Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1903-02-26


lTESTsSsTIs ern historians have level
INSl(gJHIi ed at those of past ages
f1E4fS< and centuries to the effect
Nnly1l9llI that in writing the histor-
les of the Romans, Greeks, French,
Germans, Spaniards, and English they
merely chronicle tne idle court gossip
Of the doing of princes, kings, prelates
and mobiles instead of combining them
selves to the subjects. This failing has
its advantages, however, for while
these historians have left us little in
the way of record Of the progress or
decline of the nations and people they
have, on the other hand, furnished a
magnificent as we'll as detailed account
of the life, character, and actions OF
hundreds of royal houses, dynasties,
and sovereigns concerning whom we
otherwise would have known nothing.
Saxony's First Scandal.
In the eight of past events, as record
ed by these historians, the action OF
the Saxon crown princess is no new
thing. On the contrary, the people of
Europe have for generations been ac-
OustOmsd TO just such performances on
the part of their rulers, and, for some
reason, the German princesses have
outdone all the others in the matter of
wild and sensational doings. CHANGING
back over the history Of the past, one
finds many cases that are parallel to
that Of the Saxon princess, and 1t is a
trihe curious to note that the history
Of this small German kingdom began
with the escapade of princess, one OF
the daughters Of Charlemagne.
Charlemagne, as king of the Franks,
was also emperor of Germany, with the
exception of Saxony, which, at that
time, was one of the few remaining
corners of Europe which had not ac-
cepted Christianity. To convert as we'll
as to conquer the Saxons Charlemagne
waged long and relentless war, which
after many ups and down, defeats and
victories, resulted finally in conquest
and wholesale conversion.
Charlemagne had a large family Of
exceedingly sprightly and beautiful
daughters, one of them, Emma, he con-
templated marrying to a noble whom
he looked forward to making duke or
prince of SaXony. But the Lady Emma
was not disposed to encourage the lat
ters suit, though for what reason no
one could tell, in view of the fact that
the prospective ruler of the SaXons ap-
parently had no rival.
Lady Emma's Love
The secret of the matter, however,
was simply this: The Emperor Charl-
emagne had at his court very hand
some young secretary of the name of
Eginhart a man of base birth and
without hope or prospect of ever be-
coming other than a mere understrap-
per and attache of the royal establish
ment. Notwithstanding these difficulties
he and the Lady Emma fell in love
with each other without her father or
any of his favorites finding it out.
Eginhart was in the habit of stealing
forth at night under Lady Emmas bal
cony and climbing up to her apart
ments by means of rope ladder which
she let down for him at preconcerted
signal. Everything was as romantic as
could be, and no one was in the secret
except an old and faithful nurse, who,
from long experience, had learned TO
keep silence on all that she saw or
heard about the palace, so that this
courtship might have gone on indefi-
nitely had It not been for a peculiar
accident for which neither Of the two
were prepared.
1t happened that during the winter,
about Christmastide in fact, Eginhart
came one evening under my lady's bal
cony, uttered a low whistle, and climb
ing up the ladder which his lady love
lowered for him, was soon by her side,
telling how much he loved her and OF
how he would wade through blood and
fire for her sake. Among lovers the sun
and moon are always shining, and Egg
inhart, absorbed in his passion for the
handsome Emma, had failed to notice
as he approached her chamber that the
sky was overcast and the temperature
lowering.
Like many modern lovers, he did not
know when it was time to 90 home, and
on this occasion remained unusually
late; so late in fact, that Lady Emma
was doubtless obliged to call attention
TO the fact that the size Of the candle
and fuel bills might excite suspicion in
the minds OF the lords OF the royal ex-
chequer; therefore when Eginhart
took leave OF his sweetheart his dismay
can better be imagined than describ-
ed when he looked out and saw the
ground covered by a deep snow that
had fallen during the interval OF his
courtship. To reach his lady love he
had to climb garden wall and traverse
a garden which all save the royal fami-
ly were prohibited from entering. and
he knew that If he left the palace his
tracks would be seen the next morning
by the lynx-eyed minions Of the court,
who would lose no time in tracing up
the offender and taking him before the
king.
A Remarkable Sight.
Now, Il so happened that on tina.
very night Charles the Great had him
self been out on a lark, visiting the
chateau Of neighboring duke, where,
among bishops, counts and mobiles Of
the realm. he spent many hours in rev.
elry and song, and on his return en-
tered the palace through this same
garden, very unusual thing for him
to do, as he usually entered from an
other quarter. When half way across
the garden he witnessed, therefore. a
sight that fairly robbed him OF his
breath. The sight which the great war
rior beheld was none other than that
of his daughter Emma carrying ("tot-
ing" as the Virginians would say. the
Secretary Eginhart on her back
across the garden. She was, moreover