The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1914-02-19

and recently in the limelight because
of the trouble between the Kaiser
soldiers and the residents of the town
of Zabern. asked for autonomy the
other day. in other words, Alsace
has said. "A plague on both your
houses: let US govern ourselves.
Which probably is the last thing IN
the world Shat Germany or France
would consent to.
This latest bit of trouble in Alsace
starts one wondering what the reason
is for the long hostility between
France and Germany. Hostile they
certainly are, and their enmlty goes
hack far into the Dark Ages. Ira
dition says-and some historians sub
scribe to it-that the fight began IN
the hatred of two women. Tney
were queens, back in the dim time
when Europe was. just beginning TO
emerge from the black chaos which
followed the downfall of Rome.
These Queens had married brothers
and they loathed one another very
hercely.
1t came to pass after this wise. Ihe
countrv that in Roman times had
been called Gaul was now divided
into numerous kingdoms-Austrasla,
which is Western Germany to-day;
Neustria.- which is Northern France
and Belgium, Burgundy and Aqul-
tania. Austrasia and Neustria were
ruled by Sigebert and Chilperlc,
brothers and descendants of that
Clovis who achieved some small
measure of fame by cleaving with a
battle ak the head of warrior over
the matter of a broken vase. But
the Merovingian stock had less rea
blood in it's veins by SIS. These
kings were both ruled by their wives
The wife of Sigebert was one Brun-
hilda, youngest daughter of the King
of the Visigoths. She was beautiful
she was rich and she had the spirit
Of a man in her. Chilperic, King OF
Neustria, saw her and learned Of the
great dowry she had brought her
brother. He .itched for such prize:
The Visigoth King had another
daughter.
And so King Chlperic oiled him
self, combed his beard, put on his
finest rainment and set out a woolng.
He left behind him a dazzling, smil-
ing creature of soft hands and honey
ed words, whom women hated and
the men adored. Very gentle and
Submissive had her manner been
when the king told her that he rode
to Spain to bring back bride. Two
months before Fredegon'la had
xheedled the King into putting away
his lawful wife and shutting her up
in a convent; he was clay in her
hands, fawning, besotted in his pas
sion, all her slave. And then had
come this visit to his brother, the
,tching for gold, and in few days
all her work of months had been
undone. He would not marry Frede-
gonda, he told her; Kings mate with
Kings daughters. Another less
guileful, less determined, might have
let her temper ride away with her;
not Fredegonda. A tear or two for
love, struggling smile, and; Grant
me at least, dear Lord, to stay here
In thy house and serve thy bride.
Aye, surely, sweetheart, stay thou
by"
So the Kings mistress waited to
welcome the Kings bride.
Galswinde made her entry into
France drawn in a. silver chariot by
four white bulls; silver and gold
glittered in bright Rouen and wine
splashed plentifully in celebration OF
the marriage. The King had taken
oath never to wed again, and all his
kitchen loves were put away. When
the royal pair reached Paris red
haired .Fredegonda, smiling and rev.
erent, was there to greet them. Not
quite two years thereafter, in the
year 56s, the servants who came to
rouse the Queen Galswinde found her
strangled in bed, and the whisper
ran through all the house that soft
white hands had done it. White
hands and scarlet lips and red-gold
hair had certainly beguiled King
Chilperic who married Fredegonda
before his wife was settled in he1
grave.
They brought the news to black
haired Brunhilda, sister of dead Gals
winde. She heard with glitterins
eyes, clenching her fists until the
nails bit deep into the flesh. Ano
from then on there was ore WORD
1ipoo6 IDto King SiSebert'S re!uc-