Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1921-05-05
fhe CIV ol toe nran

NN NuiiOuS STORY relates how the City
came to bear this name. When Coun,
Herthold of Zahnringen had built the
cry OF Berne, At the end of the twelfth
century, he was greatly puzzled wha,
name to give it. He called a council
OF the nobility to help out; and not one
OF them could suggest a fitting name.
Count Berthold was a mighty hunter
and IN the emergency, he resolved to
60 hunting for a name. He set out
with men and horses. dogs and weap-
ons; and before he had chased long he
encountered and slew bear.
"A bear my city shall be-" he ex-
claimed. 1t was accordingly called Bar
which is the German word for bear
In the course of time this name was
extended by use into Barren, which is
the plural of Bar, and then contracted
l 10 Bern.
Whether or not the legend is true
the Swiss city has always borne a bear
upon its eScutcheon. And not only are
sculptured AMI pictured bears to be
seen all about Berne, the rity has main.
tanned living bears TO remind its citi.
zens that their patron is this valiant
animal
In all times these municipal bears OF
Berne have been we'll taken care Of
but in the eighteenth century they
and their keepers, it may be added
were particularly fortunate.
Early in that century a rich maiden
lady who was without any relatives save
distant ones, and who had never in her
life entertained any affection except ar
ardent one for the municipal bears, lief,
by will the large sum of sixty thous-
and francs year, or twelve thousand
dollars, to be expended in the main.
tenance of the beloved animals.
The sum was greatly in excess of the
bears reasonable requirements: and
the distant relatives of the testatrix a,
once began lawsuit to break the will
alleging undue influence. The cour,
appointed lawyer to defend the in.
terests of the bears.
| A chronicle of the time records that
this advocate pleaded with such mar,
vellous eloquence and pathos the in.
nocence of the unfortunate animals,
threatened with the deSpoiling of the
heritage, of any attempt unduly to in.
fuence the testatrix, that their guilt,
lessness of the charge was publicly &C.
knowleged, and the will was declared
valid and of good effect"
! Tie government of the CITY Of Berne
was constituted guardian of the bears
who were to be considered as "perpe.
ual minors" The lady's fortune was
turned over to the city, and the income
to their maintenance.
Twelve thousand a year was a grea
sum of money in Berne in the eigh
teenth century. The bears began tc
live in style befitting their wealth
They gave famous dinners to the cit,
councillors and their particular
friends. The keepers of the bears liveo
in sumptuous fashion, and their Office
became one which was very much CO.
veted
The bears even gave splendid balls
and parties, which were attended by the
nobility and the wealthy merchants and
their families. The cherished ami
mails themselves simply rolled in lux
ury.
But an end came to all this magni-
| fcence. In the height of their luxury
the bears felt the hand of the conque-
ror The French Revolution came, and
the army of the new republic, under
General Bruno, took possession OF
Berne.
Three days afterward, a curious pro-
cession set out from Berne for Paris,
At the head rode large detachment OF
the cavalry Of the French Republic
Then came eleven mules, laden with
bags of gold. Then two very fat but
crestfallen large brown bears waddled
along as If unaccustomed to such vulgar
exercise as walking. Another detach,
ment of soldiers brought UP the rear
The mules were laden with the for,
tune Of the bears of Berne, which had
been seized in the name of the French
Republic. The Frenchmen had also
stolen four Of the municipal bears, and
they were being led, in hopeless cap
tivity, to Paris.
Great numbers of the people of Berne
accompanied the bears considerable
distance on the road, sobbing and cry
ing and uttering adieux.
At Paris General Bruno presented
the Directory of the Republic with the
KEYS ~ the coo;taI ~ cu;t,arIoaJ ,,,;,L