The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1908-19??, 1913-02-07
RIVALS IN MUSCLE
Augustus Of Poland and His Say.
on Captain Were Stronu.
BUT THEY MET THEIR MATCH

Sought TO impress With Their Eeats
of Strength Took Hand In tn.
Game Himself and Dazed the kino.
On a bitterly cold evening In Febru.
airy, 1907, little company of Swedish
dragons, huntsmen and grooms lend.
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.
men was conducted into a brilliantly
lighted chamber, where was gathered
q large company of men at arms His
glances around the room told him that
a drinking bout was In progress, and
In the center of the gay gathering the
visitor beheld the former king of 20.
land-King Augustus, title he after.
ward regained.
Advancing to the place where the rol.
licking, royal parsonage sat stepped In
wine, the Swedish officer, 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
boar hunt to which he had been in.
vited.
Whereupon the ex-klng. looking the
young Swedish nobleman over with ap.
praising eye. frowned, then recovered
his composure as he noted the skill
with which the messenger addressed
him without once using the title Of
majesty" He was happy, he said
compIacently. that King Charles was
coming, and he added, ~ have been
told that Count Gustaf Bertelskold"-
for this was the noble messengers
name-"was valiant participant in
my royal friends boar hunt"
AS the evening wore on the company
became noisier and the wine flowed
more freely until at length August,
with a gesture that commanded atten
ton. took from the table silver plate
Without apparent effort he bent the
plate to a roll in his right hand and
tossed it as drink money to a servant
Loud cries of "Bravor' followed this
princely achievement. The example
challenged imitation. A stockily built
Saxon cavalry captain took from his
| pocket copper coin. Turning aside
the tablecloth. he laid the coin on the
table and with mighty blow of his
fist drove the coin so deep into the
L., ,,ft N,I I,nk q
there New shouts of applause shook
even the heavy beamed ceiling.
King August then ordered several
hOrseshOes brought in. Looking them
over carefully. he selected one that
suited him and passed 1t round the
company so 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 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 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 know.
ing look.
Count Bertelskold rose to go, this be-
ing the only reply he considered ap-
propriate. But the aggressive Saxon
tuir hi, nd oh
Upon my honor, believe the little
Swedish count is afraid of US. Gently,
gently. my young friend. Your dell
cate fingers would certainly never
break q horseshoe in two. Drink,
drink, say. to the health of his mai
esty the king of Poland|
Count Bertelskold's hand went to his
sword hilt like fash. But he check
ed himself, seized a goblet and, drain
ing it to the last drop, exclaimed: AT
the request of this gentleman ! drink
to the prosperity of his majesty King
Stanislaus. May he live long ana
reign happily" No deeper insult
could have been offered. for 1t was
King Charles Of Sweden who hau
caused Stanislaus to be chosen electoF
of Saxon in place Of Augustus.
Draw" shouted a Polish nobemah'
confronting Count Bertelskold, "or' by
heaven. I will write this toast, letter
for letter. in red upon your blue coat
1t was King Augustus who interrupt
ed with the gentle reminder that Tue
Swedish nnnnt xyOS thpir pUpSt
LET u.s." said King Augustus "ra'n'
er ask him If In the Swedish camp
they do not amuSe themselves WIN
any interesting experiments OF 'n'
kind we have Just been having. 49,,
IF my honored host will permit
replied Count Bcrtelskold, Il VIII "'
tempt something that is CUSTOMARY
with u.s." 49,,
YES, do so. my dear count" repheG
the king. glad to turn the threa'ene'
blOOdletting into jest.
by all meansr' roared the bystanu'
ers
Bertelskold looked around him mo-
ment without replying. Then, sudden
~ seizing the two husky Polish uope
men who had been SO ready 10 ara" ,I
swords against him. Count Berte'SAT 's
raised them both up at once ana "'''
ing them. Kicking and spraW'inH Ind
arms length. bore them twice r'u ,.s
the table and with perfect soIeillIi,'
sat them down ut the feet of the "S I,y.s
ished King Augustus.-Kansas 0
Star.
Whom the bowels become irreguiaL