The Wilmington morning star., 1944-11-22
Berchtesgarden And "Red
Death"

Death"
Hitler is variously reported in Japan, in
Argentina, at Berchtesgarden. Runor also has
him suffering from diversity of ailments and
even dead From the multiplicity Of reports,
and their lack IT proof, it may be taken for
granted that no one outside the castle guard
knows where he is or the state OF his health.
But it is reasonable to believe that it he es-
the war ends he may burrow into the fast
nesses of his retreat at Berchtesgaden, togeth>
er with his favorite henchmen, and live out
his days there.
The impression is that ne and his Nazi big
gies have made 1t innpregnable to attack, and
have secreted within its walls great stores OF
money and supplies. with facilities for heating
and cooling, according to the season. No bomb
can unhinge its gates, no shen penetrate its
walls. For whatever span Of life lies ahead
Hitler may enjoy the physical comforts OF un-
disturbed, if monotonous, existence-he and his
fellow brigands who swept like 4 pestilence
across Europe
The preparations he is understood to have
made for a secure future and the inevitabihty
Ct death are reminiscent Of what happened to
the hero and his associates in one Of Poe's
micabre tales-The Masque of the Red Death,
1t would almost seem that Poe had Fremont
Germany, though he was writing OF period
long past.
| Note his opening sentence: THE Red Death
had long devastated the country" And tho
next: mo pestilence had ever been so fatal
or so hideous.' Are they not typical of this
war into which Hitler plunged Europe and
virtually the world7
The analogy would be more apparent II space
permitted printing the entire story. But suffice
to say that one, Prince Prospero, gathered his
friends from among the knights and DANES Of
Ills court and retired with them to one Of his
food and wine and numbers ef musicians; and
when all were within the courtiers brought
furnaces and hammers and welded the bolts
or the gates, so that none might coma in or
get out. Particularly was it their purpose to
exclude the Red Death which was sweeping
the world. When the work was finished there
were much Of the beautiful. much of the wan.
ton, much Of the bizarre, something of the
terrible and not little of that which might
have excited disgust within those caselated
walls
And there was a clock at the striking OF
which all revelry stopped as il the voice at
doom were speaking. 1t was while this clock
lntoned an hour (was it, we wonder, this clock
that inspired the recent novel 1920 P.
ND that "before the last echoes of the
last chime had utterly sung into silence,
there were many individuals in the crowd who
had found leisure to become aware of the
presence Of a masked figure which had ar
rested the attention of no single individual be-
fore. And the rumor Of this new presence
having spread itself whisperingly around, there
arose at length from the whole company
buzz. or murmur, expressive of disapprobation
and surprise-then, finally. of terror, Of horror.
Of disgust"
Terror, horror and disgust, because the
hummer mad gone 50 far az to assume the
type OF the Red Death. His vesture was dab.
bleo in blood-and his broad brow, with MI
the features Of the face was sprinkled with
the scarlet horror"
Prince Prospero thereupon took out after the
hummer and pursued him through all the
throng until. having reached the far wall. the
hummer turned about and faced the Prince
who dropped the dagger he had unsheathed
and fell PROSTATE in death"
And one by one, Poe writes, dropped the
jewellers in the blood-bedewed halls Of their
revel and died each in the despairins posture
OF his TALL. And darkness and decay
ana the Red Death held illirnitable dominion
oyer ALL
IL does not strain the imagination to see
N tnis tale preview Of Hitler and his gang
N 5erchtesgaden-f they succeed In taking
Irefuge there.