Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1852-03-31
,06ap,y'a Glarksburs Brighter
THE EMPERoR,s NEW CT ornrs.
ny ttANa CHRISTIAN ANDERSON.

Nry. t1e caTeu comparatively llttle IOT
military display; he had no Joy in posses
sing the largest and finest theatre in the
world; he did not even desire to ride out
in his magnificent equipage. except for
the purpose Of displaying some new and
elegant garments. He had q coat for ey-
ery honr in the day. When audience
was asked of him, the answer frequently
was not, as might have been expected,
that the Emperor was with his council Of
state. but " The Emperor is in his ward
robe"
The city wherein the Emperor resided
was full of life and gayety, and much ire
quented by strangers desiring to see the
wonders of tho capital. One day among
other arrivals, were two crafty men, who
had heard ofthe Emperor's weakness, and
who passed themselves off as Weavers,-
They pretended that they could make a
cloth Of the very finest quality, with the
peculiar property of being visible to all
who were not in all respects fit for their
station, office, or employment in life.
Tho Emperor having heard Of these
men, said to himself. "surely such clothes
would be excellent for me; with them l
could find out those in my kingdom who
are unfit for their places, and be able to
distinguish the clever from the stupid. l
must have garments of this fabric imme-
diately," Thereupon he sent for the two
cunning strangers, made them rich pres
cnts, and ordered them to supply him
with cloth for suit, without delay.
Then the artful fellows proceeded to
put up looms, and go through the mo-
lions of weaver. They required to be
supplied with an abundance Of the finest
silk and most refined gold, Of which they
made no use whatever, except to secret
it for their own advantage, and in the
meantime continued to work at the empty
looms every day until far into the night.
Thought the Emperor to himself one
day, al should like much to know how
far they have got with the cloth and how
it looks, :" Then he thought that no man
who was fit for his position could see it,
and that gave him little concern, AL
though he believed there was no great
danger as to himself on that point, yet he
preferred to send somebody else first, to
examine and report upon the subject
The people, meantime, had all heard of
the peculiar virtue of the new cloth, and
were dying with curiosity to have so con-
venient mode of exposing tho stupidity
and weakness of their ueighbors.
Then said the Emperor to himself, II
will send my trusty old prime minister to
see the weavers. He can Judge best how
the cloth looks. and what kind of appear
ance it will make; for he is man of intel.
ligence, and no one fills his Office better
than he"
The good old minister was therefore dis
patched to the rooms where the two men
were working at their empty looms. to see
how they were coming on, When he had
entered, and put on his glasses to inspect
the cloth, he started with ill-concealed
surprise, and said to himself, "May Hea-
ven preserve me lido not see anything"
He was too crafty minister to make this
remark audible.
The two imposters now begged him to
come nearer, and asked him If he approx
cd of the design and the colors, at the
same time pointing at tho empty looms
The poor minister bent over and peerod
into the looms. but could see nothing, for
the good reason that there was nothing to
see, "My goodness !" said he, within
himself. I" is it possible that am so stu
pid ? never thought SO before, nor was
il ever suspected. Can it be possible
that am unfit for my office? 1t will
never do for me to say that cannot see
this cloth"
"Well you do not say anything toit.-
What do you think Of it ?" asked one of
the men as he rapidly threw the shuttle
ooh, it is very handsome-quite char
ming" answered the old minister pushing
up his glasses, "Whet a beautiful de.
sign it is, and how fine the colors are
shall report to his majesty the Emperor,
that am pleased with it, exceedingly"
We are glad to hear it," said the wea-
vers, as they proceeded to point out the
colors by name, and explain the rare de-
sign. The old minister was all attention,
that he might be able to repeat it to the
Emperor, and so he did.
The rogues now demanded moro money
and more silk and gold for the cloth, all
of which they quietly put into their peck
cts and toiled away as before at the emp
ty looms,
The Emperor, delighted at the favora-
BILE report, soon sent another honest states
man to sec how the weaving was coming
on. and whether the cloth would soon be
finished. He Jared exactly as the first;
he looked and looked, but as there was
nothing to see, he also nothing saw.
Is it not splendid ?" asked the two
wesvers, as they pretended to point out
and explain the design,
Thought the statesman to himself, 81
am not stupid; hence it must be my unfit
ness for the good Office Ihold, which eau
sss me not to perceive anything; this is
strange, but if it be so, no one knows it,
at all events"
He also praised the invisible cloth elab-
orately, and assured them otthe great de-
light with the selection of colors and tho
design. He also reported to the Emnn-