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Show ! . MINSTRELS' WORK IN '0RLD 1 Troubadours Led Men's Thoughts to Gentleness Amid the Ferocity of the Middle Ages. The troubadours, called trovatore in Italy, originated in Provence, France. These minstrels of the middle ages, togeiher with the practice of chivalry, helping to keep the world human at a period when fighting and bloodshed occupied oc-cupied the minds of men. The troubadour trou-badour was received with open arms In the castles of great nobles and at the courts of kings. He always knew there would be a place for him at the table, that he would have a generous portion of fowl, roasted on the spit and as many goblets of wine as his thirst demanded. One can Imagine the great hall lighted here and there with torches In scones, the huge fireplace fire-place ablaze; the lord of the castle with his family in rich attire sparkling spark-ling with jewels, and in the midst of nil, the most Important figure for the moment, the slender young troubadour with his harp. He sings songs, words and air of his own composition. Some of them are old folk tales gathered up and put Into verse, legend of surpassing sur-passing feats of valor, of miraculous prowess. Or they may pulsate with the heart throbs of that old, old, yet i ever new, subject of love, and perhaps I the young minstrel may steal an occa sional glance at his lordship's pretti- i est daughter meanwhile. i |