The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1905-02-04
SWEDISH CITY IN PAWN.
BECOMES GERMAN AFTER
BEING MORTGAGED A
CENTURY,.

- odd Taste Of Wismar. 4 Port OF
- $4,000 on the BaItic-It Was
p,edaed by King Gustav w. for .
lean Ct $1,000, 900.
Wismar, a port of $4,000 people on
- Baltic, situated in the German
slnehy Of Mecklenburg- -Schwerin, but
Fh,onging legally to Sweden, has re.
/ sently become a German city. 1t was
,,adred by King Gustav w.. for a loan
/ = 1900, 900, and the King Of Sweden
kfayine failed to redeem it within the
] antury, it has passed to the Duke of
lenburg-Schwerin, from whose
Emcestor the money was borrowed.
Nismar is very ancient town. Ac-
riding to one legend it was 300 years
Va It the beginning of the Christian
-. Another tradition says it was
ut early in the fourth century by
0Ismarus, King Of the Vandals. 1t
~ in power and in the European
fkuggle frequently changed hands.
II It was a strong ally and . for.
Unable enemy.
In the early part Of the eighteenth
Eentury, Denmark, the most powerful
enemy Of Sweden. after the dest,uc-
E1bn Of the Hanseatic League Ga kind
Il trace union established by certain
elsman cities for safety and CONNER
~ purposes), captured Wismar and
med the Notifications. A1teTwa.d
Eeace was declared and the city re-
Nrted to Sweden, but with the pro-
|.1l1ion that she should not rebuild the
Et5tiAcations. The place thus lost its
strength and importance and became
Ehatead an element Of weakness to the
P3Hedes. Its great sea trade was ruin
n and its inland trade lost.
Under these circumstances it was
slbt surprising that the Swedes tired
H. iast Of their white elephant So in
- feign Of the incompetent and ex-
favagant Gustayus w., with territory
1T to the French in one war, with
land lost to Russia, with defeat in
war against Norway, the Swedes
hed an opportunity to relieve them
ltes of the burden of possession.
zEe direct opportunity was given
ne cancellation by Gustavus Of his
ngement to the daughter of Duke
elerick Franz I. That person not
efurally resented the insult and
eateued dire things. Finally, his
rests crysta,ized into a demand for
enormous indemnity. The money
% be raised at once. The Duchy
l. Aecklenburg advanced 1,25S,000
easthaler and took Wismar, Neuk-
lef and the Island of Poel as secur-
Under the conditions Of the loan the
q Wismar and the two govern
e districts were to remain in
Sc for 100 years. At the end Of |
I'd }O0 years Sweden could claim and |
"a the pledged city and land by
gmg back the original loan With !
= per cent: compound interest. A
laer provision, however. of the loan
that should Sweden fail to take
notice whatever Of tho expira-
o. the time, the contract would
ne renewed automatically for an
100 years. The sum which
sfn would have had to pay il she
% to claim Wismar and the two
nment districts is figured as
antlng to $27.0O0.000, and this
quite apart from considerations
olscy, operated doubtless as a bar
1.-the assertion Of her rights.
We see that while the immed-
sniness transaction dates back
peut 100 years, any diplomatic
es over the city now would
to}revert to the surrenders and
noes ef the thirty years. war
isFS). And the fact that Wis
assetofore really was Swedish
~ explains why Germany has
koftlned the port. which is con.
tie finest harbor site Of the
1ait!c coast. Under the Swed.
nisa treaty Notifications were
"a be built and when the Duchy
ckieAburg took over the place
pdiation was renewed.
- the beautiful buildings that
saek to, Wismar's glorious past
Archdeacon's house, erected
> and the old schoolhuuse, dat.
ack to about 1900.
sint Now Comes Too Late.
might powder for photography
become 50 perfected that,
ng to an expert, the notion ,
ncn picture is liable to be
because Of the startled express
aacn comes to the eyes Of some
0tters is entirely erroneous.
pcwder is quicker than human .
on, and long before the sit
had time to be startled the .
as caught the impression. It
e sure, possible So to arrange :.
7W0er that its flash continues
ough to show such expression,
Photographer who knows his
does this. The peculiar
look seen in the faces in
ashlight pictures is generally