04-01
In Luther's Strenuous Time.


Bartholomew sarstow. we believe. shook
his brother did. His brother was crossed
in love. and perished early In Italy. where
many perished early in those tnles-as
they did indeed throughout Europe. as
well as In America and Cathay. There
were divers and painful ways OF taking
people of in Luther's day. The Inquisi-
ton was not devoid OF ingenuity. The
rack and other devices Of preliminary tor
ture inclined people to be willing, in pref
erence, to be burned or broken on the
wheel merely suspected man was
really worse OF than one whose guilt
was beyond question. Bartholomew Sas-
trows memoirs translated by Albert d.
vandam, and published under the title
Of Social Germany in Luther's Time
Uondon: Archibald, Constable Co.;
New York: E. p. Dutton a Coz. definitely
freshen our understanding Of these grue-
some matters.
Sastrow was rs years old when he wrote
this account Of the customs and perils OF
his times. The account makes us think
that ne was lucky TO be an author or any
operative and sentient thing at the age OF
rs. Plenty OF his contemporaries must
have been boiled in oil before they were 30.
Let us take a single anecdote related by
the fortunate Sastrow. THE following,
he records, happened In June. 1882 A
Young fellow, good looking, and with most
fascinating manners, but by no means we'll
enough in worldly goods, courted a more
or less well-preserved widow. notwith-
standing her nine children Of her first hus-
band. which subsequently she increased by
another nine OF her second. Tempted by
the amiability. the appearance. and the
demeanor Of the youngster, the dame con-
sented to be his wife. The happy day war
already fixed, the viands ordered, and the
preparations completed, but the BRIDE
groom was at a loss how to pay for his
wedding clothes, the customary presents
and other things. Hence. one fine evening
ne left the city IStralsundl, and In the early
morn reached the village Of Putten, where
espying a ladder on a peasants cart. he
puts il against the wall OF the church. breaks
one Of it's windows. gets inside. forces the
reliauary, possessing himself Of the chalices,
other holy vessels. all the gold and silver
work, not forgetting the wooden box con-
tanning the money. After which, taking
the way whence he had come. he flung away
the box and entered the city
An unhappy cowherd found the box,
and being seen with it was taken up. They
put him TO the torture. and in order to have
an end Of this he confessed the crime which
he had not done. Condemned there and
then, he is there and then put on the wheel
The real culprit watched the execution with
the utmost composure.' He felt himself
encouraged, and broke into another church
But sths time he was unable to lead the
pursuers OF the scent. Having been ar
rested In the house Of my wife's parents.
saws Sastrow, 'he was racked alive. and hif
body left TO the carrion birds.
There 10 much OF this unpleasant anc
disturbing nature in the pages OF the sep
tuaeenarian Sastrow. We do not thini
| that he overlooked anything OF the kind
| He records succinctly on page -: In
1881, on the Monday before st. Bartholo-
new, they burned at strulsund. Bischof
a tailor, who had outraged his own daughter
aged H. The fellow was 40 strong that hs
Jumped from the pyre when the fire de-
| had DESTROYED bis bonds, but the execu-
tioner plunged his knife into him and hunl
| him bark into the flames
Mr.. Herbert A. l.. Fisher Of New College
Oxford, supplies this volume with an eX
| cellently playful introduction. Old sas
trow married his housemaid when he wa
| ~. He was unquestionAbly doughty anc
fitted to the times and environment Ia
which he managed 70 live.
Other Bseks.
Il -