Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-12-25
STRENGTH OF POLE AND swEpE.
An Incident in the Rivalry of Two
Centuries Ago.

ventures Ago.
On a bitterly cold evening in Feb
ruary, 1907, a little company of Swed-
ish dragons, huntsmen and grooms
leading extra horses. rode across the
drawbridge of the castle of Liebever-
da, on the banks of the river Elster in
Saxony. Darkness was falling, but it
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
clothes Then he was conducted into
a brilliantly lighted chamber, where
was gathered a large company of
men-at- arms. The handsome and
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
center of the gay gathering about the
food and drink laden board, the visitor
beheld the former king of Poland
King Augustus, a title he afterWard
regained.
Advancing to the place where the
rollicking, royal parsonage sat STEPPED
in wine, the Swedish officer, young
man, but tail and broad-shouldered,
delivered q message. The burden OF
j 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
I invited, and he added even now his
majesty,s huntsmen, horses ana
hounds had arrived.
Whereupon the ex-king, looking the
young Swedish nobleman over with
appraising eye, frowned, then recoN-
cred his eomposure as he noted the
| skill with which the messenger ad-
dressed him without once using the
title of majesty" He was happy he
said complacently. that King Charles
was coming, and he added: l nave
/ been told that Count GUSTAV Ber-
i telskold"-fo this was the noble mes
senger's name, and the ex-king OF
Poland displayed his ready memory IN
recalling it-"that Count sBertelskoid
was valiant participant in my royal
friends boar hunts. 1t will be an
honor to the wild boars of Saxony to
be laid low by so experienced an adj
| versary." e
Not being so keen at repartee, Count
Bertelskold made no reply other than
a profound bow, and, with this slight
interruption, the carousal went on
with gay jest, laughter and the drain
ing of many fiagons.
AS the evening wore on, the com
pany became noisier and the wine
flowed more freely, until at length
August, with a gesture that COM
manded attention, took from the table
a silver plate. Without apparent eff
fort he bent the plate to a roll in his
I right hand, and tossed it as drink
money to a servant.
Loud cries of Bravo" followed this
princely achievement. The example
was contagious, and a stocky Saxon
cavalry captain took from his pocket
a copper coin. Turning aside the
tablecloth 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 il
stuck there. New shouts of applause
shook even the heavy beamed ceiling.
King August, feeling stronger than
before, ordered several horseshoes
brought in. Looking them over care
fully, he finally selected one that suit
ed him and passed it round the com
pany, so that all could see it was good
and strong and a perfect horseshoe in
every way. Then he stood UP, and
bending the shot backward and for
ward in the middle, broke it in two
equal pieces and held them out in
either hand, to show his muscles We're
harder than iron even.
Shouts of approval rose louder than
ever, goblets were filed and emptied
again. And the stocky Saxon cavalry
captain was heard to proclaim that the
king of Poland should one day break
his enemies weapons as easily as he
breaks an iron horseshoe, at the same
time giving the Swedish count a
knowing look.
Count Bertelskold rose to go, this
being the only reply he considered APP
propriate. But the aggressive Saxon
captain blocked his way and shouted:
"Unon my honor. l believe the little
Swedish count is afraid of us. Gently,
gently, nay young friend. Your deli
cate virgin fingers would certainly
never break horseshoe in two.
Drink! Drink, / say to the health of
his majesty, the king of Polandl Why,
this Swedish boy has not emptied q
single honest beaker yeti" .4
/ Count Belterskold's hand went to his
sword hilt like a flash. But he checked
himself, seized a goblet, and, draining
it to the last drop, exclaimed: cat the
request of this gentleman, l drink to
the prosperity of his majesty, King
Stanislaus. May ne live long and
reign happily" 30 deeper insult
could have been offered, for it was
King Charles of Sweden who had
caused Stanislaus to be chosen elector
of Saxony in place of Augustus
Draw" shouted Polish nobleman,
confronting Count Bertelskold, or, by
heaven, | will write this toast, letter
for letter. in red upon your hlae coat"
1t was King Augustus who inter-
rupted with the gentle reminder that
the Swedish count was their guest
Let u.s." said King Augustus,
rather ask him if in the Swedish
camp they do not amuse themselves
with nay interesting experiments of
the kind we have just been having"