The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-12-28
TODAY IN HISTORY
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 90.
CharIemaonc Crowned Emperor OF the


west.
In homo, on December 2s 500. when
me Christmas festival WAS still at it's
heiEhi In the Holy City. Charlcmag gne.
VINO was visiting the city appeared in
the Church OF ST. Peter, and after the
celebration OF the holy mysteries pop,.
lg"o tll. suddenly placed precious crown
ON hts hcad. investing him with the title
'.Emrerrr OF the Romans the dome
feN"undinE with the arclamation Of the
people. Long lifC and victory TO Charles.
IN" most pious Augustus. crowned by
God The great and pacific Emperor Of the
Romans"
Empire Of ihe West. Upon the death of
his father. Pcpin Charlemagpc (Charles
nc Gr"db became tho sole monarch OF
Tic Franks aud ruler not only over
france, but large par, Of Germany
liarlnG mad" W. upon tho Lombards
IN Italy. be took the capital and put an
enc TO the monarchy. which had lasted
aboEt two centuries.
Chariemagne was not only distr-
euished for his military talents. but was
passionatoly fond OF learning receiving
instruction from Alcuin, n Saxon. who
was tho most accomplished scholar of
tn" age. He also showed the greatness
as we'll as bcnefcopcc OF his character
ny In" many useful enterprises which hc
pl'nn"d for the benefit or his people. and
by his efforts 10 dspel the ignorance
which universally prevailed.
Hsllam. The historian. in his Europa
During the Middle Agcs" paws the fol-
strong sympathy for intellectual excel g.
lcnce was the leading characteristic OF
CharIemagur. and ihis undoubtedly bi.
aSed him I'm tho chief political error of
his conduct. that OF encouraging the
power and prcteusions Of the hierarchy
But perhaps his greatest oulosy Is writ
and the miserles of Europe. fle stands
alone like beacon upon a waste or a
rock In the broad ocean. His sccpter
was as the bow OF Ulysses. which could
NOT hI III l..r
the dark ages OF European history. the
reign Of CharlemaGne affords a solitary
resting place between two long periods
of turbulence ara isrominy. dcrIvlnC the
advantages of contrast both from hat or
the preceding dynasty, and OF q postcrity
for whom he had formed empire
which they were unworthy and unequal
GbboD in his "Docinc and Fall of the
Roman Empire" ssys: Tho appellatlon
OF great has been often bestowed, and
sometimes deserved, but Charlemagne is
the only prince in whose favor the title
has beer indisSoutely blended with the
name. That name. with the addition OF
saint. Is inserted in the Roman calen
dar. and the saint. by a rare felicity. is
crowned with the praises of the hisior
ans and philosophers Of an enlightened
age. His real merit Is doubtless en-
hanced by the barbarlsm OF the nation
ana I'm" times from which he emerged.
but the apparent magnitude OF an object
is likewise enlarged by an unequal COM
parison, and the ruins OF Palmyra derive
a casual splendor from the nakedness of
tho surrounding desert"
Charlemagne died in the forty seventh
year OF his reign and the fourteenth Of
his title. Emperor OF the Romans" He
was buried al AiX-la -Chapelle. His body
is said TO have been disposed OF in the
following manner: He was seated upon a
throne OF gold clad in his imperial
habits He had a crown upon his head
and was eirC With his sword. He held
chalice In his hand, tho book of the
Evangelists upon his knees, his scepter
and gold huCkler at his feet The
sepulchrc was filled with pieces of gold
perfumed and sealed and above. "a tri-
umphal arch was raised with this cpl
taph: Here rests the body of Charles the
Great and orthodox Emperor who glori-
ously enlarged the kingdom OF the French
and governed It happily for forty-seven
years"
December ?s, 1915, tho American Col
omlalion society was organized. in 1916,
iowa was admitted into the union. and in
1908 the earthquake in Italy occurred
Today is the birthday OF Rev. Alexander
FORSYTH CLERGYMAN ipyaptor