The Tomahawk. [volume] (White Earth, Becker County, Minn.) 1903-192?, 1919-04-17

TRASSBURG from the remotesl
times, has revealed a love OF
~ liberty and independence which
~ it must be said, frequently be.
wildered and even disconnected dts
would-be oppressor. Through its nu'
merous vicissitudes 1t has retained q
personality which nothing ever sue.
ceeded in destroying. Little is known
Of the city during the Celtic period
When the Romans invaded Gaul. they
discovered on the banks of the Ill, and
quite near the Rhine, small village
the strategical importance Of which
they Immediately recognized. Perched
on q relatively high hill. Argent0tarum.
az the Romans named this hamlet,
dominated the whole of the fertile
plain Of Alsace and the river valley.
They therefore fortified it and estab-
lished there the general headquarters
OF the legions who were especially
lntrusted with the defense OF the pos
sage of the Rhine. For more than
three centuries this region remained
under Roman domination, after which
lapse of time it was conquered by q
powerful Germanic tribe, the Alamans'
For several centuries, Strassbure
was subjected to the continual vicissi'
tudes of warfare, says the Christian
Science Monitor. The Franks sue
ceeded the Alamans and after the bat
tie of Tolbiac In 498, Strassburg and
the greater part Of Alsace were Chris
tianized by Clovis. ill.,. H.. .....@ .
Under the Merovingian dynasty,
Strassburg was elevated to the dig
nifty of a royal city. The Carlovinsian
monarchs even signed several OF their
celebrated charters there. However,
the city itself vegetated; lack of Sc
curity lindered its development, and
when, in 025, Alsace was incorporated
In the German empire, Strassbtrs
was still relatively unimportant
town. It had possessed a bishopric
for several centuries, and SO long as
Its development had remained sta
tionary, had submitted unprotestingly
to the dominion Of the clergy. How.
ever. as its commerce developed and
its industries gradually evolved,
Strassburg rebelled, first timidly, then
openly and successfully, against the
clerical yoke. -.
Building The Crest Cathedral.
The real prosperity Of Strassburs
dates from the thirteenth century
when 1t already numbered 10000 in
habitants. The bishops vainly strove
to regain their former supremacy BY
force Of arms, but Strassburg de
Tended itself with much energy and
ut last enjoyed . period of relative
peace, during which all classes lived
in harmony.
Z This period comedies with . great
development in the fine arts. It was
then that 0otfried Of Strass6urg, the
first Alsatian poet Of the middle ages
was scribe In his native town, and
Erwin Of Steinbach, artist and archi.
tect, undertook to build the cathedral
On the site Of the former basilica
erected about go A. d. on q spot
where once stood . temple dedicated
TO Hercules.
The original plan Of Master Erwin
las not been faithfully followed, and
Il must b admitted that the edi6ce
has lost nothing through this, but hal
rather gained considerably. He had
Conceived Of . facade two stories ID
height, dominated BY two towers q
eQual height. It was, however. many
years later that the cathedral va
completed, and the two towers wRl
welded together ct the height Of the
first story, the left tower alone beina
finished, its delicate openWpfk spire-
Q marvel Of sculpture-fising 40 me
tiers shove the earth. The tAreefo1d
portal, Giving access to tie three
Gothic naves, u decofated By Q nulti
tudle Of remarkable sculptures.
The great tower Was nnasAed 4
1859. uDdee - dlrectioa q Jehs