Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-06-13

tated terms to the whole of Europe From
Wismar the Hanseatic war fleet sailed to
its triumphant battles. 1t wismar
that first defied the might of the dukes and
broke the ancient might of Mecklenburg
and Schwerin
A defiant town it was from the beginning
of its documentary history, and if the
legends have any basis a defiant town it
was when Christ was born in Galilee for
according to one tradition 1t was then 800
years old and a stronghold of the north
Other legends say that 1t was built early
In the fourth century by Wismarus. King
of the Vandals At any rate it is a very
ancient town, for 1t is mentioned as a great
city in documents dated 1898, when il first
began to threaten the supremacy of the
hereditary rulers. And from that time on,
when Wismar was not engaged In battles
on Its own account 1t was the scene OF
fights between others
One of Europe's most beautiful buildings
the Fuerstenhof princes Court. dating
back to the sixteenth century stands in
Wismar. memorial to the Independence
Of the city.
Early in the thirteenth century Duke
John of Mecklenburg, who loved the city.
thought to do Wismar a great favor by
moving his residence from Mecklenbure to
Wismar. and he built himself a strong
castle just outside of the CITY, The inhab-
itants of Wismar. however, as an old
chronicle puts 1t. were not delighted that
the hawk should be SO near the pre-
serves"
When Duke Johns successor, Henry. I'M
dertoek a pilgrimage to the Holy Land in
1219 he advised Wismar to build a big wall
for defense around the town. The good
folk of Wismar did it. But the duke got a
shock when he returned, because the wall
had been built carefully to leave the castle
outside.
The ensuing dispute. accompanied with
considerable physical argument. was set
tied amicably at last by the razing of the
castle, in return for which the city of Wis.,
mar gave the duke a site inside the town.
where he erected his new palace-but Il
was not fortified one. The Wismar ctti.
Gems took care of that.
In 1910 Wismar did not like the lady
whom Duke Aienry II, "the lion," was going
to marry. SO they calmly told him he could
not marry her In his palace within their
city. The duke decided to punish Wismar,
but 1t was too powerful for him alone At
last he was forced to get Denmark to help
him. During the war Wismar RACED the
palace, and although the town was de-
feated finally it managed to make an adj
vantageous peace. The duke built a new
fortified castle, but Wismar bought 1t from
his successor. 1t was not until 1862 that
Wtsmar became comfortable enough for
hereditary dukes. Then the fine Fuersten-
hof that stands today was erected.
Strenuous Four Hundred Years Ago.
Wismar took vehement part in the wars
and intrigues that followed the arrival Of
Luther and his revolt. and when the
thirty years war began Wismar was, 10
say the least. not unaccustomed to the
clash of arms which 1t was to behold and
hear and Join in often in the dark strife
that lasted through the life of many a hui
man being born in that century.
When Sweden's victorious armies burst
into Germany to give battle to the troops
of lilly and Wallenstein Wismar was taken
by them first of all. And from that mo-
ment 1t became the key to many a cam
paign, for whoever had Wismar at his back
a friend had a stronghold to which he
might retreat; and whoever had Wismar
at his back as an enemy was likely to be
cut off at any moment.
Again and again Wismar was taken and
retaken by Swedes, Danes. Walloons, Boz
hemians and Austrians. In the end Sweden
held 1t against all corners.
After the thirty years war, when the
joys of home were maintained by constant
quarreling aud fighting between Denmark
and Sweden, the Danes at last conquered
Wismar, but had to give 1t back in the
peace that was concluded early in the
eighteenth century.
Among the beautiful buildings that date
back to Wismars glorious past are the
archdeacon's house, erected in 1850 and
the old school house, dating back to about
1900 Its ST. Georges --.urch was begun In
1900 and Is not finished yet. The old wa
ter tower was built in 1902.