1** Laterna magica - Life Models - [9. She woke, she dressed, she rushed without, regardless of the cold For Carl Ansprach would lose his life in gaining her the gold]

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Edelweiss Gatherer, the (Le cueilleur d'Edelweiss)

[9. She woke, she dressed, she rushed without, regardless of the cold For Carl Ansprach would lose his life in gaining her the gold]

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Titre[9. She woke, she dressed, she rushed without, regardless of the cold For Carl Ansprach would lose his life in gaining her the gold]
FabricantJames Bamforth
Date1893
Lieu de fabricationAngleterre (Holmfirth, Yorkshire)
Description techniquelife models, photographie rehaussée de couleurs, plaque carrée fixe
DimensionsL. 83 mm l. 83 mm
CotePLM-00053-009 (Coll. Cinémathèque française)
The Edelweiss Gatherer - Livret
A flower of wondrous beauty blooms in the Alpine mounts,
On rocky cliff, 'mid snow and ice, near never-resting founts;
Its name is Edelweiss, 'tis brilliant white, and rare;
And prized by all the Switzers for its satin petals fair.

It s coveted by all the myriad tourist bands,
But danger attends its gathering, 'tis not plucked by hands
Unused to snowclad cliff and icy Alpine steep,
For many a would-be gatherer sleeps the eternal sleep.

On a rock two hundred feet below the Matterhorn's dread crest,
There grew a spray had long withstood the tourist band's request;
And many a lady fair had offered gold in vain
To tempt her guide to risk his life the lovely flower to gain.

But Carl Anspach was fearless, and when he heard of the boon,
He vowed he would pluck the floweret before the morrow noon;
Ten golden pounds, the offered sum, would set him up in life;
Ten golden pounds! if he had that, he then could take a wife.

If he could lay ten golden pounds in Annette Lanni's lap,
Why, what a happy men he'd be! He thought of no mishap;
He saw the golden gleam alone, nor reck'd he of the death
That grimly stalks the Matterhorn, and steals the traveller's breath.

While thus in thought, Annette came forth from out her father's door.
"What, Carl!" she said, "Art joyful then? Why, what in fairy lore
Art thinking of?" Carl told her of the morrow morn's intent.
And laughing at all her warnings, homewards his way he went.

The morning sun gleamed on the ice, it glistened on the snow?
Upon the Matterhorn's dread crest it shed its misty glow;
It gleamed upon the Edelweiss, and one who all alone
Had dares the dreadful avalanche, had scaled the snow clad cone.

'Twas Carl! Upon the topmost height, beneath the morning sun,
Alone he stood, with joyful mien, his task was now half done.
The sun shone on another form scaling the ice-clad steep:
It was Annette! for dreams had come, forbidding her to sleep.

For in a dream she thought she stood upon the awful height,
With Carl suspended down below, in the early morning's light;
The rope was fasten'd to a rock. Oh, horror! at the edge
Its strands were nearly cut in twain by the cruel rocky ledge.

She woke, she dressed, she rushed without, regardless of the cold,
For Carl Anspach would lose his life in gaining her this gold;
Upward and onward swift she went, nor needed she the mind
That cruelly swept o'er her form, for Carl was in her mind.

She saw not know how the chamois leapt from rock to rock in glee,
She marked not, 'though from forth her path the timid kid would flee;
She heeded not the goatherd's call,"'Whither away so fast?"
As wonderingly he gazed upon the vision that had passed.

For she saw the swinging straining rope, she saw the parting strands,
She saw, oh, horror! Saw him fall! unhelped hand;
And then she saw a mangled corpse - she would have been his wife,
And then she thought, as on she sped, upon her lonely life.

Upward and onward swift she climb'd, her feet were bleeding sore;
She felt no pain, nor heard at all the avalanche's roar;
Though danger breathed upon her cheek, and death had marked hoer form,
She knew it not, but upward sped, braving the mountain storm.

She reached the top! she ran! Oh God! she seized the parting rope,
Her dream was true! 'twas almost through! yet angels bade her hope.
She seized the rope below the cut, it strain'd her fragile wrists,
But Carl was gathering Edelweiss, below among the mists.

She dared not speak, but lay upon the ice-clad mountain's brink;
'Twixt life and death to Carl, she knew her wrists were now the link;
The keen-edged rock it gashed them deep, the blood began to flow,
But Carl was gathering Edelweiss two hundred feet below,

Two hundred feet below the spot where fearless Annette lay,
Her Carl was straining every nerve to gain the precious spray;
While yet a thousand feet below, a gurgling torrent sped,
'Mid icy rocks that from its foam showed many a jagged head.

At length he gained the precious prize, and upward cast his eye,
But never saw Annette's fair outlined against the sky;
And little thought how near was death while gazing on the flower,
For he saw the golden gleam again, and thought of money's power.

"Ten golden pounds! that is your worth! A gold piece every bud!
'Twill please Annette when I give - What's this? A spot of blood!
A blood spot on the Edelweiss? This snow-white bloom among?
It is strange! Oh no, some eagle has been feeding her young,-

"Feeding her hungry brood. I saw no nest while coming down;
But that's easily understood! Eagles and rocks are brown;
And in the mist one scarce can tell - What sound was that?" "Don't stay!
Carl! Carl! Quick Carl! Be quick! for my wrists are giving way!"

"Who calls? Who calls Carl? And why should I be quick? I can see -
Why, what is that? A woman's head? Annette’s? It cannot be!
This misty sun is dazzling! It is fancy without doubt;
Again that cry? Did some one say,"My wrists are giving out?" "

"Yes, I! Annette! The rope is parting fast! Oh, linger not!"
Carl heard her then, and knew from whence came the ensanguined spot.
Upwards he climbed, he gained the cliff, he kissed the bleeding wrists,
But nevermore seeks Edelweiss among the mountain mists.


Ashmore Russan, The Edelweiss Gatherer, in Lantern Reading n°605, Riley Brothers, Bradford.

L'Edelweiss est une fleur très prisée par les Suisses. A leur passage dans la montagne suisse, tous les touristes recherchent la fleur tant convoitée (plaque 2). Mais elle est rare et difficile à trouver. Une riche femme propose alors une récompense à quiconque lui rapporte la précieuse fleur blanche.
Carl Anspach, homme réputé sans peur, entend l'histoire de la récompense, il ne peut s'empêcher de vouloir la remporter (plaque 3). Malgré les réticences de son épouse, Annette, il part rechercher un edelweiss dans la montagne (plaques 4 et 5). La nuit suivante, Annette rêve de son mari : celui ci a un accident (plaques 6 et 7). Sentant le danger pesé sur Carl, Annette se lève à la hâte et le recherche dans la montagne (plaque 9). Dans son rêve, la corde retenant Carl cédait, entraînant une chute mortelle (plaque 10). Heureusement, Annette retrouve Carl avant qu'il ne soit trop tard (plaque 11). Elle retient la corde de toutes ses forces et prie Carl de remonter au plus vite (plaques 12 et 13). Ses poignées souffrent (plaque 14) mais au final Carl Anspach est sauf avec un bouquet d'Edelweiss en main (plaque 15).


[9. She woke, she dressed, she rushed without, regardless of the cold For Carl Ansprach would lose his life in gaining her the gold]