Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1904-11-01

Wismar, a port of $4,000 people on
the Baltic, situated in the German
Duchy of Mecklenburg- Schwerin, but
belonging legally to Sweden, has re
Gently become German city. 1t was
pledged by King Gustav ~. for loan
of 81 100000, and the King CT Sweden
having failed to redeem it within the
century, it has passed to the Duke of
Mecklenburg- Schwerin, from whose
ancestor the money was borrowed.
Wismar is a very ancient town. Ac-
cordfng to one legend it was 800 years
old at the beginning of the Christian
era. Another tradition says it was
built early In the fourth century by
Wismarus, King of the Vandals. 1t
grew in power and in the European
struggle frequently changed hands,
for it was a strong ally and a for
midable enemy.
In the early part of the eighteenth
century, Denmark, the most powerful
enemy of Sweden, after the destruc-
ton of the Hanseatic League Ga kind
of trade union established by certain
German cities for safety and CONNER
cial purposes), captured Wismar and
RACED the Notifications. Afterward
peace was declared and the city re-
verted to Sweden, but with the pro-
vision that she should not rebuild the
Notifications. The place thus lost its
strength and importance and became
instead an element OF weakness to the
Swedes. It's great sea trade was ruin
ed and it's inland trade lost
Under these circumstances it was
not surprising that the Swedes tired
at last of their white elephant. So in
the reign of the incompetent and ex-
travagant Gustavus W., with territory
lot to &c T-e-ch in ore war. with
Tin and lost to Russia, with defeat in
war against Norway, the Swedes
seized an opportunity to relieve them
selves of the burden of possession.
The direct opportunity was given
by the cancellation by Gustavus OF his
engagement to the daughter of Duke
Frederick Franz /. That person not
unnaturally resented the insult and
threatened dire things. Finally, mis-
threats crystalized into a demand for
an enormous indemnity. The rsoney
rad to be raised at once. The Ducny
Of Mecklenburg advanced 1,258.00O
reichsthaler and took Wismar, Neuk-
loster and the Island of Peel as secur-
ity.
Under the conditions of the loan the
fity of Wismar and the two govern
rent districts were to remain in
pledge for 100 years. At the end of
Inc 100 years Sweden could claim and
obtain the pledged city and land by
paying back the original loan with
three per cent. compound interest.
further provision, however, of the loan
was that should Sweden fail to tale
anw notice whatever of the expira-
ton Of the time, the contract would
become renewed automatically for an
other 100 years. The sum which
Sweden would have had to pay if she
wished to claim Wismar and the two
government districts is figured as
amounting to $27pO0,000, and this
alone, quite apart from considerations
of policy, operated doubtless as a bar
against the assertion of her rights.
Thus we see that while the immed-
late business transaction dates back
but about 100 years, any diplomatic
squabbles over the city now would
have to revert to the surrenders and
armistices OF the thirty years war
(1618-164S). And the fact that Wis
mar heretofore really was Swedish
territory explains why Germany has
not fortified the port which is con-
sidered the finest harbor site of the
entire Baltic coast. Under the Swed.
ish-Danish treaty Notifications were
not to be built and when the Duchy
of Mecklenburg took over the piece
the stipulation was renewed.
Among the beautiful buildings that
date back to Wismar's glorious past
are the Archdeacon's house, erected
in 1850, and the old schoolhouse, dat
ing hack to about 1900.