The daily Alaskan., 1913-02-18
RIVALS IN MUSCLE
Augustus of Poland and His Sax
 on Captain Were Strong.
BUT THEY MET THEIR MATCH.

The Youne Swedish Count Whom They
 soueht Co Impress With Their Feat'
 of Strength Took a Hand ln Che Game Hiuself and Oazsd ths King,
 On a bitterly cold evening iu Febru- ary. iTOI, little company of Swedish dragoous. huutsmen and grooms lead ing extra horses rode across the draw bridge or tbe castle of Llebeverda, on the hanks of the river Blister, in Sax ony. They were evidently expected, for the officer who headed tbe hunts- men was conducted Into a brilliantly lighted chamber. where wns gathered a large company of men at arms Ills glanCes around the room told him that drinking bout was tn progress, and iu the center of the gay gathering the visitor beheld the former king of Po- Isnd-Kiug Augustus, a title he after ward regained.
 Advancing Co the place where the rol. licking. royal parsonage sat steeped in wine the Swedish officer, a young man but tan and broad shouldered, reported thet hls master. King Charles ot Swe- den, would arrive at tbe castle the fol- lowing morning Co take part in Che boar hunt Co which be bad been in- yIted
 Whereupon the ex-klug, looking Che young Swedish nobleman over with ap. praislug eye, drowned, then recovered his CumpoSnrc as be noted Che sklN with which thc messenger addressed him without once using the utle Of ''maipsty" Hc w0s happy. be said complaCcutlv that King Charles was comlar. and he added, 'I have been told that Count Gustaf Bortclskold"- for this was Che noble messcnEcrB name "wus a valiant participant in my royal friends boar hunt"
 AS the evening wore on the company hecamr holster aud Che wine flowed more freely untu at length August with a gesture that commanded atten. tIon, took from Che table silver plate. Without apparent cdort he bent the plate Co a roll in bis right hand and tossed it as drink money Co a servant
 Loud cries of "BrvOr' followed this princcly achievement The example challenged imitation A stoCElly built Saxon cavalry captain took from his poCkpt a Cnppcr coin Turning aside the tahlccloih be laid the coin on the table and with a mighty blow ot hls list drove the coin SO deep Into the oakcu surface of tbe table that It stuck there New shouts of applause shook even the heavy beamcd ceiling
 King August then ordered several horscShocs brought in. Looking them over carefully. he selected one that suited him and passed it round the company SO that an could see it was strong and perfect in every way Then he stood mp and. bending the shoe backward and forward iu the middle, broke it In two equal pieces and held them out jn either hand Co show hls muscles were harder than iron even,
 shouts of approval ruse louder than ever. cohIcts were dlled and emptied again. and tho stocky Saxon cavalry captain was heard Co proclaim that the king uf Poland should one day break bis enemies weapons as easily as he breaks 8n iron horseshoe, at the same time giving the Swedish count know ing look
 Count Burtclskold rose to go. this be- ing thc only reply he considered Hp- proDriate. But the aggressive saxon captain blocked his way and shouted:
 "Upon my hOsor, 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. Co the health Of his m0i' esty the king of Polandr'
 Count Bcrtclskold's hand went to his sword hilt like a flash But be check cd himself seized a goblet and, drsin- ing it to the last drop exclaimed: "At the request of this gentleman 1 drink Co the prosperity of bis majesty King Staulslaus. May be live long and reign happily No deeper Insult could have been offered. for it was King Charles Of Sweden who had caused Stunlslaus to be chosen elector of Saxon iu place of Augustus.
 Draw" shouted a Polish nobleman, confronting Count Bertelskold, Cor, by heaven. win write this toast letter for letter. in red upon your blue coatP
 It was King Augustus who interrupt ed with the gentle reminder that the Swedish count was their guest
 "Let us" said King Augustus, "rath- CT ask hIm lf in the Swedish camp they do not amuse themselves with any interesting experiments Of the kind we have just been having"
 "If my houored host will permit renIIed Count Bcrtelskold, CT will at- tempt something that is customary with us"
 "Yes. do 60. my dear count" replied Che king, glad to turn the threatened bloodlettIng Into jest
 By an mcausr' roarcd Che bystand- CTS.
 BerteIskold looked around him mo ment without Nplying Then. sudden