Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1913-02-20
RIVALS IN MUSCLE
Augustus Of Poland and His Sax.
on Captain We're Strong.
BUT THEY MET THEIR MATCH.
The Young Swedish Count Whom They
Sought to Impress With Their Feate
OF Strength Took . Hand In the
Game himself and 0assd the kina.


Game HimssN and 0a.sd the King.
On bitterly cold evening in Fsbru-
airy. i7O7. n little company Of Swedish
dragons. huntsmen and grooms lead
ing extra horses rode across the draw.
bridge OF the castle Of Liebeverda. on
the banks Of the river Elster. In Sax.
ony. They were evidently expected.
for the officer who headed the hunts
nien was conducted into q brilliantly
lighted chamber. where was gathered
u large company Of men at arms His
gianres around the room told him that
drinking bout was In progress. and
IN the center Of the gay gathering the
visitor teheld the former king Of Po-
land King Augustus, q title he after.
ward regailed.
Advancing to the place where the rol.
ticking. royal parsonage sat stepped In
wine. the Swedish officer, q young man,
but tall and broad shouldered. reported
that his master. King Charles Of Swe-
den. would arrive at the castle the fol.
lowing morning to take part In the
OOar hunt to which he had been in
vited
Whereupon the ex-king. looking the
young Swetish nobleman over with ap-
praising eye. frowned. then recovered
his tUmpOssire AZ he noted the skill
with which the messenger addressed
him without once using the title Of
majesty" he was happy. he said
compIaceDt!y. that King Charles was
coming. and he added. ~ have been
told that Count Gustaf Bertelsk old"-
for this was the noble messengers
name was valiant participant in
my royal friends boar hunt"
An the evening wore on the company
betame holster and the wine flowed
more freely until at length August
with gesture that commanded atten.
tion. 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 to a servant
Loud cries Of "Bravor' followed this
prinrely achievement. The example
challenged imitation. A stOckily built
Saxon cavalry captain took from his
pocket copper coin. Turning aside
the tablecloth. be laid the coin on the
table and with a mighty blow of his
tiSt drove the coin SO deep into the
"akrn surface Of the table that 1t stuck
there New shouts Of applause shook
even the heavy beamed ceiling
King August then ordered several
horseshoes brought in, Looking them
over carefully. be selected one that
suited him and passed it round the
company no that all could see It was
strong and perfect In every way. Then
he stood up and. bending the shoe
backward and forward in the middle,
broke II 10 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 emptied
again. and the stocky Saxon cavalry
captain was heard to proclaim that the
king ut Poland should one day break
his enemies weapons as easily as he
breaks an iron horseshoe. at the same
tme giving the Swedish count a know
ing look
Coun, Bertelskoid rose to go. this BE-
ing the only reply he considered ap-
propriate. But the aggressive Saxon
captain hlrked his way and shouted:
Upon my honor. believe the little
Swedish count is afraid Of US. Gently.
gently. my young friend. Your deli
cate fingers would certainly never
break horseshoe In two. Drink,
drink. ! say. to the health Of his maj
esty the king of Poland"
Count RertelskOld's hand went to his
sword hilt like u lash But he check
I'd himself. seized a goblet and. drain
Ing II to the last drop. exclaimed: "At
the request of this gentleman ! drink
to the prosperity Of his majesty King
Stnnislans May he live long and
reign happily" No deeper insult
coutd have been offered. for 1t was
King Charles Of Sweden who had
ca used Stanislaus to be chosen elect0r
Of SaxOn In place Of Augustus.
Draw" shouted Polish nobleman,
confronting Count Bertelskold. "or, by
heaven. I will write this toast. letter
for letter In red upon your blue coatr'
| 1t was King Augustus who interrupt
ed with the gentle reminder that the
Swedish count was their guest
LET III" said King Augustus. ''rath-
er ask him II In the Swedish camp
they do not amuse themselves with
any interesting experiments Of the
kind We have just been having"
III my hOnOred host will permit"
replied Count Bertelskold, II will at
tempt something, that u customary
with us -
YES do 30. my dear count" replied
the king. glad to turn the threatened
blOOdletting into Jest
by all means" r0ared the bystand-
prs
RertelskOld looked around him q mo-
ment without replying. Then. sudden
~ SELLING the two husky Polish noble
men who had been 20 ready to draw
swnrds avajnsf him COunt RertelakOl0