The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-12-19
STRENGTH OF POLE AND sWEDl
An Incident in the Rivalry of Two
 Centuries Ago.
CFrom the Ransss City star)

On bitterly cold evening Tn FeDru- ary, 17o7, a 4ittle.scompany of Swedish 6ragoofls huntsrnen and =gfoonS lead ing extra hOrSe6 rode across the .draW- bridge of the castle of LiebeEerda, on the banks of the river Blister in Sax ony. Darkness was falling, but II was evident that the hunting party was not unexpected, for attendants at the castle met and conducted the half frozen visitors into warm rooms
 The officer in blue riding uniform, who headed the huntsmen, paused a moment in the lighted hallway to brush the travel stains from his brilliantly lighted chamber, where was gathered a large conpany Of knightly figure of the visitor showed him to be of noble birth. His -glances round the room told him that a drink ing bout was in progress. and in the centef of the gay gathering about the food and zdrink-faden' board, the vfsf- tor behefd the former king Of Poland King Augustus. a title he afterward
 Advancing to the place where the ro1licking, royal personage sat steeped in wine, the Swedish officer, a young delivered message The burden of it was that his master. King Charles of Sweden, would arrive at the castle the following morning to take part in the boar hunt to which he had been invited and he added even now his majestys huntsmen, horses and
 
 Whereupon the ex-kfng, looking the young Swedish nobleman over with appraising eye. frowned, then recov- cred his cornpesure as he noted the skill with which the messenger ad- dressed him without once. using the title of 'majesty'' He was happy, he said, cornplaeently, that King Charles was coming, and he added: t'I have been told that Count Gustaf Der te1sko1d''-for this was the noble mes sengerss name, and the eK-king of Po- 11i5 recalling it. s'that Count BerteIskold was a valiant participant in my royal friends boar hunts. It will be an honor to the wild bears of Saxony to be laid low by so experienced an ad- versary.''
 Not being so keen at ;repartee, Count Bertels4zoid made no reply other than a profound bow and, with this slight Interruption, the carousal went on with gay jest, laughter and the draining of many fEagOns.
 As the evening wore on, the com pany became -noisier and the wine flowed more freely, until at length ed attention took from the table a silver plate. Without apparent effort he bent the plate to roll in his right hand, and tossed it as drink money Loud cries of Bravo followed this princeIy achievement. The example was contagious, and a stocky Saxon cavalry captain took from his pocket a copper coin. Turning aside the ta- blec1oth, he laid the coin on the table, and with a mighty blow. of his fist drove the coin so deep into the oaken surface of the table that it stuck there. New shouts of applause shook even the heavy-bea1ned ceiling.
 King August, feeling stronger than before, ordered several horseshoes brought in. Looking them over care fully, he finally selected one that suit pany, so that an, could see it was good and strong and a perfect horseshoe in every way. Then he stood up, and bending the shoe backward and for ward in the middle, broke it in two equal pieces and held them out in either hand to show his muscles were harder than iron even.
 Shouts of approval rose louder than ever goblets were filled and emptfed again. And the stoeky Saxon cavalry captain was heard to proclaim that break his enemies weapons as easily he breaks an iron horseshoe, at the same time giving the Swedish count a knowing look.
 Count Bertelskeld rose to go, this being the only reply he considered ap propriate But the aggressive 'saxei
 Upon my honor, I believe the little Swedish count is afraid of us. Gently, gently, my young friend Your deli never break a horseshoe in two. Drink Drink, I say to the health of his ma jesty, the king of Poland, Why, this Swedish boy has not emptied a single honest beaker yet!''
 Count Bertelsk olds. hand went to his sword hiIt like a flash. But he checked himself seized a goblet, and draining it to the last drop, exelain- ed: "At the request of this gentleman drink to the prosperity of his majes- ty, King StanisIaus. May he Hive Ion e and reign happily!'' No deeper insult could have been offered. for it was King Charles of Sweden who had caused StanisIaus to be chosen cleo tor of SaXOHy in place of AuRuStJIS.
 Draw shot ted Polish nobIema n. confronting Count Bertelsko1d, GOT. by heaven, I will write this toast, letter for letter, in red upon your blue ceat.' It was King Augustus who inter rupted with the gentle reminder that the Swedish count was their guest
 a~Let us, said King Augustus, 'srath- CT ask him If in the Swedish camp