History of Friedrich II of Prussia — Volume 04Carlyle, Thomas
History
History of Friedrich II of Prussia — Volume 04
Carlyle, Thomas
Frederick II, King of Prussia, 1712-1786; Prussia (Germany) -- History -- Frederick II, 1740-1786; Social problems
On his hunts, too, Papa took him. For Papa was a famous hunter, when at
Wusterhausen in the season:--hot Beagle-chase, hot Stag-hunt, your chief
game deer; huge "Force-Hunt" (PARFORCE-JAGD, the woods all beaten,
and your wild beasts driven into straits and caudine-forks for you);
Boar-hunting (SAUHETZE, "sow-baiting," as the Germans call it),
Partridge-shooting, Fox- and Wolf-hunting;--on all grand expeditions of
such sort, little Fritz shall ride with Papa and party. Rough furious
riding; now on swift steed, now at places on WURSTWAGEN,--WURSTWAGEN,
"Sausage-Car" so called, most Spartan of vehicles, a mere STUFFED POLE
or "sausage" with wheels to it, on which you sit astride, a dozen or so
of you, and career;--regardless of the summer heat and sandy dust,
of the winter's frost-storms and muddy rain. All this the little
Crown-Prince is bound to do;--but likes it less and less, some of us are
sorry to observe! In fact he could not take to hunting at all, or find
the least of permanent satisfaction in shooting partridges and baiting
sows,--"with such an expenditure of industry and such damage to the
seedfields," he would sometimes allege in extenuation. In later years
he has been known to retire into some glade of the thickets, and hold a
little Flute-Hautbois Concert with his musical comrades, while the sows
were getting baited. Or he would converse with Mamma and her Ladies, if
her Majesty chanced to be there, in a day for open driving. Which things
by no means increased his favor with Papa, a sworn hater of "effeminate
practices."
He was "nourished on beer-soup," as we said before. Frugality, activity,
exactitude were lessons daily and hourly brought home to him, in
everything he did and saw. His very sleep was stingily meted out to
him: "Too much sleep stupefies a fellow!" Friedrich Wilhelm was wont
to say;--so that the very doctors had to interfere, in this matter, for
little Fritz. Frugal enough, hardy enough; urged in every way to look
with indifference on hardship, and take a Spartan view of life.
Money-allowance completely his own, he does not seem to have had till
he was seventeen. Exiguous pocket-money, counted in GROSCHEN (English
PENCE, or hardly more), only his Kalkstein and Finkenstein could grant
as they saw good;--about eighteenpence in the month, to start with, as
would appear. The other small incidental moneys, necessary for his use,
were likewise all laid out under sanction of his Tutors, and accurately
entered in Day-books by them, audited by Friedrich Wilhelm; of which
some specimens remain, and one whole month, September, 1719 (the Boy's
eighth year), has been published. Very singular to contemplate, in these
days of gold-nuggets and irrational man-mountains fattened by mankind at
such a price! The monthly amount appears to have been some 3 pounds
10 shillings:--and has gone, all but the eighteenpence of sovereign
pocket-money, for small furnishings and very minute necessary
luxuries;--as thus:--
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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