The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1913-01-31
RIVALS IN MUSCLE
Augustus OF Poland and His Sax
on Captain Were Strong.
BUT THEY MET THEIR MATCH.


ary. 1907. a 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
men was conducted into a brilliantly
lighted chamber, where was gathered
large company OF men at arms. His
glances around the room told him that
n drin king bout was In progress. and
! in the center OF the gay gathering the
visitor beheld the former king Of Po-
| land-King Augustus, a title he after
ward regained.
Advancing TO the place where the roll
J 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 mp
pralslng 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
complacently. that King Charles was
coming. and he added, 81 have been
told that Count Gustaf Bertelskold"-
for this was the noble messengers
name-"was n 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 n gesture that commanded atten-
tlon, took from the table n silver plate.
Without apparent effort he bent the
plate to n roll I'm his right hand and
tossed Il as drink money to servant.
Loud cries OF "Bravor' followed this
prlncely achievement. The example
challenged imitation. A stocklly built
Saxon cavalry captain took from his
pocket copper coin. Turning aside
the tRblecloth. he laid the coin on the
table and with n 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 beamed ceiling.
King August then ordered several
horseshoes brought In. Looking them
over carefully, he selected one that
no
company so that all could see II was
strong and perfect I'm every way. Then
he stood up and. bending the shoe
backward and forward I'm the middle
broke II I'm 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 empticd
again, and the stocky Saxon cavalry
captain was heard to proclaim that the
king OF Poland should one day break
his enemies weapons rs easily as he
breaks an iron horseshoe, at the same
time giving the Swedish count n know
Ing look
Count Bcrtelskold rose TO go. this be-
Ing the only reply he considered ap-
propriate. But the aggressive Saxon
captain blocked his way and shouted:
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 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 flash. But he check
ed himself. seized n goblet and, drain
ing II TO the last drop. exclaimed; "At
the request of this gentleman drink
TO the prosperity OF his majesty King
Stanislaus. May he live long and
reign happily" No deeper insult
could have been offered, for II was
King Charles OF Sweden who had
caused Stauislnus to he chosen elector
of Saxon in place OF Augustus,
Draw" shouted a Polish nohlcman,
confronting Count Bcrtclskold. "or. 10y
heaven. | will write this toast, letter
for letter, I'm red upon your blue coatw
IL was King Augustus who interrupt
ed with the gentle reminder that the
Swedish count was their guest
let u.s." 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"
IF my honored host will permit"
replied Count Bcrtelskold, 81 will at
tempt something that Is customary
with us"
Yes. do So. my dear count" replied
the king, glad 10 turn the threatened
bloodlcttiug into Jest
"Ry oil mennsr rnared the bystand'
ers.
Bertelskold looked around him mo
ment without replying Then, sudden
~ seizing the two husky Polish noble
men who had been So ready TO draw
swords against him. Count Bertelskold
raised them both up at once and. hold
ing them. kicking and sprawling, MT
arms length. bore them twice round