The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1911-09-05
His Castle on
the Rhine.
And How He Sold 1t to a
Descendant Of Its First
Owner.
BY F. A. Mitchell.
Copyright by American Press Assoc
citation, 1911.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES

On the left bank OF the Rhine Is the
ruin of one of those old castles which
have stood in that region for centuries.
This particular castle some years ago
was bought by Carl Bishoff, a German
American who had made lot Of mon
ey brewing lager beer. Bishof bought
with the castle few pieces Of furni-
ture, pictures and other curiosities that
were several hundred years old and
had been handed down from one pur-
chaser to another With the decay Of
the castle and the gradual breaking up
or loss of these articles all that re-
manned had finally been concentrated
in one room, which. when the owner
was there, he used for a living and
bed room. In this apartment was an
antique fireplace big enough to roast
an OK. Over the chimneypiece hung
a picture that was especially priced by
Carl Bishoff.
Bishoff was an admirable amateur
chess player. Indeed. he had on sew
eral occasions tackled professionals
with fair success. The reason he
priced the picture that hung over the
chimneypiece at his castle was be-
cause it represented curious position
between chess players. They were in
medieval dress, the one long and
thin with black beard, the other
stocky, whose beard was fiery red.
The dark man wore his beard at a
point, while his mustachios were turn
ed upw4g1. giving him malignant
expires -es1. The red bearded man
was Of pleasant countenance. The
picture represented him looking on the
board, evidently troubled at prospect
Of being checkmated by his antagonist,
who was regarding him with an ex-
preston of triumph. On a plate at
tached to the frame was the name of
the picture in German, "Checkmate In
Six Moves" There was legend con-
nected with the painting that the man
who had built and owned the castle
would some day return to repossess it.
When he came-so the legend said
he would assume the position of the
red bearded man in the picture, and
instead Of being checkmated in sir
moves he would checkmate in the
same number.
Bishoff chuckled at this legend, say.
ing that If any one could get his castle
in that way he was welcome to do So
He had studied for hours trying to
discover method by which the short
man could save himself and had
failed. He considered the problem In
soluble, and several chess experts who
had seen the picture had agreed with
him.
One autumn Bishoff, who had run
over from America to Berlin, con
cluded to pay visit to his castle to
see that all was ready for the coming
winter. A caretaker lived In a room
that had been repaired and furnished
for him and his wife and could pro
vide what Bishoff required in the way
of refreshments Bishoff would be
obliged to spend one night in the cas-
tie and would do so In the room al.
ready described.
1t was a lowering afternoon when
he reached the castle, clouds hanging
low about the battlements After max.
ing an inspection and talking over the
conditions with his caretaker Bishoff,
who had directed a FIRE be built in
his chamber. dined there, and when he
had finished pulled big armchair up
before the blazing logs. Not feeling
especially happy in his gloomy abode
he directed his caretaker to make him
hot punch. This was set on a table
beside him. and as the hours slowly
passed he drove off his loneliness with
frequent rotations.
Presently be fell into a dose. How
long ne slept he didn't know, but the
first thing he did know the door was
opened and a man came into the room
Bishoff looked up. expecting to see the
caretaker. He was mistaken. The
person who entered was one he had
never seen. He approached BfshOfi
with outstretched hand and with cor
diality that seemed more appropriate
for host than guest. Then he drew
a chair before the fire. warmed his
hands and. taking a pipe from his
pocket, began to smoke
WELL" he said to Bishoff, this ID
a dismal night without. but pleasant
within. I'm glad you've made your
self comfortable"
Bishof has never been very clear in
his statements about this man. Were
1t not that he has been so sure he was
awake and so explicit about some
circumstances connected with the visii
one would be warranted in assuming
that he was dreaming. At first, BIZ
says, 1t only struck him that the mar
was very queer looking, very queerly
dressed and wore a red beard But
at his entrance Bishoff did not con
meet him with the picture.
Bishoff was so astonished that FOL
some time he made no response. In
deed. he couldn't think of anything Il
say. Finally he broke silence by ask
in German
ueuce come you!
'From up the river. I have had {
hard pull. Do you know came neal
being caught in that whirlpool? wal
pulling along when / heard a vote,
singing CHANGING up. saw a beauti
ful woman looking at me. oh. so tender
ly. I could not keep away from her
| Turning toward the shore. / soon foun,
my boat was beginning to whirl. Wit
a powerful effort l turned and pulle'
back into smooth water. The singing
| continued sweeter than before, but
stopped my ears with bit Of cloth
found in my boat and did not look to
ward the shore. I narrowly escape,
the Lorelei"
'The Loreleiv' exclaimed Bishop
you tell your experience as If it ha,
really happened. The Lorelei is
myth
Call her what you like. 1 dom
wish any more of her. I'll take som
Of that punch. l need a bracer afte
my narrow escape"
Iaklng mug Irom the manIel, u
poured out some of the liquor AM
drank it off.
Zone would judge from the way yo1
conduct yourself" said Bishofr, ''tha
you are at home here"
| 'T am"
"what do you meanr snapped Bish
off angrily.
"Oh, don't get huffy. Let us enjo.
ourselves together" Then, noticing
chessboard and chessmen on a table
he added:
do you play chess?'
YES"
"Well. there is no better way o
spending an evening. Let us have
game"
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