The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-03-20

ons, but evidently was an lmpoItaeloi
brought over to England to suffer sea
change" in accord with a new environ
1nent and new national life. 1t also Is
evident that it antedates the conversion
to Christianity of the Anglo-Saxons, ane
the interpretations and pious reflections IN
troduced by the priest who first put 1t II
the form in which it now exists are
obvious That the priest was Hygeberht
Bishop Of Litchheld, minister to ora
King of Mercia, is a well supported ny
pothess though some critics reject the
supposition. In the original story 1t prob
ably was to the Island of Seeland thal
Beowulf went to STAY Grendel But II
the story as we have it now the scenery
described is that of a part of Northum-
bria. Names of places evidently derived
from the characters in the story are
found not only in that region, but II
wiltshire Beowulf sailed across the
Pathway of the Swans" which is the
North Sea and so in the version eXtan'
Northumbria seems to be indicated as the
place where HrothGar lived. But critics
may fight over that; the main fact Is tha'
s'Beowulf'' is the beginning of English
literature and a mighty good story, TOO
of adventure, bravery and generous deeus
TN the banquet halls of mighty chief
tains. when the earls and thames feast
u together: when the cups of mead
foam high and the Ministries sing of wal
and glory; when from the inspired lips
of the skalds the song bursts forth as
their hands strike the chords of the
stringed harp in warlike or mourhful
strains, no people are more often sung OF
than the heroes of the Danes. For among
the people of the North none are more
hardy or more noble than the people OF
Daneland And among the names most
treasured in song and saga; among the
heroes whose story and example have
been for so many ages a TRUMPET blast
to cheer the heart of warriors in battle
and a star to lead mems paths Alright in
honor and manly virtue, none have found
more frequent mention than the names OF
the heroes of the race of the Skylding
the Oldest royal house whose greatness
is acclaimed by Danish tradition.
The father Of the race-Skyld of the
Sheaf-was not born to the crown. Be
fore him there regned the King Here
mod, a selfish and bad ruler who thought
not of his mobiles benefit and pleasures
and glory, but oppressed them and all the
people, 81 that al ldoNt 10 N-A7 -
the enmity of all. he was driven from his
throne and went forth an exile and a
wanderer and his name went down UNI
forgotten but unhonored through the ages
Just at the time when Heremod was
driven into exile a beautiful ship cam'
sailing to the Danish shores No mai
was at the helm and no crew manned her
The only living thing aboard was a mali
child, newborn, resting in a sheaf o
wheat. This infant, the people said, hat
been sent them from the sea to be thei
king and they trained him for his higi
office. He grew up strong and beautiful
great in mind and body, a hero worthy
to be the king of the Danes. So as III
grew to be of maturer years, but whil'
he was still young man, he seized upoi
the throne and brought order out o
chaos in the affairs OF Denmark Man,
n war did he wage and many territor!
did he add to his domains, wrung from
the neighboring peoples. He brough
plenty into the land and benefited hi
people, while to his thames and atheling1
he brought glory and rich rewards. Th
race of the Skylding throve through man.
generations and one of that's race, Hyge
lac. reigned in the land of the Goths
and another, Hrothgar, reigned In lan'
across the sea which was called the Patl
of the Swans, otherwise the North Sea
as it is today For the Danes had car
ried their conquests far and had con
uuered and settled Northumbria-
Now, Hygelac had a brother, Beowulf
a youth of great beauty and SURPRISING
strength, a youth of noble spirit and pur
of life: a youth who longed for adven
fure and yearned to succor the oppressed
In deeds of arms no man might stant
arainst him, and In wisdom he was be
vond his years. When the mead and tn
Ale vent round at the banquet. when TIL
rka1ds sung of the mighty deeds of TIL
heroes Of old, Beowulf's heart almos
harst within him for his longing to e.
forth upon some great adventure whicl
should make his name in days to com
The theme of bards and the envy of he
roes.
Those northern people were great sail
ors. as they are to this day, and thei
ships. roaming everywhere that tn
waters rolled or the wind blew, cam
hack to the Gothic ports laden not onl,
with cargoes taken by purchase or b,
force. but with thesnews of the world
The bronzed and rudy sailors, as the,
ouafred mighty drafts of the might,
ale. told stories of all that was going o.
in lands afar-and probably of man
things that were not going on, but whic
might have been. At any rate. the re
4urping ships spread through Gotham
the news of the Danes in the land beyon
that sea called the Pathway of tn
swans, and of the srorrowful plight o
king Hrothgar, who reigned over then
I4rothgar had been a mighty fighter in hi
dav: his ships had spread terror alon
MANY coasts and his armies had carries
victory and death into many neighborinl
atates. But Hrothgar had become old an
rich. and the earls and the thames VIII
had once been young with him and ha,
foug..l with him side by side had be
come rich and old. too.
The inevitable result followed The,
All became peaceful So great was tn
fame of the prowess of the king that M
one dare attack him by land and a stric
watch was kept on the coast agains
ne landing from the sea of any hostil
expedition. Thus protected. the land o
the Danes reposed in peace, plenty an,
happiness. AS to the old king and hi
aged thames, earls and athelings. they set
tied down to life of solid comfort. Thei
principal business now was the daily ban
ouet, at which they ate hugely an,
drank enormously. There were might,