their gratitude was, That, at a future day,
Gotzkowsky's day of bankruptcy, they were hardest of any on Gotzkowsky.

"Archenholtz and the Books are enthusiastically copious upon Gotzkowsky
and his procedures; but we must be silent. This Anecdote only, in regard
to Freedom of the Press,--to the so-called 'air we breathe, not having
which we die!' Would modern Friends of Progress believe it? Because,
in former stages of this War, the Berlin Newspapers have had offensive
expressions (scarcely noticeable to the microscope in our day, and below
calculation for smallness) upon the Russian and Austrian Sovereigns or
Peoples,--the Able Editors (there are only Two) shall now in person,
here in the market-place of Berlin, actually run the gantlet for
it,--'run the rods (GASSEN-LAUFEN'), as the fashion now is; which is
worse than GANTLET, not to speak of the ignominy. That is the barbaric
Russian notion: 'who are you, ill-formed insolent persons, that give a
loose to your tongue in that manner? Strip to the waistband, swift! Here
is the true career opened for you: on each hand, one hundred sharp rods
ranked waiting you; run your courses there,--no hurry more than you
like!' The alternative of death, I suppose, was open to these Editors;
Roman death at least, and martyrdom for a new Faith (Faith in the Loose
Tongue), very sacred to the Democratic Ages now at hand. But nobody
seems to have thought of it; Editors and Public took the thing as a
'sorrow incident to this dangerous Profession of the Tongue Loose (or
looser than usual); which nobody yet knew to be divine. The Editors made
passionate enough lamentation, in the stript state; one of then, with
loud weeping, pulled off his wig, showed ice-gray hair; 'I am in my 68th
year!' But it seems nothing would have steaded them, had not Gotzkowsky
been busy interceding. By virtue of whom there was pardon privately
in readiness: to the ice-gray Editor complete pardon; to the junior
quasi-complete; only a few switches to assert the principle, and
dismissal with admonition." [_Helden-Geschichte_, vi. 103-148; Rodenbeck,
ii. 41-54; Archenholtz, ii. 130-147; Preuss, UBI SUPRA: &c. &c.]

The pleasant part of the fact is, that Gotzkowsky's powerful
intercessions were thenceforth no farther needed. The same day,
Saturday, October 11th, a few hours after this of the GASSEN-LAUFEN,
news arrived full gallop: "The King is coming!" After which it was
beautiful to see how all things got to the gallo