Thank you for visiting SNEWPapers!
Sign up free
Literary
September 5, 1898
The Morning News
Savannah, Chatham County, Georgia
What is this article about?
During the Thirty Years' War, the beautiful Countess of Stein rallies the maidens of Mayence to vow celibacy until freeing their city from French occupiers. Captured and forced to sweep the streets, her dignified action inspires the townsfolk to drive out the invaders, saving the country.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
SHE SWEPT THE STREET CLEAN.
How the Beautiful Countess of Stein Saved Her Country.
By the Pall Mall Gazette.
Julie M. Lippmann tells of the Thirty Years' War under the title of "The Street Sweeper." The author says: Now Mayence is one of the strongest fortresses in Germany; but, nevertheless, during the Thirty Years' war it was occupied by the French, who laid the country waste and ruled over the land with all the harshness of invaders. There seemed no hope of escape from their tyranny, for the men who had fought and lost were discouraged, and had no further heart for resistance. So matters went from bad to worse, until one day the beautiful young Countess of Stein summoned all the sweetest and best maidens of the city into her presence, and urged them to make a solemn vow that they would neither wed nor listen to a word of wooing until their country was entirely free.
As you may believe, the news of this league made a great stir; for men who have lost their hearts in love are very different beings. The Frenchmen saw very soon that the young Germans were showing signs of rebellion, and so they determined to wreak their vengeance on the Countess. They took her prisoner, dragged her through the city, and at last thrust a broom into her hand and bade her sweep the principal street of the town-a terrible humiliation, they thought, for a high-bred lady as she was.
She grasped the broom firmly and swept so clean that not a Frenchman of them all could discover a speck of dust. They stood about and twirled their moustaches and tried to look supercilious, and to raise the people's mirth against her. But they did not succeed; and the townsfolk, instead of jeering, took off their caps and echoed her prayer, "God bless the sweeping!" And God did bless it; for the sight of their noble young Countess at her task put the men on their mettle, and they turned on the Frenchmen and fought with such a will that it was not long before there was not one left in the land, and they had, indeed, swept the country quite clear of every foe.
How the Beautiful Countess of Stein Saved Her Country.
By the Pall Mall Gazette.
Julie M. Lippmann tells of the Thirty Years' War under the title of "The Street Sweeper." The author says: Now Mayence is one of the strongest fortresses in Germany; but, nevertheless, during the Thirty Years' war it was occupied by the French, who laid the country waste and ruled over the land with all the harshness of invaders. There seemed no hope of escape from their tyranny, for the men who had fought and lost were discouraged, and had no further heart for resistance. So matters went from bad to worse, until one day the beautiful young Countess of Stein summoned all the sweetest and best maidens of the city into her presence, and urged them to make a solemn vow that they would neither wed nor listen to a word of wooing until their country was entirely free.
As you may believe, the news of this league made a great stir; for men who have lost their hearts in love are very different beings. The Frenchmen saw very soon that the young Germans were showing signs of rebellion, and so they determined to wreak their vengeance on the Countess. They took her prisoner, dragged her through the city, and at last thrust a broom into her hand and bade her sweep the principal street of the town-a terrible humiliation, they thought, for a high-bred lady as she was.
She grasped the broom firmly and swept so clean that not a Frenchman of them all could discover a speck of dust. They stood about and twirled their moustaches and tried to look supercilious, and to raise the people's mirth against her. But they did not succeed; and the townsfolk, instead of jeering, took off their caps and echoed her prayer, "God bless the sweeping!" And God did bless it; for the sight of their noble young Countess at her task put the men on their mettle, and they turned on the Frenchmen and fought with such a will that it was not long before there was not one left in the land, and they had, indeed, swept the country quite clear of every foe.
What sub-type of article is it?
Prose Fiction
Fable
What themes does it cover?
Liberty Freedom
Patriotism
Moral Virtue
What keywords are associated?
Thirty Years War
Countess Stein
Street Sweeper
French Occupation
Maiden Vow
Patriotism
Humiliation
Rebellion
What entities or persons were involved?
By The Pall Mall Gazette.
Literary Details
Title
She Swept The Street Clean. How The Beautiful Countess Of Stein Saved Her Country.
Author
By The Pall Mall Gazette.
Subject
How The Beautiful Countess Of Stein Saved Her Country During The Thirty Years' War
Key Lines
Now Mayence Is One Of The Strongest Fortresses In Germany; But, Nevertheless, During The Thirty Years' War It Was Occupied By The French, Who Laid The Country Waste And Ruled Over The Land With All The Harshness Of Invaders.
The Beautiful Young Countess Of Stein Summoned All The Sweetest And Best Maidens Of The City Into Her Presence, And Urged Them To Make A Solemn Vow That They Would Neither Wed Nor Listen To A Word Of Wooing Until Their Country Was Entirely Free.
She Grasped The Broom Firmly And Swept So Clean That Not A Frenchman Of Them All Could Discover A Speck Of Dust.
The Townsfolk, Instead Of Jeering, Took Off Their Caps And Echoed Her Prayer, "God Bless The Sweeping!"
They Had, Indeed, Swept The Country Quite Clear Of Every Foe.