Marksmen's Festival in Merano: Reception of Marksmen from North, South, and Welschtirol

Austrian Monarchy.

Merano, 24 May. (Corresp.) Today a company of marksmen from Prutz, Ried, and Vintschgau arrived. To marksmen's councillor Mr. Siller the honourable office of welcoming speaker had been assigned. “Marksmen of the Oberinntal and Vintschgau! I set great store by the honour of being permitted to welcome you. Yet for a humble man, a modest, short speech is fitting. Our wish, marksmen, that you strike deep into the black, is not deceitful; it is spoken from a sincere soul. For our heart is by no means confined to the walls, to the civic jurisdiction of the town of Merano; it reaches to the borders of splendid, glorious, united Tyrol, and embraces with the truest love all Tyroleans near and far. If we were to look upon your bullseyes with envious eyes, such ill will would contrast poorly with the noble intentions of Archduke Johann, who wishes through this festival to unite all of Tyrol, and who wishes to give all Tyroleans monuments of his ancient friendship. Command the bullet, therefore, and shoot deep into the rings of the black; then you will be all the dearer to us.” This speech, delivered with a resonant voice, was followed by the customary toasts.

- 25 May. Today at 11 o'clock the numerous marksmen's company of Lana was received. Senior marksmen's warden Dr. Putz and Dr. Theiner honoured the guests with the kindest address. Dr. Theiner introduced these marksmen to the festival with the following speech: “Be heartily welcome to us, marksmen from Lana! His Imperial Highness Archduke Johann offered us a fine opportunity to display the skill of the proven marksman. Demonstrate today, therefore, the ancient ability, and with a keen eye and steady arm compel to the most punctual obedience the lead with which you have so often made the fight hot for the enemy. If we do the one, however, we must not neglect the other, and in the spirit of the noble prize-giver unite our hearts in a concord, in a loyalty that shall become as pure as the glass of a telescope, which must be without blemish and bubbles. I do not doubt for an instant your sincere fraternity, as you proved it in the last contest, when the enemy stretched his nets toward beautiful, virginal Tyrol; it was you who believed that by turning a blind eye, by shrugging shoulders and letting things happen, nothing would be helped. You marched to the border mark to guard the soil of the fatherland. Therefore, to you marksmen of Lana, a cheer! To the most serene festival host, a cheer! To unity, which is an outflow of the purest brotherly love, a cheer!” — Mr. Gugger, district judge of Lana, replied to this free speech and proposed a toast to Archduke Johann as father of the household at this festival, a toast to the mother of the household, and to the promising scion of both! A bright good luck to the young Emperor in his work of uniting Germany! A long life to Archduke Rainer, who by quietly dispensing benefactions binds ever more firmly the ties between the Imperial house and the people!

An hour later followed the marksmen of Tirol. Dr. Lentner received them with a momentous address: “Greetings to you, marksmen of Tirol! Your cradle stands by the walls of the lofty castle that gave its name to the fatherland. You are worthy to dwell upon this famous ground, having carefully nurtured those virtues that constitute the Tyrolean's high renown. For sheltering you ever surrounded the throne of the territorial prince; in peace you diligently tilled your field with sturdy strength; but when from your hill the signal beacons shone through the land, announcing the enemy's incursion, you were the first assembled and armed duly to receive the foe. Since you marksmen of Tirol bear the name of the land and of the village, take also a twofold portion among the prizes in remembrance.” — After the customary cheers, the senior marksmen's warden made the following ingenious remark to the men of Tirol: “Your dwellings stand at the foot of the Muttspitze. The Mutt is feminine, but your courage [Muth] is masculine.” The captain then offered the customary reply.

At 1 o'clock the marksmen from Stubai and Marling marched in. The former, fifteen in number, were led by both Purtschellers, father and son, each adorned with a gold and silver medal. The welcoming speaker was Dr. Lentner: “You, our closer neighbours from Marling, do not take it amiss if I direct my words first to those who come from afar. Well, you men from Stubai, welcoming you here as marksmen brothers, it gladdens me immensely that you have come so far across mountain and dale to take part in our festival, which the noble prize-giver Archduke Johann has prepared for us. When I look upon you, I believe I have before my eyes the green meadows and pastures of your beautiful valley. I feel the fresh breezes coming over the Ötztal and Sellrain. It gladdens me doubly to welcome you as marksmen brothers, because you combine the two genuine qualities of the marksman, cheerfulness and strength. Joyfulness lives and moves in your breast, from which shepherd songs and yodels resound. And strong you are like your mountains and cold waters! How could it be otherwise, when with equal strength you swing the hammer and with equal courage seize the rifle. There is yet a third thing that especially pleases me. We see here, indeed, (pointing to the Pfurtschellers, father and son) old and young Tyroleans side by side, father and son, both adorned with the token of loyalty to their princes, here in the year 1797, here in the year 1848.

A new proof of the truth of our fathers' proverb: 'As the old birds sang, so twitter the young.' For the gallant son proved worthy of his gallant father, as all Stubaitalers were worthy of their leaders. Therefore once more: 'As the old birds sang, so twitter the young.'

Marksmen of Marling! We see your tower daily before us, we hear daily the harmonious tones of your splendid bell. We rejoice that you have come, and we call out to you a hearty cheer! Old Pfurtscheller spoke quietly to Dr. Lentner, who loudly called the father's words to the marksmen: “Hear then, marksmen: let the fathers' honour be the sons' lesson.” “Yes,” the old father himself chimed in, “yes, faithful we will remain to our Emperor, and let things by no means come to an extreme until the danger is at its highest. The Emperor cannot first go and call us. We ourselves must take heed, as was the fathers' custom. The honour of these fathers be the sons' lesson. Long live Archduke Johann with his whole family! Long live our young Emperor! Long live our marksmen comrades!” Archduke Johann, who had remarked that he had long looked forward to seeing these old acquaintances, was unfortunately not present at this reception, having invited his countrymen from Schenna to dine today.

A surprising scene now presented itself to our eyes. An elderly Italian-speaking Tyrolean approached the old Stubaitaler, tapped him on the shoulder, embraced and kissed him with the fire of youth, uttering at the same time the warmest 'Mio caro' to his German fellow brother. The old Stubaitaler replied: “We will stick together like brothers, eat and drink, and be right merry with one another.” May this deep cordiality between German- and Italian-speaking Tyroleans, this concord of their souls, not go to the grave with these two old men.

The number of registered marksmen amounts to 1,000 today. Medals and four-ring pins are said to be running short given the great number of bullseyes. Archduke Johann personally pins these distinctions to the chest of every marksman. -

Concerning the company from Klausen and Feldkirch, as well as the concert of Mr. Netzer, further details tomorrow.