The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1913-04-17
RIVALS IN MUSCLE
Augustus OF Poland and His Sax
on Captain Were Strong.
BUT THEY MET THEIR MATCH.

BUT THEY MET THEIR MATCH.
The Young Swedish Count Whom They
Sought to Impress With Their Feats
OF Strength Took a Hand In this
Game Himself and Dazed the King.
On bitterly cold evening in Febru-
airy, 1907, 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
drinking bout was in progress, and
in the center of the gay gathering the
visitor beheld the former king of Po-
land-King Augustus, title he after.
ward regained.
Advancing to the place where the roll
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
yited
Whereupon the ex-kng, looking the
young Swedish nobleman over with APP
praising eye, frowned. then recovered
his compOsure as he noted the skill
with which the messenger addressed
him withaat once using the title Of
complacently. that King Charles was
coming, and he added. ~ have been
told that Count Gustaf Bertelskold'-
for this was the noble messenger
name-''was valinui participant in
my royal friends huar hunt.
AS the evening WIRE Oh the company
became noisier and the wine 6owed
more freely until at length August.
with gesture that commanded atten
ton, took from the table silver plate.
Without apparent effort he bent the
plate to roll in his right hand and
tossed it as drink money to 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
oaken 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. 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 20, this be-
ing the only reply he considered APP
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 deli
cate fingers would certainly never
break n 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 a fash. But he check.
ed himself, seized a goblet and. drain
ing 4. 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 Il was
King Charles OF Sweden who had
caused Stanislaus to be chosen elector
Of Saxon In place of Augustus.
Draw" shouted a Polish nobleman,
confronting Count Bertelskold, cor. by
heaven. will write this toast. letter
for letter, in red upon your blue coatw
II was King Augustus who interrupt
ed with the gentle reminder that the
Swedish count was they guest.
let u.s." said King Augustus. "rath.
er ask him II in the swedish camp
they do not amuse themselves with
on- t,4 90 fha