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Kaspar Hauser, 
This was the first open charge against the house of Baden, ang 
the writer's boldness astonished the reading public. 
Those were not the days of “society ” newspapers ; the Jus. 
viewer had not yet been created; the Scripture prohibition, 
“ Thou shalt not speak evil of the ruler of thy people,” was still 
in force, and subjects in general were mindful of Solomon’s wise 
warning : “ Curse not the king, no, not in thy thought, and curse 
not the rich in thy bedchamber; for a bird of the air shall 
carry the thought, and that which hath wings shall tell the 
matter.” 
Hence, although ever since the first appearance of Kaspar 
Hauser there had been voices to declare that he was the Crown 
Prince of Baden, the words were spoken in low tones, and 
with closed doors, and only before trusted listeners, while the 
persons who ventured to write and publish their suspicions did so 
by hints, and allusions, and allegories, and suggestions. Many 
daring essays were published anonymously ; the most important 
one of all was a novel which told the whole story under the dis- 
guise of false names and places. The writer was afterwards 
known to be a man named Seybold. 
Even Von Pollnitz designated Baden only by the requisite 
number of stars; and Feuerbach’s more direct accusation was 
concealed in a private communication to the Queen. 
Prudence in this respect was dictated not merely by reverence 
for authority, but by fear of consequences. To speak openly of 
Kaspar Hauser as the Prince of Baden was to run the risk of fine, 
imprisonment, and loss of position, and most persons were care- 
ful to keep within the limits of safety. 
But Garnier had no scruples, and being republican in senti- 
ment, he rejoiced at the opportunity of making public a good 
deal of gossip about crowned heads. He told how the King of 
Prussia had murdered his brother, and the Emperor of Austria 
his ; how the King of Bavaria had poisoned his father, and the 
Duke of Nassau had broken his father’s neck by throwing him 
downstairs, etc. etc. 
Baden was the only royal house which paid attention to these