The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1910-10-06
Story Of the Age
Of ChivaIry
Legendary Lore Of the Time Of King
Arthur's Court and it's
Weird Tales.


Weird Tales.
The charm of literature treating
of olden times, apart from it's breezy
tone, it's romance and belligerency,
is the peculiar sense Of mysticism
which pervades it. Stories and leg
ends, more wildly erratic than the
most weird imaginings of Jules
Verne or Edgar Poe, are advanced
with the seriousness and assurance
of a pedagogical truism; especially
is this the case in the alleged history
Of the Age of Chivalry and the lore
descriptive of King Arthur.
An instance Of this is the story of
"Caradoc Brief Bras" the son of
Ysene, the beautiful niece Of Arthur.
There was apparently, some doubts
as to the legitimacy of Caradoc's
birth; so with the peculiar generosity
which characterizes popular opinion
of such matters when they occur in
high places, he was declared to be
the issue of supernatural relations
between Ysene and wonderful
magician named Eliaures. This
matter was not made clear however,
until Caradoc had attained to the
age which entitled him to knight
hood; when, in accordance with
prevailing customs, the court was
assembled to witness bestowal of
the accolade; then, so the story runs,
strange knight appeared in their
midst and made proposal to the
court which was not received very
enthusiastically. The proposal was
this: To lay his neck on block for
any knight to strike, on condition
that if he survived the blow the
knight should in turn submit to a
similar experiment.
Sir Kay, who was reputed the
champion swashbuckler of the pc
riod, and to whom fight was more
acceptable than feast, denounced
the proposition as monstrous; and
one to which no cavalier with the
least knowledge of strategy could
agree. The stranger, growing bold
at this hesitancy on the part of the
court, commenced to swagger and
otherwise conduct himself in a man
ner irritating and improper. Cara
doc, who probably was the youngest
man present, resented such arrogant
behavior and announced himself as
ready and willing to accept the
strangers challenge on his own terms.
Do you do this as one of the best
knights? asked the stranger.
NC" "replied Caradoc, but as one
of the most foolish"
The stranger nodded, handed him
his sword, laid his head on the block
and received a blow which, parted it
from his shoulders and sent it roll
ing.
Then he arose, walked after it,
replaced it with deliberate precision,
thanked the knight for his kindness
and departed, promising to return in
year to claim his turn.
When the anniversary arrived he
reappeared and disregarding the en-
treaties of the court in behalf of
Caradoc demanded fulfillment of the
pact. After much parleying the
young knight went aside to pray to
God while as King, that his prema-
ture death might be accepted as
atonement for past 'transgressions.
Then he returned, barred his neck,
laid it on the block and urged the
stranger to proceed with all possible
dispatch. But instead of receiving
the blow expected he received a
caress and the information that the
stranger, who on previous occasion
he had ruthlessly mutilated was his
father Eliaures, the enchanter.
This reunion of father and son
should have been continued source
of joy to both, instead of which, it
was from then, the real misfortune
of Caradoc commenced. Eliaures,
the magician, seemed to possess
wonderful powers over all things
but himself. He could control men,
beasts and elements, but was totally