The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-05-03

curing the barons lifetime and trans- lated into German eleven years before Won Munchausen's death. So the logic Of the problem is with those who claim that the Baron really did tell all these
 A iovabie old bon vivant and racon- teur without doubt was this Baron, or rather Freiherr Hieronymus Karl Fried rich von Munchausen of Bodenwerder. 1137 to l739 he served in the Russian cavalry against the Turks. and alto- gether he had sufficiently exciting embellishments that his ingenious fam cy added to his adventures. The Nun chausen family Is still one of the in- portants aristocratic families, of Ger hold high rank and are prominent in government and military service today. They hardly know whether to be proud ss ter. ashamed or 'n''f famous old enees-
 Dear slrs friends and hunting cons panions" Baron von Munchsusen ai- ways began. rubbing his hands accord ing to custom. Then he took a long draught from the old-fashioned glass that was filled with his favorite drink, a genuine, not too old Rauenthaler wine, gazed thoughtfully into the greenish yellow fluid. sighed, smiled and began.
 "One evening"" said he, 'T was rid- ing home after long days chase, when my horse stopped suddenly in front of a stream and I discovered to my cha grin that the bridge had been swept away. r Without considering, I gave my horse the spurs, and in an instant we were in the air. At that moment 1t struck me that the animal was tod tired to make such a leap without a better start eve had run down thirty hares during the day.) At once I turned his head and we alighted again at the spot we had just left.
 well, then! I patted the hcrse's neck, rode back a short distancs and again we jumped. When we were half way across saw that had underes- timated the breadth of the stream. spurred my Alix again and he gave himself an extra jerk, and darted for ward, but still he failed to land. We both alighted in deep mud into which we sank till only the horses heal was clear.
 .'ouick action was needed, gentle, men. I gripped my brave horse with all the power of my thighs. grasped my hair firmly with my right hand and with a mighty effort succeeded in haul- ing myself and my horse out. I mere- ly mention this to show that I was strong in my younger days. .s
 A once with this same hors& Alix. In the Russian service I led a troop of hussars. We were ordered to make a reconuoitering advance, and accident ally met the whole Turkish army face to face. I immediately spread my handful of men in a, straight, front across the plain and ordered the charge. The cloud of dust that arose was so huwa that the Turks imagined the whole Russian army was before them. They turned back to get behind their fortified town, and we cut them up terribly.
 "so hot were we after them that we not only drove them into the town through one gate. but actually out Of the town again through the opposite gats--something that truly exceeoed our widest hopes.
 My horse was so wonderfully fast that I was far ahead of my men. Af- ter I had killed the last enemy I could reach. and had closed the town gate behind the fleeing army, rode back: Imagine my amaZemenr when l failed to find a single one of my hussars tn the town.
 'r turned my horses head to the fountain in the market place to let him drink. The beast drank and drank without stopping. waited patiently for 1t to uueneh that unheard-of thirst. and turned again to look for my men,
 What did see? The whole after part of the poor animal was missing; and all the water it drank simply ran out again without refreshing the faith- ful brute. While I was wondering, my groom came galloping up and ex- plained that as I crowded through the first portal on top of the Turks the gate had been dropped with rusn and had cut my horse clean in tWot Despite this its swiftness was such that even with only two legs 1t kept pace with the fleeing Turks.
 "I galloped back to the portal, ana our very skillful regimental saddler stitched both halves together so well that the keenest eye could hardly mo- tice the injury.
 s'It was nothing at all for me to ride thirty or forty miles on this horse in one afternoon and to course few hares on the way. once we pursued A hare that crossed the highway just as coach with two beautiful women came along. My horse leaped so grace fully at that moment that we went into one window and out of the other (both being fortunately open). and I had barely time to remove my hat and beg the ladies pardon.
 "Alix and travelled in Russia that winter. One day I rode hour artef hour over an endless waste of snow Neither village. road, tavern or tree was visible. although forests and many villages were marked on the map. To- wards evening tied Alix to sharp protuberance In the snow and lay down to sleep a short distance away. The north wind had ceased, and a south wind had begun to make the night qute mild, so I slept very well.
 ''When I awoke I found myself in the middle of a village. There was not a trace of my horse; but suddenly I heard a neighing high in the air. What do you suppose? Up there hung Alix. tied to the top of the church steeple.
 Of course understood at once what had happened. The whole vil age had been covered with snow when I got there at night, and when it melt ed before the south wind of course l sank down with 1t. but my horse could not. I drew my pistol shot the reins in two and Alix slid down and ran to me overjoyed. The tavern keeper told me that such a snowfall is not at all ex- traordinary for that part of Russia. but occurs several time during every win ter
 q had a greyhound. by the way. that was almost as swift as Alix. Zephy- rette was her name. Only once did I meet another beast that could run faster than she did. It was during a rabbit hunt. We put up a hare that ran like the wind For two days and two night Zephyrette coursed that here, gentlemen, yet every time she got near him the hare seemed to gain fresh speed. At last I got shot at kz raf