 Section 81 of Germany, the Netherlands and Switzerland. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by phone. The World's Story, Volume 7. Germany, the Netherlands and Switzerland. Edited by Eva Marchtappen. Section 81. The Festival of St. Nicholas by Mary Mabe's Dodge. We all know how, before the Christmas tree began to flourish in the home life of our country, a certain right jolly old elf with eight tiny reindeer used to drive his sleigh load of toys up to our housetops and bound down the chimney to fill the stocking so hopefully hung by the fireplace. His friends called him Santa Claus and those who are most intimate ventured to say Old Nick. It was said that he originally came from Holland. Doubtless he did, but if so, he certainly, like many other foreigners, changed his ways very much after landing upon our shores. In Holland, St. Nicholas is a veritable saint and often appears in full costume with his embroidered robes, glittering with gems and gold, his miter, his crozier and his jeweled gloves. Here Santa Claus comes rollicking along on the 25th of December, our holy Christmas mourn. But in Holland St. Nicholas visits Earth on the 5th, a time especially appropriated to him. Early on the morning of the 6th, he distributes his candies, toys and treasures, then vanishes for a year. Christmas Day is devoted by the Hollanders, the church-rights and pleasant family visiting. It is on St. Nicholas Eve that their young people become half-wild with joy and expectation. To some of them it is a sorry time, for the saint is very candid, and if any of them have been bad during the past year, he is quite sure to tell them so. Sometimes he carries a birch rod under his arm and advises the parents to give them scoldings in place of confections and floggings instead of toys. It was well that the boys hasten to their abodes on that bright winter evening, for in less than an hour afterwards, the saint made his appearance in half the homes of Holland. He visited the King's Palace and in the self-same moment appeared in Anni Bauman's comfortable home, probably one of our silver half-dollars would have purchased all that his saintship left at the peasant Bauman's, but a half-dollar's worth will sometimes do for the poor what hundreds of dollars may fail to do for the rich. It makes them happy and grateful, fills them with new peace and love. Hilda van Hlex, little brothers and sisters, were in a high state of excitement that night. They had been admitted into the Grand Parlor. They were dressed in their best, and had been given two cakes apiece at supper. Hilda was as joyous as any. Why not? Saint Nicholas would never cross a girl of fourteen from his list, just because she was tall and looked almost like a woman. On the contrary, he would probably exert himself to do honour to such an august-looking damsel. You could tell. So she sported and laughed and danced as gaily as the youngest, and was the soul of older Mary Gaines. Father, mother, and grandmother looked on approvingly. So did grandfather, before he spread his large red handkerchief over his face, leaving only the top of his skull-cut visible. His kerchief was his ensign of sleep. Earlier in the evening, all had joined in the fun. In the general hilarity, there had seemed to be a difference only in bulk between grandfather and the baby. Indeed, a shade of solemn expectation, now and then, flitting across the faces of the younger members, had made them seem rather more thoughtful than their elders. Now, the spirit of fun reigned supreme. The very flames danced and capered in the polished grate. A pair of primmed candles that had been staring at the astral lamp began to wink at other candles far away in the mirrors. There was a long bell-rope suspended from the ceiling in the corner, made of glass beads netted over a cord nearly as thick as your wrist. It generally hung in the shadow and made no sign, but tonight it twinkled from end to end. Its handle of crimson glass sent reckless dashes of red at the papered wall, turning its dainty blue stripes into purple. Passer's bow halted to catch the merry laughter floating through curtain and sash into the street, then skipped on their way with a startled consciousness that the village was wide awake. At last matters grew so agorious that the grand sire's red kerchief came down from his face with a jerk. What decent old gentleman could sleep in such a racket! Men here van Glek regarded his children with astonishment. The baby even showed symptoms of hysterics. It was high time to attend to business. Madame suggested that if they wished to see the good St. Nicholas, they should sing the same loving invitation that had brought him the year before. The baby stared and thrust his fist into his mouth as Men here put him down upon the floor. Soon he sat erect and looked with a sweet scowl at the company. With his lace and embroideries and his crown of blue ribbon and whalebone, for he was not quite past the tumbling age, he looked like the king of the babies. The other children, each holding a pretty willow basket, formed at once in a ring and moved slowly around the little fellow, lifting their eyes meanwhile, for the saint to whom they were about to address themselves was yet in mysterious quarters. Madame commenced playing softly upon the piano. Soon the voices rose. Gentle, useful voices rendered all the sweeter for their tremor. Welcome, friend, St. Nicholas, welcome. Bring no rod for us tonight. While our voices bid thee welcome, every heart with joy is light. Tell us every fold and failing, we will bear thy keenest raiding. So we sing, so we sing. Thou shalt tell us everything. Welcome, friend, St. Nicholas, welcome. Welcome to this merry band. Happy children, greet thee, welcome. Thou art gladdening all the land. Fill each empty hand and basket till thy little ones who ask it. So we sing, so we sing. Thou will bring us everything. During the chorus, sundry glances, half in eagerness, half in dread, had been cast towards the polished folding doors. Now a loud knocking was heard. The circle was broken in an instant. Some of the little ones, with a strange mixture of fear and delight, pressed against their mother's knee. Grandfather bent forward, with his chin resting upon his hand. Grandmother lifted her spectacles. My near-vanglick, seated by the fireplace, slowly drew his near-sham from his mouth, while Hilda and the other children settled themselves beside him in an expectant group. The knocking was heard again. Come in, said Madame, softly. The door slowly opened, and St. Nicholas, in full array, stood before them. You could have heard a pin drop. Soon he spoke, what a mysterious majesty in his voice, what kindliness in his tones. Carol van Glek, I am pleased to greet thee, and thy honoured Frau Catherine, and thy son and his good Frau Annie. Children, I greet ye all, Hendrik, Hilda, Brome, Katie, Huygens and Lucretia, and thy cousins, Wolfert, Diedrich, Meichen, Faust and Catherine. Good children ye have been, in the main, since I lost the cost of ye. Diedrich was rude at the Harland fair last fall, but he has tried to atone for its sins. Meichen has failed of late in her lessons, and too many sweets and trifles have gone to her lips, and too few stifles to her charity box. Diedrich, I trust, will be a polite manly boy for the future, and Meichen will endeavour to shine as a student. Let her remember, too, that economy and thrift are needed in the foundation of a worthy and generous life. Little Katie has been cruel to the cat more than once. St. Nicholas can hear the cat cry when its tail is pulled. I will forgive her if she will remember from this hour that the smallest dumb creatures have feelings and must not be abused. As Katie burst into a frightened cry, the saint graciously remained silent until she was soon. Master Brom, he resumed, I warned thee that boys who are in the habit of cutting snuff upon the footstove of the schoolmistress may one day be discovered and receive a flogging. Master Brom coloured and stared in great astonishment. But thou art such an excellent scholar, I shall make thee no further reproof. Now, Hendrik, dits distinguish thyself in the archery match last spring, and hid the duel, footnote bullseye, and the footnote. Though the bird was swung before it to unsteady thine eye, I give thee credit for excelling in manly sport and exercise, though I must not unduly countenance thy boat racing since it leaves thee too little town for thy proper studies. Lucrezia and Hilda shall have a blessed sleep tonight, their consciousness of kindness to the poor, devotion in their souls, and cheerful hearty obedience to household rule will render them happy. With one and all, I avail myself well content. Goodness, industry, benevolence, and thrift have prevailed in your midst. Therefore my blessing upon you, and made a new year, find all treading the paths of obedience, wisdom, and blood. Tomorrow you shall find more substantial proofs that I have been in your midst, farewell. With these words came a great shower of sugarplums upon a linen sheet spread out in front of the doors. A general scramble followed. The children fairly tumbled over each other in their eagerness to fill their baskets. Madame cautiously helped the baby down in their midst till the chubby little fists were filled. Then the bravest of the youngsters sprang up and burst open the closed doors. In vain they peered into the mysterious apartment, St. Nicholas was nowhere to be seen. Soon there was a general rush to another room, where stood a table covered with the finest and whitest of linen damask. Each child, in a flutter of excitement, laid a shoe upon it. The door was then carefully locked, and its key hidden in the mother's bedroom. Next followed good-night kisses, and grand family procession to the upper floor, merry farewells at bedroom doors, and silence at last reigned in the Van Cleck mansion. Early the next morning the door was solemnly unlocked and opened in the presence of the assembled household, when low a sight appeared proving St. Nicholas to be a saint of his word. Every shoe was filled to overflowing, and beside each stood many a coloured pile. The table was heavy with its load of presents, candies, toys, trinkets, books, and other articles. Everyone had gifts, from grandfather down to the baby. Little Katie clapped her hands with plea, and vowed inwardly, that the cat should never know another moment's grief. Hendrick capered about the room, flourishing the superb bow and arrows over his head. Hilda laughed with delight as she opened a crimson box and drew forth its glittering contents. The rest chuckled and said, oh, and ah, over their treasures, very much as we did here in America on last Christmas day. With her glittering necklace in her hands and a pile of books in her arms, Hilda stole towards her parents and held up her beaming face for a kiss. There was such an earnest, tender look in her bright eyes that her mother breathed the blessing as she leaned over her. I am delighted with this book. Thank you, Father," she said, touching the top one with her chin. I shall read it all day long. I, sweetheart, said mine here, you cannot do better. There is no one like Father Cutts. If my daughter learns his moral emblems by heart, the mother and I may keep silent. The work you have there is the emblems, his best work. You will find it enriched with rare engravings from von de Venne. Considering that the back of the book was turned away, mine here certainly showed a surprising familiarity with an unopened volume presented by St. Nicholas. It was strange, too, that the saint should have found certain things made by the elder children and have actually placed them upon the table, labelled with parents and grandparents' names. But all were too much absorbed in happiness to notice slight inconsistencies. Hilda saw, on her father's face, the rapt expression he always wore when he spoke of Jacob Cutts, so she put her armful of books upon the table and resigned herself to listen. Old Father Cutts, my child, was a great poet, not a writer of plays like the Englishman Shakespeare, who lived in his time. I have read them in the German, and very good they are. Very, very good. But not like Father Cutts. Cutts sees no daggers in the air. He has no white women falling in love with dusky moors, no young fools sighing to be a lady's glove, no crazy princes mistaking respectable old gentlemen for rats. No, no, he writes only sense. It is great wisdom in little bundles, a bundle for every day of your life. You can guide a state with cutts poems, and you can put a little baby to sleep with his pretty songs. He was one of the greatest men of Holland. When I take you to the Hague, I will show you the Clouster Kirk where he lies buried. There was a man for you to study, my sons. He was good through and through. What did he say? Oh Lord, let me obtain this from thee, to live with patience and to die with pleasure. Did patience mean folding his hands? No, he was a lawyer, statesman, ambassador, philosopher, historian, and poet. He was keeper of the great seal of Holland. He was a, ah, there's too much noisier. I cannot talk. And man here, looking with astonishment into the bowl of his nearshown, for it had gone out, nodded to his fro and left the apartment in great haste. The fact is, his discourse had been accompanied throughout with a seduced chorus of barking dogs, squeaking cats, and pleating lams. Same nothing of a noisy ivory cricket that the baby was whirling with infinite delight. At the last, little Hauchens taking advantage of the increasing loudness of many earth's tones, adventured a blast on his new trumpet, and Wolfert had hastily attempted an accompaniment on the drum. This had brought matters to a crisis and well for the little creatures that it had. The saint had left no ticket for them to attend a lecture on Jacob Cots. He was not an appointed part of the ceremonies. Therefore, when the youngsters saw that the mother looked neither frightened nor offended, they gathered new courage. The grand chorus rose triumphant, and fullic and joy reigned supreme. Good Saint Nicholas, for the sake of the young hollenders, I for one am willing to acknowledge him and defend his reality against all unbelievers. And of Section 81, this recording is in the public domain. Recording by phone. Section 82 of Germany, the Netherlands, and Switzerland. This is the LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by April 6090, California, United States of America. The World's Story, Volume 7. Germany, the Netherlands, and Switzerland. Edited by Eva March-Tappen. Section 82, In and Out of a Cab in Amsterdam. By F. Hopkinson Smith. It is raining this morning in Amsterdam. It is a way it has in Holland. The old settlers did not seem to mind it. But I am only a few days from the land of the orange and the olive. And although those wet, silvery greys and fresh greens are full of quality, I long for the deep blue skies and clear-cut meadows of sunny Spain. On this particular morning I am in a camp in search of a certain fish market, and Caby is following the directions given him by a very round porter with a very flat cap and a deep bass voice. There is nothing so comfortable as a cab to paint in, if you only know how to utilize it's resources. For me, long practice has brought it to a fine art. First, I have Caby take out the horse. This prevents his shaking me when he changes his tired leg. He is generally a spiral spring-fed beast and enjoys the relief. Then I take out the cushions. This keeps them dry. Then I close the back and off-side curtains so as to concentrate the light. I prop my easel up against the front seat, spread my pallet and brushes on the bare wooden one, hang my rubber water bottle up to the armrest and began work. I have even discovered in the bottom of certain cabs such luxuries as knot or auger holes through which to pour my wastewater. I then pass the umbrella staff to Caby, calling particular attention to the iron spike and explain how useful it may become in removing the inquisitive small boy from the hind wheel. One lesson and two boys makes a Caby an expert. This is why I am in a cab and am driving down the Kaisercroft on this very wet morning in Amsterdam. Before the fat porters' directions could be fully carried out, however, I caught sight of an old bridge spanning a canal which pleased me greatly and before my friend on the box could realize the consequences, I had his horse out and tied to a wharf post and the interior of his cab transformed into a studio. In five minutes I discovered that a cabless horse and a horseless cab presided over by a cabby armed with an umbrella staff was not an everyday sight in Amsterdam. I had camped on the stone quay some distance from the street and out of everybody's way. I congratulated myself on my location and felt sure I should not be disturbed. On my left was a canal crowded with market boats laid in with garden truck. On my right the narrow street choked with the traffic of the city. Suddenly the business of Amsterdam ceased. Everybody on the large boats scrambled into smaller ones and sculled for sure. Everybody in the street simultaneously jumped from Kurt, Wagon and Dorstrup and in twenty seconds I was overwhelmed by a surging throng who swarmed about my four-wheeler and blocked up my only window with anxious inquiring faces. I had been in a crowd like this before and I knew exactly what to do. Sphinx-like silence and immobility of face are imperative. If you neither speak nor smile the mob involves a kind of respect for you, amounting almost to awe. Those nearest you who can see a little and want to see more unconsciously become your champions and expostulate with those who cannot see anything cautioning them against shaking the painter and obstructing his view. This crowd was no exception to the general rule. I noticed, however, one peculiarity. As each Amsterdammer reached my window he would gaze silently at my canvas and say, Ah, Tickenmeister! Soon the word went around and reached the belated citizens rushing up who stopped and appeared satisfied as they all exclaimed, Ah, Tickenmeister! At last commerce resumed her sway. The street disentangled itself. The market, in cabbages again, became active and I was left comparatively alone always accepting the small boy. The variety here was singularly irritating. They mounted the roof, blocked up the windows, clambered up on the front seat until Caby became sufficiently conversant with the use of the business end of my umbrella staff, after which they kept themselves at a respectful distance. Finally a calm settled down over everything. The rain fell gently and continuously. The spiral spring beast rested himself on alternate legs and the boys contemplated me from a distance. Caby leaned on the off window and became useful as a cup holder and I was rapidly finishing my first sketch in Holland when the light was shut out. And looking up I saw the head of an officer of police. He surveyed me keenly. My sketch and my interior arrangements and then in a gruff voice gave me an order in low Dutch. I pointed to my staff holder and continued painting. Any moment the officer thrust his head through the off window and repeated his order in high Dutch. I waved him away firmly again referred him to the Caby. Then a war began on the outside in which everybody took a hand and in half a minute more the population of Amsterdam had blocked up the wharf. I preserved my Egyptian exterior and proceeded unconcernedly to lay a fresh wash over my sky. While thus occupied I became conscious that the spiral spring was being united once more to the cab. This fact became positive and delivered up the umbrella staff and opened to the door. I got out. The gentlemen in guilt buttons was at a white heat. The mass meeting were indulging in a burning fire of criticism punctuated by loose cabbage leaves and rejected vegetables which sailed bomb-like through the air and the upshot of the whole matter was that the officer ordered me away from the quay and into a side street. But why? Was breaking no law and creating no disturbance. At this instant half of yesterday's cabbage came sailing through the atmosphere from a spot in the direction of a group of wharf rats, struck the officer's helmet and rolled it into the canal. A yell went up from the crowd. Caby went down to the water for the headgear and the owner drew his short sword and charged on the wharf rats who suddenly disappeared. I re-entered my studio, shut the door and went back to work. I concluded that it was not my funeral. I remembered distinctly the situation at this moment. I had my water-bottle in my hand refilling the cups, mouthful brushes, palate on my lap, and easels steadied by one foot. Suddenly a face surmounted by a wet helmet and livid with rage was thrust into mine and a three-cornered variety of dialect that would produce a sore throat in any one except a Dutchman being by the usual well-known move-on gesture. Remembering the soothing influence exerted on the former mob I touched my hat to his Excellency and said, Tickenmeister, the head disappeared like a shot and in an instant I was flat on my back in the bottom of the cab, bespattered with water smeared with paint and half smothered under a debris of cushions, water-cups, wet paper, and loose sketches. And in that position was unceremoniously jolted over the stones. The Majesty of the Law had asserted it so. I was backed up in a side-street. I broke open the door and crawled out in the rain. His Excellency was standing at the head of the spiral spring, with a sardonic grin on his countenance. The mob greeted my appearance with a shout of derision. I mounted the driver's seat and hurrayed them. I asked an advice which might have been heard in Rotterdam. If anybody about me understood English. A shabbily dressed, threadbare young fellow elbowed his way towards me and said he did. I helped him up beside me on the box and addressed the multitude, my seedy friend interpreting. I reviewed the history of old Amsterdam and its traditions, its reputation for hospitality, its powerful colonies scattered over the world, its love for art and artists, then it passed to the greatest of all its possessions, the new Amsterdam of the New World, my own city, and asked them as Amsterdamers or the reverse whether they considered I had been fairly treated in the city of my great-grandfathers, I, a painter, and a New Yorker. I had come three thousand miles to carry home to their children in the New World, some sketches of the grand old city they loved so well. And in return I had been insulted, abused, bumped over the stones and made a laughing stock. I would appeal to them as brothers to decide whether these streets of Amsterdam were not always open to her descendants and whether I was not entitled to use them at all times by virtue of my birthright. Another shout went up, this time a friendly one. This being the case I proposed to reoccupy my position and finish my sketch. If I had violated any law it was the duty of the officer to put me under arrest. If not then I was free to do as I pleased and if the highly honorable group of influential citizens about me would open their ranks. I would drive the cab back myself to the spot from which I had been so cruelly torn. Another prolonged shout followed the interpretation. An opening was quickly made and I had began to shape the spiral spring with my shabby friend's umbrella when cabbie rushed forward pale and trembling, seizing the bridle and begged me piteously to desist. My friend then explained that cabbie would probably lose his licence if I persisted although I might carry my point and his cab back to the quay. This argument being unanswerable a council of war was held to which a number of citizens who were leaning over the front wheels were inviting and it was decided to drive at once to the nearest police station and submit the whole outrage to the chief. In two minutes we halted under the traditional green glass lamp so familiar to all frequenters of such places. We saluted the sergeant and were shown up a winding iron staircase into a small room and up to a long green table behind which sat a bald-headed old fellow in undressed uniform smoking a short pipe. My threadbare friend explained the cost of our visit. The old fellow looked surprised and touched a bell which brought in another smoker in full dress whose right ear served as a rack for a quillpin and who used it, the pin not the ear, to take down our statement. Then the chief turned to me and asked my name. I gave it. This he repeated to the secretary. Occupation? Painter? Teaking meester. Said he to the secretary. Magic word. I have you at last. Teaking meester is Dutch for painter. The chief read the secretary's notes signed to them and said I should call again in ten days and he would submit a report. Report? What do I want with a report? Your Imperial Highness? It is now four o'clock and I have but two hours of daylight to finish this sketch. I don't want a report. I want an order compelling the pirate who presides over the cabbage market district to respect the rights of a descendant of Amsterdam who is peacefully pursuing his application. Certainly he so intended I was at liberty to replace my cab and finish my sketch. The officer exceeded his instructions but how? I did not want either to provoke a riot or get my cabbie into trouble. He understood another vell brought in orderly who conducted us downstairs opened his side door cult two officers placed one outside with cabbie and the other inside with me and Threadbear and we drove straight back to the quay and were welcomed by a shout from my constituents compared to which all former cheering was a dead silence. I looked around for his excellency but he was nowhere to be seen. Verily the majesty of the law had asserted itself. I do not think I made much of an impression as a painter in Amsterdam but I have always had an idea that I could be elected alderman in the cabbage market district. End of section 82 This recording is in the public domain. Section 83 of Germany, the Netherlands and Switzerland This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Recording by phone The world's story, volume 7 Germany, the Netherlands and Switzerland edited by Eva March-Tappen Section 83 The beloved Queen Wilhelmina born in 1880 by William Elliot Griffiths No sovereign was ever more beloved by her people than the girl Queen Wilhelmina who as the 19th century drew to a close was the last scion of the House of Orange for all other heirs in a direct line had passed away. The close tie of mutual affection between this illustrious family and the Dutch nation is one of the grand things in history. On the eve of the royal inauguration as Queen Emma announced in dignified and fitting terms her intended abdication in favor of her daughter so also Wilhelmina wrote what reads like a love letter to my people asking for their love and loyalty. The new church in Amsterdam as in the case of her three royal ancestors was the place chosen for her to take her oath of office and to receive the loyal vows On the morning of inauguration day September 6, 1898 the festivities were ushered in with music in the air in most of the large church spires are chimes of bells numbering from a score to a hundred. The players frequently give concerts up in the air while every day the bells strike the hours halves and quarters the chimes ringing out a merry tune a stanza of a hymn an operatic air or some patriotic or lullaby song. On the morning of September 5 initiating the national honeymoon the carolons in the steeples had begun early Amsterdam looked more like fairyland than an ordinary city the shops were closed and crowds from all the country round filled the streets with a million of happy people good-natured and well-behaved the mother and daughter the king's widow and the queen left the haig and arrived in the capital city on the Y early in the afternoon this was the beginning of the joyous entry Wilhelmina sat with her mother in an open carriage smiling to the people and greeting them with wavings of her little lace handkerchief while their throats became horse with shouts of welcome arriving at the great square in front of the palace she rode round and entering the building soon reappeared on the veranda facing her in welcome were arranged the representatives of every branch of the military and naval service cavalry, infantry, artillery engineers, marines and sailors besides a company of young gentlemen in the uniform of the time of Prince Maurice in the 17th century these looked as gay and bright as a swarm of beetles or butterflies they were armed with long pikes and a shotman had heavy muskets which when they fired they rested on prongs or supports their evolutions attracted much attention after the queen had greeted her loyal defenders saber, rifle, carbine and pike had been brought to a present the military filed out and disappeared for a few minutes the square was vacant then by the queen's own order and plan a signal was given and the people flowed in from the seven or eight streets leading into the dumb square and a mass of perhaps 50,000 human beings filled the space the queen appeared on the balcony greeting them all smiling and waving her handkerchief while the myriads shouted their delight the next day was the coronation walking from the palace to the new church crowded with the elite of the kingdom the young queen entered and took her seat in the throne chair a picture of radiant health and loveliness she was dressed in white and skirt over which and hung from her shoulders were four yards of red velvet embroidered with gold she had a tiara of diamonds on her head jewels at her waist and the military cordon of the order of orange over her breast on the left stood a sultan rajas and vassal rulers her dark skinned subjects from insolent the east indies and deputies on the right were her ministers of state and her princely relatives and in front the members of the state's general and chosen guests from the Netherlands and from many nations just as the fair young queen rose to read her speech the clouds broke and the sunlight streamed in through the lofty orange memorial window making radiant her graceful form her enunciation made with wonderful clearness and she was heard all over the house she said she would make the words of her royal father her own the house of orange can never no never do enough for the Netherlands at this many eyes even of stern men and grey haired statesmen overflowed when she closed with eyes and jeweled right hand uplifted to heaven her so helped me truly God Almighty a thrill of joy and hope spread through all hearts at the signal of the herald all rose and shouted live the queen mutual oaths of loyalty and of faithfulness to the constitution were exchanged by the queen and her legislators the four banners of the Netherlands of the house of orange the city of Amsterdam dipped in salutation to the sovereign thus inaugurated and the impressive ceremony was over then followed two weeks of royal and popular festivities and rejoicing to honour their queen the poor people of Amsterdam had contributed their money and bought a golden coach superbly made and decorated in which they expected her to write to the ceremony she however preferred to walk under a canopy a few feet between the doors of the palace and the church but told them that she would reserve the golden coach until her wedding day those who kept carrier pigeons had sent from the cities towns, villages and hamlets all over the kingdom their trained birds to Amsterdam they were released all at one moment on the day given up to popular sports the presence of the young queen to carry home the news in all the cities and towns there were decorations and celebrations banquets and merry making with parades of the children but in Amsterdam and at The Hague the festivities reached the acme of glory the streets bridges, houses and public buildings were adorned with the red white and blue of their rulers the sailors the soldiers the mechanics and all the different kinds of societies and even the orphans and companies of boys and girls wished to have some special arc, trophy or token of loyalty in some form the water feasts at night as became the country under the sea level was perhaps the most brilliant of all the outdoor spectacles on and over the canals were stretched tens of thousands of Japanese lanterns and coloured lamps on the bosom of the river craft of every sort built on the models of many nations floated and moved about their myriads of light were reflected in the water increasing the splendour in the gardens were thousands more of lamps set in among the grass and flowers while in front of the house were varied devices in star and flower wraith and blazonry the lion of Holland and the arms of the kingdom provinces and cities blossoming in jets of fire during the following summer of 1899 the peace congress called by the tsar of Russia and assembling by invitation at the Hague held its sessions at the house in the wood built by Emalia von Solms in memory of her husband Prince Friedrich Henry principles were discussed and rules laid down which must in time mitigate the horrors of war in the great church at Delft exercises were held in honour of Grozius the Dutch scholar whose writings on international law had made the international court of arbitration possible our ambassador to Germany Andrew D. White delivered the oration in the name of the United States the great Pacific power a wreath of silver gilt leaves and palms was laid on the grave of Grozius during the war in South Africa between the Britons and the Boers the Dutch looked on with intense sympathy but took no part in the strife they having long ago retired from the active politics of Europe content to do their part in the world's work in other ways than in war at the polls during the summer of 1900 the anti-revolutionary party triumphed over the Liberals and Dr. Abraham Geiber was made premier he was active in securing peace in South Africa and the Dutch gave hearty welcome to the Boer Generals who visited Holland in 1902 on the 16th of October 1900 Wilhelmina wrote another little love letter to my people announcing her engagement to Duke Hendrik of Mecklenburg-Schweren on the 7th of February 1901 after riding in her golden coach to the great church in the Hague they were united in marriage according to the ritual of the reformed Dutch church by the court chaplain again, for a fortnight the cities of the Netherlands were in festival array by day and illuminated at night while the royal couple celebrated their honeymoon in recent years especially since the celebrations by the Dutch people of the 300th anniversary of many a stirring event of the 80 years war of independence through the stimulus given to the study of Dutch history by our own historian Motley the endowment of chairs of history in the universities and the formation of historical societies there has been a revival of patriotic interest in the past the fruits of this feeling are seen in the numerous statues, tablets and other works of art which make a tour in the Netherlands so fascinating to the student who would know in detail the long and glorious study end of section 83 this recording is in a public domain section 84 of Germany the Netherlands and Switzerland read for LibriVox.org by Scotty Smith Switzerland part 1 in earliest times historical note in the days of the Romans Switzerland was occupied by the Rations and the Helvetians and their narrow boundaries set out for the fertile fields of Gaul but in 58 BC were forced by Julius Caesar to return to their abandoned homes in the same century the Rations were subdued by the Romans after the fall the Roman Empire Switzerland was conquered by the Franks in the 7th century Saint Columban and a band of Irish monks converted the people to Christianity and founded churches and monasteries of which endure to this day when Charlemagne died his realms were divided one portion of Switzerland became part of the German Kingdom and another portion became part of Burgundy in the 11th century the part that was under the rule of Burgundy passed into the hands of Germany and was immediately dependent upon the Empire during the Dark Ages feudalism flourished in Switzerland even more than in other countries of Europe and the land was held by a great number of nobles and ecclesiastics prominent among these feudal lords were the Habsburgs who steadily increased their territory and influence until in the 13th century they were the strongest power in the land End of Section 84 this recording is in the public domain Section 85 of Germany the Netherlands and Switzerland the LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org The World Story Volume 7 Germany the Netherlands and Switzerland edited by Eva March Tappen Section 85 The Siege of the Lake Dwellers by Sir Arthur Helps In the summer of 1854 the water of the Swiss lakes was unusually low and remains of piles and implements of stone and bone were discovered in great numbers together with remains of grain beans, apples, flax basket work, ornaments, spears lances and the bones of many animals it was plain that at some very early age people had lived in houses built upon these piles and by carefully studying the remains considerable knowledge of the folk themselves their houses and their ways of living has been obtained the following extract is from a romance founded upon the supposed life in one of these lake villages the editor immediately after Realmas retreat into the town the causeways were destroyed the drawl bridges pooled up and every part of the town finally prepared for a state of siege before describing the siege it is necessary to give some notion of the skill of the inhabitants of Ababa in the art of building this is the more necessary as it is a fond idea of modern people that they are preeminent in that art overlooking the masses of falseness, pretentiousness and inappropriateness which deform so large a part of their greatest towns it would rather astonish them if they could see again ancient Mexico Thebes, Memphis, Minova Babylon and Cusco the last perhaps the grandest city that has ever been built upon this earth the construction of these lake cities was also most remarkable in the remains of one of them there are this day to be seen the relics of about 20,000 piles now the art of pile driving is the most difficult one and those who are skilled in it move from place to place where their services are wanted but if we were to say to the inhabitants of any ordinary English town build us with all the means and appliances that are at your command but without any aid from specially skilled workmen a town upon water which shall have for its basis 20,000 piles we should find from their difficulties and their failures what great mechanical and workmen like skill would be requisite for such an undertaking and should have a just respect for the powers the skill and the perseverance of the men of Ababa five days after the battle of the Ramassa the enemy commenced the siege they naturally commenced it at the southern part of the town which was the part nearest the shore they had employed the intervening days in constructing rafts which they did by tying together the smaller trees which they had hewn down in the great wood a low long building devoted to barracks formed on the southern side of the town it was in fact a long semi-enclosed balcony for the most part open to the back but having in front only those openings which admitted of missiles being thrown from them Realma's plan of defense for this building was very singular he meant for the enemy to take it and to perish after they had taken it the whole of the flooring was to fall into the water the enemy with it immediately after they had occupied it but what showed his skill in its construction and his knowledge of human nature was that he had planned that this falling in of the flooring should take place in separate portions separately between the piles there was generally a portion of the flooring that would enable thirty men to stand upon it and defend it and each of these compartments by the cutting of a single cord it would descend into the water Realma knew well that if all the men who were to defend this position knew that the flooring was suddenly and perhaps without their knowledge to descend into the water they would be apprehensive of being left with the enemy and perishing with them he also knew that if it depended upon the occupants of any particular compartment or rather upon their captain at what moment the flooring of that compartment should fall in the men defending it would fight bravely to the last to ensure and reward this bravery he offered a reward of iron swords with amber handles to the survivors of that band of thirty men who should make the stoutest resistance the enemy advanced upon their rafts to the attack with great determination and with great confidence of success their advance was covered by men archers who occupied a small eminence just above the shore and whose missiles dealt death to many a brave defender who but for a moment exposed himself to their deadly shafts the besieged on their part were not inactive many of the attacking party fell by their iron pointed javelins many more were disabled by the boiling pitch poured down over them as they neared the fortress still they pressed on and swarming up the low building found entrance here and there for fully an hour the attack and the defense were vigorously maintained the time would have been much shorter but that the archers who formed the covering party on the hill were no longer able to give assistance to their friends when besiegers and besieged were commingled in the fight at length the enemy gained entrance at all points and then the gym of Realma had its full effect the floorings everywhere descended almost simultaneously and nothing was to be heard but the cries of drowning men shouting helplessly for sucker from their friends who were cut off from them thus ended the first day's siege with a signal failure on the part of the besiegers end of section 85 this recording is in the public domain section 86 of Germany the Netherlands and Switzerland this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org the world's story volume 7 Germany the Netherlands and Switzerland edited by Eva March Tappen section 86 the flight of the Helvetians 58 BC by Eva March Tappen once upon a time the Helvetians as the people of Switzerland were then called began to be restless on one side of their country was the Rhine on another the lofty Jura Mountains and on the third Lake Geneva and the Rhine River they were crowded they needed more land they were brave and successful warriors they saw no reason why they should not in the simple and direct fashion of those days march out to some fertile district and take possession of it so they began to make ready they bought wagons and oxen and they cultivated as much grain as possible and when the third year had come they were ready to set out on their march they burned their bridges for they set far to their villages and strongholds and even to the provisions that they could not carry with them so that even if any of the people became discouraged they would have to fight their way onward for there would be only a desolated country behind them the most important question was which way they should march they could go between the Jura Mountains and the Rhine but the past was hardly wide enough for even a cart track moreover a high mountain overhung it and it would be easy matter for a little group of the Sequanians who dwelt in that region to stop them the other way was through the Roman province this was much easier for the Alabrogus lived in the province and even if the Alabrogus should refuse to let them pass the Habitians were confident that they could force their way through but in Rome was the wise general Julius Caesar Gaul was under his control and he felt sure that no body of restless warriors would pass through the province without doing damage he did not refuse it once however but told the Halvetians that he would consider the matter and in about a fortnight they might come for his answer then this wary young commander said to work to make ramparts and trenches and redoubts as fast as possible and by the time that the Halvetians returned he was ready for them he told them that it was not the custom of the Romans to allow people to march through their provinces and that if they tried to go through without permission he would see to it that they were prevented the Halvetians did not give up their plan Caesar had torn down the bridge over the Rhon at Geneva but some of them forted the river and others crossed it by lashing boats together and making rafts this was not of much use for the Romans were on the opposite shore well prepared to meet them there was nothing to do but to try the narrow paths here they were fortunate for the Suquani agreed that if the Halvetians would promise to do no mischief they might march through their country so through the paths the Halvetians went and soon they were in the country of the Eduans they were no longer bound by promises of good behavior and they captured the towns, ravaged the lands and carried off the children as slaves to their hearts content the Eduans however were good friends of Caesar and had been honored by the title of allies of the Roman people and Caesar may don't delay in coming to help them the Halvetians were crossing the river soon in the same fashion that they had crossed the Rhon they had been at work for 20 days and only 3 fourths of them had passed over Caesar came upon those who had not yet crossed and attacked them then he made a bridge and in one day he and his men were on the other side of the river and just one day he had accomplished what the Halvetians had been struggling for 20 days to do it is no wonder that they were alarmed nevertheless they had no idea of giving up they sent a messenger to Caesar to say that they wished to be friends with the Romans and if he cared to make peace with them they were perfectly willing to make their homes wherever he wished but if you persist in opposing us in a lordly fashion remember that in the days when Lucia's cash was consul the Halvetians slew him and forced his army to pass under the yoke even if you did route one division of our troops when they were separated from the others you need not despise us or exalt your own prowess you would do better to consider the possibility that the place where you may make your stand against us will perhaps receive a name because of a defeat of the Romans Caesar replied heartily that when the gods intended to punish a man for his offenses they often granted him a period of prosperity so that he might feel a reverse of fortune the more keenly he realized fully the damage that they had done to the Romans there was no need of calling that to mind nevertheless if they would make up to the Eduans and the Alabrogus for the harm that they had done it would bring peace to himself with their good behavior he would agree to make peace the Halvetians are in the habit of receiving hostages not of giving them retorted the proud warrior and then he turned about and left the Roman camp of course a battle ensued the Halvetians were successful they marched jubilantly up the valley of the Sone and Caesar followed he tried to surprise them but his spies had brought him mistaken reports and he did not succeed suddenly they attacked him and then there was a battle indeed far into the night they fought and so many Romans were slain that Caesar remained on the field for three days to care for the wounded and bury the dead the Halvetians fled but they might as well have stood still for Caesar sent messengers to the people from whom they expected to get food forbidding them to supply unless they wished him to look upon them as having become allies of his enemies the Halvetians were then without food and in an enemy's country they could do nothing but surrender their envoys wept and lamented and fell at Caesar's feet and besought him to make peace with them Caesar bade them all to remain where they were and await his arrival they waited but in great fear of how he might punish them to avenge the wrong done to his allies when Caesar came up with them he ordered them to surrender their arms to slaves that had deserted to them and to give hostages for their obedience they agreed of course for they could do nothing else but that night they talked the matter over and one of their four clans or divisions consisting of about 6,000 men became so alarmed at the thought of their own helplessness without their arms that they slipped away in the darkness hoping to escape to the territory of the Germans Caesar soon found out what had happened he sent word to the tribes through whose lands they would pass to bring them back to him just how he punished them as not known for all that he said about it was that he treated them like enemies the others he sent back to Switzerland and so ended the flight of the Helvetians end of section 86 this recording is in the public domain the recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit Liberbox.org recording by Thomas Peter the world story volume 7 Germany the Netherlands in Switzerland edited by Eva Majtappen section 87 The Devil's Bridge over the Russe by H. A. Gerber the old fashioned stage road which winds its way over the St. Gotert passes through Schoenenen the entrance to the St. Gotert tunnel and over the new Devil's Bridge this is built across the Russe at a time where steep rocks tower above and below it on all sides and where the scenery is extremely wild and impressive from the new bridge one can see the remains of a more ancient structure of which the following legend is told as well as of all bridges built in dangerous or difficult places such as that of Pont-Levi over the Saurin in Freiburg and the one in the ravine of the Morge in the Valais already in very olden times the people of Uri had discovered that if they could only establish a safe road over the St. Gotert mountain they would be able to earn many a penny by trading with Italy they therefore spared neither pains nor expense they built after another of the road even piercing the hard rock in one spot to make what is still known as the earner loch or hole of Uri countless apparently insurmountable obstacles or gradually overcome and the road which had been begun on both sides of the mountain was rapidly drawing close together near the banks of the Russe there however the builders paused appalled on either bank for it seemed quite impossible to bridge the awful chasm near the falls a meeting was therefore called at Gershnen where although there was no lack of talking, smoking and drinking no satisfactory decision could be reached a stranger clad in black with broad brimmed hat and bold heron feather sat at a neighbouring table and listened attentively to this discussion finally seeing the meeting about to break up he drew near the talkers and taking a seat beside the principal magistrate in front of the fire announced that he was a famous bridge builder and could span the stream before morning he even offered to show them a fine bridge there at dawn on the next day provided they were willing to pay his price one and all now exclaimed that nothing he could ask would seem too much so the stranger in black quickly responded very well then it is a bargain tomorrow you shall have your bridge and I shall claim the first living thing which passes over it here is my hand upon it saying these words he seized the hand of the astonished magistrate beside him and before anyone could add another word disappeared the people gazed at one another in silence for a moment then made furtive signs of the cross as soon as the chief magistrate could speak he'd loudly declare the stranger must be his satanic majesty and person in support of this assertion he declared that the stranger while sitting in front of the fire had boldly thrust his feet right into the red-hot coals where he kept them while talking as if the heat were agreeable to him and added that he had distinctly felt sharp claws when the man in black shook hands with him to close the bargain all now shuddered with fear and a general wail of terror rose but a tailor who was present at the meeting promptly bade his fellow-citizens fear not for he would settle the bill with their architect on the morrow this offer was gladly accepted the meeting was speedily dissolved and all he sent home because none of them cared to be out after dark while still under the spell of their recent encounter with the spirit of evil that night no one slept in the neighborhood for although the sky had been clear when they went into bed a sudden storm arose in the morning amid the roll of thunder incessant flashes of vivid lightning and violent gusts of wind they heard the splitting and falling of rocks which seemed to roll all the way down the steep mountainside and crash into the valley but when morning came no signs of storm were left and as soon as the sun had risen they again dared venture out all rushed forth in a body to see what had happened when they drew near the roofs they could not sufficiently express their wonder and admiration for a fine stone bridge arched boldly over the swift stream on the opposite sides to the black garb stranger grinning fiendishly and encouraging the people by word and gesture to test his bridge by walking across it just then the tailor appeared carrying a large bag he advanced as if to cross first but instead of setting foot upon the structure he carefully opened his bag from which escaped rats and mice closely followed by a few cats the devil for it was he gave a yellow rage when he saw himself thus outwitted and forgetting the part he had played until then cast off his disguise and ran down Gershenin for a huge rock which he intended to hurl at the bridge so as to wreck it entirely before any other living creature could cross on his way back however Satan met a little old woman who frightened by his black looks made a sign of the cross which caused him to drop his burden and beat a hasty retreat into his own realm to this day however the people still point out the huge boulder in which the marks of Satan's claws are still visible and which is known as the devil's stone according to another version the devil no sooner saw himself outwitted than he seized handfuls of rock which he hurled at the bridge but these missiles were all deflected by a cross which the tailor planted in the middle of the structure as soon as the animals reached the other side these big stones near lie scattered in the bed of the roost and around the pillars of the bridge where to the devil's constant chagrin they only served to strengthen his construction to avenge himself in a slight measure however the evil one posted one of his own imps in this valley when travelers pass this demon pounces down upon them unseen and with a slight mocking whistle tosses them into the middle of the stream this imp known as the Hadfiend or Hoodshelm still haunts the valley although centuries have passed since the devil played the part of engineer for the people of Uri end of section 87 this recording is in the public domain section 88 of Germany the Netherlands and Switzerland read for LibriVox.org by April 6090 California, United States of America Switzerland part 2 how the Swiss gained their freedom historical note in the early part of the 13th century the three forest cantons of Uri Swage and Interwalden were governed by the Counts of Habsburg who in the previous century had risen from obscurity to the position of powerful landed proprietors legally the inhabitants of the greater part of these districts were subject only to the German emperor for whom the Habsburgs acted as stewards and all attempts of the latter to exercise absolute authority over the cantons met with sturdy resistance in 1273 Rudolf the head of this family was elected emperor and a few years later became Archduke of Austria the Swiss felt that their ancient liberties were endangered by the steadily increasing power of the Habsburgs and a few days after the death of Rudolf in 1291 the men of three cantons met together and formed an everlasting lead for mutual protection this lead was the foundation of the Swiss Republic for several years the Habsburgs were bore to assert their authority in the cantons and it was not until 1315 that Leopold of Habsburg with the flower of Austrian chivalry attempted to subdue the liberty loving mountaineers at Morgarten the Austrian army was completely defeated by a small band of Swiss and to this day a service is held each year on November 15th in memory of the victory after the battle of Morgarten the Swiss cantons renewed their union and were gradually joined by one after another of the remaining districts all attempts of Austria to reassert her authority were in vain and by the close of the 15th century Switzerland had entirely freed itself from Habsburg control end of section 88 this recording is in the public domain section 89 of Germany the Netherlands and Switzerland this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recording by Rob Marland in Switzerland the world story volume 7 Germany, the Netherlands and Switzerland edited by Ava March Tappen section 89 the meeting at the Rutley 1307 by Heinrich Jocher this and the two following selections dealing with the oppressions of the Habsburgs come originally from Chronicles written two or three centuries later and must be regarded as legends rather than as history the editor they, Gessler and Landenburg did as imperial bailiffs had never done before and took up their abode in the land Landenburg went to the King's castle near Sarnen in Obwalden and Gessler built for himself a tower in the country of Uri the taxes were increased the smallest offences punished by imprisonment and heavy fines the country people treated with haughtiness and contempt Gessler passing on horseback before Stouffacker's new house in the village of Steinen cried out insultingly shall peasants be allowed to build so finely and when Arnold Anderholden was condemned for some slight offence to lose a yoke of fine oxen Landenburg servants took the oxen from the plough and said peasants may draw the plough themselves but young Arnold irritated by this insult struck the servant and broke two of his fingers then he fled into the mountains in revenge Landenburg put out both the eyes of Arnold's old father whoever on the contrary adhered to the bailiff and did his will was treated with indulgence and was always in the right but all did not escape who, trusting in the protection of the bailiff thought themselves entitled to do evil and as there was no longer any justice to be had in the land each man helped himself and this occasioned many disorders but the bailiffs laughed and persisted in their tyranny they not only trod underfoot the chartered franchises of the people sanctioned by emperors and kings but disregarded their everlasting right to life which God has given to every man while the oppressors laughed and the oppressed groaned in the valley of the Volgstatten the wife of Werner Staufacker in the village of Steinen said to her husband how long shall the oppressors laugh and the oppressed groan shall foreigners be masters of this soil and heirs of our property what are the men of the mountains good for must we mothers nurse beggars at our bosoms and bring up made servants for foreigners let there be an end to this thereupon Werner Staufacker without a word went down to Brunen on the lake and over the water to Uri to Walter I in Attinghausen with him he found concealed Arnold of Melchthal who had fled across the mountain from the wrath of Landenburg they talked of the misery of their country and of the cruelty of the foreign bailiffs whom the king had sent to them in contempt of their hereditary franchises and liberties they also called to mind that they had in vain appealed against the tyranny of the bailiffs before the king and that the latter had threatened to compel them in spite of the seals and charters of former emperors and kings to separate from the empire and submit to Austria that God had given to no king the right to commit injustice that they had no hope but in God and their own courage and that death was much more desirable than so shameful a yoke they therefore resolved that each should talk with trustworthy and courageous men in his own district to ascertain the disposition of the people and what they would undertake for security and liberty subsequently, as they had agreed they met frequently by night at a secret place on the lake it lay about midway between Aury, Schweiss and Unterwalden in a small bushy meadow at the foot of the rocks of Silisburg opposite the little village of Brunnen it is called Rutli from the clearing of bushes there they were far from all human soon each brought the joyful news that death was more desirable to all the people than so shameful a yoke when on the night of the 17th of November 1307 they came together and each of the three had brought with him to the meadow of the Rutli ten true and honourable men determined to hold the ancient liberty of their fatherland before all and life was nothing the pious three raised their hands and swore to God the Lord before whom kings and peasants are equal faithfully to live and to die for the rights of the innocent people to undertake and carry through everything in unison and not separately to permit no injustice but also to commit no injustice to respect the rights and property of the Counts of Habsburg and do no harm to the imperial bailiffs but also to prevent the bailiffs from ruining the country and the thirty others raised their hands and took the oath like the three to God and all the saints manfully to assert liberty and they appointed New Year's night for the work then they separated each returned to his valley and to his cabin and tended his cattle end of section 89 this recording is in the public domain section 90 of Germany the Netherlands and Switzerland this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recording by Sonja as the narrator Stufi as Walter Todd as William Tell von as Frieshard Jim Locke as Leith Aaron White as the Sacrestan T.J. Burns as Russell Mann Alan Maxstone as Walter First Nemo as Stauffacher Eva Davis as Milt Stauff Sandra Schmidt as The Peasants Monica as The Women Frédéric Sauget as Harris Thomas Peter as Gessler Devorah Allen as Bertha and Phillip Watson as Rudens The World Story Vol. 7 Germany the Netherlands and Switzerland edited by Eva March Teppen section 90 The Shot of William Tell 1307 by Johan Christoph Friedrich von Schiller The bailiff Gessler whom Albert of Habsburg had sent to oppress the Swiss seemed to try to humiliate them in every possible way that he did was to put the ducal head of Austria on a pole in Urie with the command that whoever went by should bow down before it as a proof of his loyalty. The following scene opens with William Tell, one of the men who had met at Rutli, walking with his little son Walter. They are talking together and passed ahead without noticing it. The Editor Walter, pointing to the Bannenberg Father, is it true that on the mountains there the trees if wounded with a hatchet bleed? Who says so, boy? The Master Herdsman Father He tells us there's a charm upon the trees and if a man shall injure them, the hand that struck the bow will grow from out the grave. There is a charm about them, that's the truth. Does see those glaciers yonder, those white horns that seem to melt away into the sky? They are the peaks that thunder so at night, and send the avalanches down upon us. They are. And out-door for long ago had been submerged beneath these avalanches weight, did not the forest there above the town stand like a boar to arrest their fall? Walter, after musing a little. And are the countries with no mountains, Father? Yes, if we travel downward from our heights and keep descending into the river's courses we reach a wide and level country where our mountain torrents brawl and foam no more, and fair large rivers glide serenely on. All quarters of the heaven may there be scanned without impediment. The corn grows there in broad and lovely fields and all the land is fair as any garden to the view. But, Father, tell me, wherefore haste we not away to this delightful land that are toiling here and struggling as we do? The land is fair and mountable as heaven, but they who till it never may enjoy the fruits of what they sow. Live they not free, as you do, on the land their fathers left them? The fields are all the bishops or the kings. But they may freely hunt among the woods. The game is all the monarchs, bird and beast. But they at least stream. Stream, lake and sea, all to the king belong. Who is this king of whom they are so afraid? He is the man who fosters and protects them. Have they not courage to protect themselves? The neighbor there dare not his neighbor trust. I should want breathing room in such a land. I'd rather dwell beneath the avalanches. It is better, child, to have these glacier peaks behind one's back than evil-minded men. They are about to pass on. See, father, see the cap on Jung the pole. What is the cap to us? Come, let's be gone. As he is going, Frisard presenting his pike stops him. Stand. I command you in the emperor's name. Tell, seizing the pike. What would ye? Wherefore do you stop my path? You've broken a mandate and must go with us. You have not done obeisance to the cap. Friend, let me go. Away, away to prison. Father to prison, help. Calling to the side-seed. This way, you men. Good people help. They're dragging him to prison. Hosselman the priest and the sacristan with three other men enter. Here a myth. Why do ye see this man? He is an enemy of the king. A traitor. Tell, seizing him with violence. A traitor, I? Friend, thou art wrong. Tis tell, an honest man and worthy citizen. Walter discrises first and runs up to him. Grandfather, help. They want to see my father. Away to prison. First running in. Stay. I offer bail. For God's sake, tell. What is the matter here? Maystalen Stauffacher enter. He has condemned the vice-voice sovereign power, refusing flatly to acknowledge it. Has tell done this? Fill in the notes, Tis false. He has not made obeisance to the cap. And shall for this to prison? Calm, my friend. Take my security and let him go. Keep your security for yourself. You'll need it. We only do our duty. Hence with him. Melchthal, to the country people. This is too bad. Shall we stand by and see them drag him away before our very eyes? We are the strongest. Don't endure it, friends. Our countrymen will back us to a man. Who dares resist the governor's commands? Other three peasants running in. We'll help you. What's the matter? Don with them. Heal the guard, Melchthild, and Elspeth return. Go, go good people. I can help myself. Think you, had I a mind to use my strength, these plagues of theirs should dawn to me? Melchthal, to Frisard. Only try. Try if you dare to force him from amongst us. Peace, peace, friends. Frisard, loudly. Riot, insurrection. Ho! Hunting horns without. The governor. Frisard, raising his voice. Rebellion! Mutiny! Roar till you burst, nave. Will you hold your tongue? Frisard, calling still louder. Help! Help, I say! The servants of the law. The viceroy here. Then we shall smart for this. Enter Gessler on horseback with a falcon on his wrist. Rudolph de Harras, Bertha and Trudens, and the numerous train of armed attendants who form a circle of lances round the whole stage. Room for the viceroy. Drive the clowns apart. Wife wrong the people thus. Who calls for help? General Silence. Who was it? I will know. Frisard steps forward. And who are thou? And why hast thou this man in custody? Gives his falcon to an attendant. Dread, sir. I am a soldier of your guard and station sentinel beside the cap. This man I apprehended in the act of passing it without obeisance due. So I arrested him, as you gave order, whereon the people tried to rescue him. Gessler, after a pause. And do you tell so lightly how your king and me, who act as his vice-jarent here, that you refuse the greeting to the cap I hung aloft to test your loyalty? I read in this a disaffected spirit. Pardon me, good my lord. The action sprung from inadvertence, not from disrespect. Where I discreet, I were not William Tell. Forgive me now. I'll not offend again. Gessler, after a pause. I here tell, you're a master with a bow, and bear the palm away from every rival. That must be true, sir. At a hundred yards, he'll shoot an apple for you from the tree. Is that a boy thine, Tell? Yes, my gracious lord. Hast any more of them? Two boys, my lord. And of the two, which dost thou love the most? Sir, both the boys are dear to me alike. Then tell, since at a hundred yards thou canst bring down the apple from the tree, thou shalt approve thy skill before me. Take thy bow, thou hast it there at hand, and make thee ready to shoot an apple from the stripling's head. But take this counsel. Look well to thine aim, see that thou hits the apple at the first, for shouldst thou miss, thy head shall pay the forfeit. All give signs of horror. What monstrous thing, my lord, is this you ask? That I, from the head of mine own child? No, no. It cannot be, kind sir. You meant not that. God in his grace forbid. You could not ask a father seriously to do that thing. Thou art to shoot an apple from his head. I do desire. Command it so. What? I level my cross, bro, at the darling head of my own child? No, rather let me die. Or thou must shoot, or with thee dies the boy. Shall I become the murderer of my child? You have no children, sir. You do not know the tender throbbing of a father's heart. How now tell so discreet upon a sudden! I've been told thou art a visionary, a wanderer from the paths of common men. Thou loves the marvellous, so if I now cold out for thee a task of special daring another man might pause and hesitate. Thou dashest at it heart and soul at once. Thou art my lord with these poor souls. See how they tremble and how pale they look. So little use are they to hear thee jest. Who tells thee that I jest? Grasping a branch above his head. Here is the apple. Room there, I say, and let him take his distance. Just eighty paces, as the custom is, not an inch more or less. It was his boast that at a hundred he could hit his man. Here, to your task, and look you miss not. Heavens, this gross serious down boy on your knees and beg the governor to spare your life. First aside to Melchitelle, who can scarcely restrain his impatience. Come on yourself. Be calm, I beg of you. Perta, to the governor. Let this suffice you, sir. It is inhuman to trifle with a father's anguish thus. Although this wretched man had forfeited both life and limb for such a slight offence, already he has suffered tenfold death. Send him away uninjured to his home. He'll know thee well in future, and this hour he and his children's children will remember. Open away there, quick. Why this delay? Thy life is forfeited. I might dispatch thee and see I graciously repose thy fate upon the skill of thine own practised hand. No cause as he to say is doing as harsh who's made the master of his destiny. Thou boastest of thy steady eye. It is well. Now is the fitting time to show thy skill. The mark is worthy, and the prize is great to hit the bull's eye in the target. That can many another do as well as thou. But he, me, thinks his master of his craft, who can at all times on his skill rely, nor lets his heart disturb thy hand. My lord, we bow to your authority. But, oh, let justice yield to mercy here. Take half my property. Nay, take it all. But spare a father this unnatural doom. Grandfather, do not kneel to that bad man. Say, where am I to stand? I do not fear. My father strikes the bird upon the wing, and will not miss now when to harm his boy. Does the child's innocence not touch your heart? Be thank you, sir. There is a God in heaven to whom you must account for all your deeds. Guess lo, pointing to the boy. Bind him to your underline tree straight. Bind me? No, I will not be bound. I will be still, still as a lamb, nor even draw my breath. But if you bind me, I cannot be still. Then I shall writhe and struggle with my bonds. But let your eyes at least be bandaged, boy. And why my eyes? No. Do you think I fear an arrow for my father's hand? Not I. I'll wait it firmly, nor so much as wink. Quick, father, show them that thou art archer. He doubts thy skill. He thinks to ruin us. Shoot, then, and hit, though but despite the tyrant. He goes to the lime tree and an apple is placed on his head, maestal to the country people. What? Is this outrage to be perpetrated before our very eyes? Where's our oath? It is all in vain. We have no weapons here. See, the wood of lances that surround us. Oh, we're to heaven that we had struck at once. God pardon those who counseled the delay. Gessler, to tell. Now to thy task. Men bear not arms for naught. It is dangerous to carry deadly weapons, and on the archer off to shaft-recoils. This rite, these haughty, peasant shells assume trenches upon their masters' privileges. None shall be armed, but those who bear command. It pleases you to wear the bow and bolt. Well, be it so, I will provide the mark. Tell bends the bow and fixes the arrow. I'll lay in there, room. What? Tell, you would... No! No, you shake. Your hands unsteady. Your knees tremble. And the bow sink down. There's something swims before my eyes. Great Heaven! Great Heaven! Release me from this shot. Here is my heart. Tears open his breast. Summon your troopers. Let them strike me down. I do not want thy life-tell, but the shot I talons universal. Nothing donts thee. Thou canst direct the rudder like the bow. Storms frighten o' thee when there's a life at stake. Now, Saviour, help thyself. Thou savest all. Tell stands fearfully agitated by contending emotions, his hands moving convulsively and his eyes turning alternately to the Governor and Heaven. Suddenly he takes a second arrow from his quiver and sticks it in his belt. The Governor watches all these motions. Walter beneath the lime tree. Come, Father, shoot. I'm not afraid. It must be. Collects himself and levels the bow. Houdens, who all the while has been standing in a state of violent excitement and has with difficulty restrained himself, advances. My Lord, you will not urge this matter further. You will not. It was surely but a test. You've gained your object. Too far is sure to miss its aim, however good, as snaps the bow that's all too straightly bent. Peace to the counsels asked for. I will speak. I and I dare. I reverence my king. But acts like these must make his name abhorred. He sanctions not this cruelty. I dare avouch the fact and you outstep your powers in handling thus an unoffending people. Ha! Thou grossed bold, me thinks. I have been dumb to all the oppressions I was doomed to see. I've closed mine eyes that they might not behold them, bade my rebellious swelling heart be still, and pented struggles down within my breast. But to be silent longer were to be a traitor to my king and country both. Bertha casting herself between him and the governor. Oh, Heaven! What exasperate his rage! My people, I forsook, renounced my kindred, broke all the ties of nature that I might attach myself to you. I madly thought that I should best advance the general will by adding sinews to the imperious power. The scales have fallen from mine eyes. I see the fearful precipice on which I stand. You've led my youthful judgment far astray, deceived my honest heart. With best intent I had well nigh achieved my country's ruin. Audacious boy! This language to thy lord! The emperor is my lord, not you. I'm free as you by Bertha, and I can cope with you in every virtue that besiems a knight. And if you stood not here in that king's name, which I respect even where it is most abused, I'd throw my gauntlet down, and you should give an answer to my gauge in nightly fashion. I beckon to your troopers. Here I stand, but not like these. Pointing to the people. Unarmed. I have a sword, and he that stirs one step. The apple's down! While the attention of the crowd has been directed to the spot where Bertha had cast herself between Rudens and Gassler, the apple has been shot. The boy's alive! The apple has been struck! Walter first staggered and is about to fall. Bertha supports him. Gassler astonished. How? Has he shot? The madman. Worthy father, pray you compose yourself. The boy's alive. Walter runs in with the apple. Here is the apple, father. Well, I knew you would not harm your boy. Tal stands with his body bent forward as though he would follow the arrow. His bow drops from his hand. When he sees the boy advancing he hastens to meet him with open arms and embracing him passionately sinks down with him quite exhausted. All crowd round them deeply affected. Oh ye kind heaven! First to father and son. My children! My dear children! My dear children! God, be praised! All mighty powers! That was a shot indeed. It will be talked of to the end of time. This feat of tell the archer will be told while yonder mountains stand upon their base. Hence the apple to Gassler. By heaven! The apples cleft right through the core. It was a master shot I must allow. The shot was good but woe to him who drove a man to tempt his god by such a feat. Cheer up, Tal, rise! You've nobly freed yourself and now may go in quiet to your home. Come to the mother let us bear her son. They are about to lead him off. A word, Tal. Sir, your pleasure? Thou didst place a second arrow in thy belt. Nay, nay, I sought well. What was thy purpose with it? Tal, confused. It is a costume with all archers, sir. No, Tal, I cannot let that answer pass. There was some other motive, well I know. Frankly and cheerfully confess the truth. There'd be, I promise, thee thy life. Wherefore the second arrow? Well, my lord, since you have promised not to take my life, I will, without reserve, declare the truth. He draws the arrow from his belt and fixes his eyes sternly upon the governor. If that my hand had struck my darling child, this second arrow I had aimed at you and, be assured, I should not then have missed. End of section ninety. This recording is in the public domain. Section ninety-one of Germany, the Netherlands and Switzerland. This is the LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org Recording by Sonya as the narrator Jim Locke as William Tell and Thomas Peter as the fisherman. The World Story Vol. 7 Germany, the Netherlands and Switzerland edited by Eva Marstappen Section ninety-one Tell's Escape 1307 by Johann Christoph Friedrich von Schiller Gessler promised tell his life, but when he learned that Tell's second arrow was meant for him in case the apple had been missed, he declared that the bowman should be put where neither sun nor moon should reach his eyes. He was thrown into the boat in which Gessler set out on Lake Lucerne for Brunnen and from that place he was to be carried to the dungeon of the tyrant. The following is Tell's story of his escape, the editor. I lay on deck fast bound with cords disarmed in utter hopelessness I did not think again to see the glass and light of day nor the dear faces of my wife and children and I'd disconsolate the waste of waters. Which the man! Then we put forth the viceroy rude off to her eyes and their sweet my bow and quiver lay astern beside the helm and just as we had reached the corner near the little axon heaven ordained it so that from the God-heart's gorge a hurricane swept down upon us with such headlong force that every rower's heart within him sank and all on board looked for a watery grave then heard I one of the attendant train turning to Gessler this strain of costume you see our danger in your own my lord and that we hover on the verge of death the boatmen there are powerless from fear nor are they confident what course to take now here is Tell a stout and fearless man and knows to steer with more than common skill how if we should avail ourselves of him in this emergency the viceroy then addressed me thus if thou wilt unto take to bring us through this tempest safely tell I might consent to free thee from thy bonds sir yes my lord with God's assistance I'll see what can be done and help us heaven on this they loose me from my bonds and I stood by the helm and fairly steered along yet ever I'd my shooting gear a scans and kept a watchful eye upon the shore to find some point where I might leap to land and when I had described a shelving crag that jetted smooth atop into the lake I know it it is at foot of the great axon but look so steep I never could have dreamt to a possible to leap it from the boat I bet the men put forth their utmost might until we came before the shelving crag for there I said the danger will be passed stoutly they pulled and soon we neared the point one prayer to God for his assisting grace and straining every muscle I brought round the vessel stern close to the rocky wall then snatching up my weapons with a bound I swung myself upon the flattened shelf and with my feet thrust off with all my might the puny bark into the hell of waters there let it drift about as heaven ordains thus am I here delivered from the might of the dread storm and man more dreadful still tell tell the lord has manifestly wrought a miracle on that behalf a scarce concretes my own eyes but tell me now whither you purposed to be take yourself for you would be in peril should the viceroy chance to escape this tempest with his life today as I lay bound on board his purpose was to disembark at brunin and crossing swights convey me to his castle means he to go by land so he intends oh then conceal yourself with that delay not twice will heaven release you from his grasp which is the nearest way to earth and cues knocked the public road leads by the way of steinan but there's a near road and more retired that goes by lowers which my boy can show you tell gives him his hand may heaven reward your kindness very well end of section 91 this recording is in the public domain section 92 of Germany the Netherlands and Switzerland this is the LibriVox recording or LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recording by Sandra Schmidt the world's story volume 7 Germany the Netherlands and Switzerland edited by evermarch teppen section 92 Song of the Battle of Morgarten 1315 by Felicia Dorothea Hemans the wine month shone in its golden prime and the red grapes clustering hung but the deeper sound through the switzers climb then the vintage music rung a sound through vaulted cave a sound through echoing glen like the hollow swell of a rushing wave it was the tread of steel-girt man and the trumpet peeling wild and far midst the ancient rocks was blown till the Alps replied to that voice of war with a thousand of their own and through the forest glooms flashed helmets to the day and the winds were tossing nightly plumes like the large boughs in their play in hustly's wilds there was gleaming steel as the host of the Austrians passed and the Schreckhorn's rocks with a savage peel made mirth of his clarion's blast up amidst the reggae snows the stormy march was heard with the charger's tramp when fire-sparks rose and the leader's gathering word but a band, the noblest band of all, through the rude moorgart and straight with blazoned streamers and lances tall moved onwards in princely state they came with heavy chains for the race despised so long but amidst his Alp-domains the herdsman's arm is strong the sun was reddening the clouds of morn when they entered the rock-defile and shrill as a joyous hunter's horn their bugles rung the wild in the misty height where the mountain people stood there was stillness as of night when storms at distance brood there was stillness as of deep dead night and a pause but not of fear while the switzers gazed on the gathering might of the hostile shield and spear unwound those columns bright between the lake and wood but they looked not to the misty height where the mountain people stood the pass was filled with their serried power all helmed and mailerade and their steps had sounds like a thundershower in the rustling forest shade there were prints and crested night hemmed in by cliff and flood when the shout arose from the misty height where the mountain people stood and the mighty rocks came bounding down their startled foes among with a joyous whirl from the summit throne oh the herdsman's arm is strong they came like laween hurled from Elp to Elp in play when the echoes shout through the snowy world and the pines are born away the furwoods crashed on the mountain side and the switzers rushed from high with a sudden charge on the flower and pride of the austrian chivalry like hunters of the deer they stormed the narrow dell and first in the shock with urie spear was the arm of William Tell there was tumult in the crowded strait and the cry of wild dismay and many a warrior met his fate from the peasant's hand at day and the empire's banner then from its place of waving free went down before the shepherd man the man of the forest sea with their pikes and messy clubs they break the queerest and the shield and the war was dashed to the reddening lake from the reapers of the field but not of sheaves proud crests and pennants lay strewn over it thick as the birch wood sleeves in the autumn tempest's way oh the sun in heaven fierce havoc viewed when the austrians turned to fly and the brave in the trembling multitude had a fearful death to die and the leader of the war at eve unhelmed was seen with a hurrying step on the wilds afar and a pale and troubled mean but the sons of the land which the freemen tills went back from the battle-toil to their cabin-homes amidst the deep green hills all burdened with royal spoil there were songs and festival fires on the soaring Alps that night when children sprung to greet their sires from the wild moor-garden fight end of section 92 this recording is in the public domain section 93 of Germany the Netherlands and Switzerland this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org the world's story volume 7 Germany, the Netherlands, and Switzerland edited by Eva March to Pan section 93 the death of Winkerried 1386 by Walter Thornberry the three cantons had shown themselves so well able to protect their liberties that the neighboring cantons soon begged to join them the power of the league grew rapidly and the determination of Austria to crush these rebellious peasants increased no less rapidly in 1386 came the battle of Zempach, the Swiss with their wooden bucklers were at first helpless to make any break in the Austrian wall of bristling spears but in the end they triumphed and drove the Austrians from the field according to tradition it was the devotion of Arnold von Winkerried that opened the way to victory the editor in July when the bees swarmed thick upon the linden tops and farmers gazed with pride and joy upon their ripening crops the watchmen on our tall church towers looking towards Willisow saw the stacked barley in a flame and the wheat fields in a glow for Archduke Leopold had come from Zirek by the lake in St. Bo and Banner spread a dire revenge to take on Monday morning when the dew lay bright upon the corn each man of Zempach blew alarm upon his mountain horn the young and old from Fair Lucerne gathered to bar the way the reapers threw their sickles down and ran to join the fray we knelt and prayed to heaven for strength crying to God aloud and lo a rainbow rising shone against a thunder cloud burgers of burn the lads of Schweitz and Unterwaldens best warriors of Yuri strong as bulls were there among the rest the oldest of our mountain priests had come to fight not pray our women only kept at home upon that battle day the shepherds, sturdy wrestlers with the grim mountain bear the chamois hunters lithe and swift mingled together there rough boatmen from the mountain lakes by scores the children only had been left to guard the nets and oars the herdsmen joined us from their huts on the far mountainside where cowbells chimed among the pines and far above in pride the granite peaks rose soaring up in snowy pinnacles past glaciers of her gaping jaws and vultures citadels the citizens of Xeric town under their banners stood their burly lances bleak and bare Geneva sent her archer stout and swordsmen not a few and over the brave men of Bern their great town banner blue how fierce we ran with partisan and axe and spear and sword with flail and club and shrieking horns upon that Austrian horde but they stood silent in the sun mocking the Switzer bear their helmets crested beaked and fanged like the wild beasts they were like miners digging iron ore from some great mountain heart we strove to hue and rend and cleave that hill of steel apart but clamped like statues stood the knights and their spiked phalanx strong though our Swiss halberds and our swords hewed fiercely at the throng hot sharp and thick our arrows fell upon their helmet crests keen on their visors glaring bars and sharp upon their breasts fierce plied our halberds at the spears that thicker seemed to grow the more we struck more boastfully the banners seemed to blow the Austrians square and close locked up stood firm with threatening spears only the sterner when our bolts flew thick about their ears our drifts of arrows blinding fell and nailed the male to breast but in the dead men as they dropped were ramparts to the rest with furnace heat the red sun shone upon that wall of steel and crims in every Austrian night their helmet under heel they slew their horses where they stood and shortened all their spears then back to back like bores at bay they mocked our angry cheers till Winkerried stepped forth and said knitting his rugged brow out on ye men of Zirektown go back and tend your plow sluggards of burn go hunt and fish when danger is not nigh see now how Unterwolden taught her hardy sons to die then out he rushed with head bent low his body breast and hands bore down a sheaf of spears and made a pathway for our bands four lances splintered on his brow sick shivered in his side but still he struggled fiercely on and shouting victory died then on that broken flying route we Swiss rejoicing rushed with sword and mace and partisan that struck and stabbed and crushed the manors beaten to the earth and all their best men slain the Austrians threw away their shields and fled across the plain and thus our Switzerland was saved upon that summer's day and Zempoch saw rejoicing men returning from the fray as we bore home brave Winkerried a rainbow spanned our track but where the Austrian rabble fled a thunderstorm rolled black end of section 93 recording is in the public domain section 94 of Germany the Netherlands and Switzerland redreliebervox.org by April 6090 California the United States of America Switzerland part 3 stories from Swiss history historical note the power of Austria in Switzerland had been broken by the battles of Zempoch and Naples and in the 15th century the folk of the cantons even ventured to seize Argo and Thurigo toward the end of the 15th century Charles the Bold determined to win back all the land that had formally belonged to Burgundy this included a part of Switzerland war followed and he was completely routed at Granson he lost a thousand men his million dollar camp equipage and even his dupal robes were ornamented with pearls and diamonds and rubies he was not daunted however and soon returned with fresh troops but he was beaten at Moray and Switzerland had kept its freedom in spite of Charles the Bold in the times of the reformation the Swiss Confederates were divided some standing for the Roman Catholics some for the Protestants the country was counted as a part of the German Empire but by the peace of Westphalia in 1648 it was declared to be independent in 1798 the Helvetic Republic was established but it continued only five years then the system of cantons which had been broken up was revived and peace and prosperity reigned before long however the peace was broken for the old struggle between aristocrats and democrats and also between Roman Catholics and Protestants was renewed but central government had not sufficient power to quiet the strife at once the little by little democracy prevailed the need of a new constitution was realized and in 1848 one was formed which was in most respects patterned after that of the United States but instead of a president Switzerland puts the executive power into the hands of a board of seven men they are elected by the legislature and hold office for three years in the recent history of Switzerland there have been no striking events but there has been in all lines a steady and quiet progress end of section 94 this recording is in the public domain