Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1853-08-03
A Simple Monarch.

The most amusing passage we have read
in Bayard TayIor's letters from India, is the
following ITO such an extent are the
Kings of Dude plundered, that 1t is related
of French cook, who spent some years in
1.-The service of former monarch, that he
went home with fortune of $3.50, 600. II
was, recently discovered that one of the
kpAaates of the court had been receiving
tw64sers flour pounds) of rosewater and a
jar of sweetmeats daily for thirty years
and for what service? The father of the
present king was annoyed, thirty years a.
CO. by the barking of dog. He sent for
the owner and commanded him to silence
the animal. Your Majesty said the man,
nothing will stop his barking, unless he
has two seers of rosewater and jar OF
sweetmeats given him every day. Take
them, then, SAID the king, 'only let us have
no more noise The knave took his rose
water and sweatmeats daily, and had lived
luxuriously upon the proceeds for thirty
years. The present king is even more
foolish and credulous, though he has receiv-
ed good literary education, and has the
Persian poets at his tongues end. Although
not more than forty years old. his excesses
have been enormous, even for India. New
ertheless, his wives and eunuchs fatter him
that he has large number OF children, who
are carried off by demon as soon as they
are born. About once week $50 have
been informed) the chief eunuch rushes in
to his presence, exclaiming, IN great appa-
rent iov, %, Lord of the World, a son is
born unto youp Praise be to God |! ex-
claims the happy king; which of my wives
has been so highly honoured ? The eu-
much names one Of them, and the king rls-
es, in great haste, to visit her and behold
his new offspring. But suddenly cries and
shrieks resound from the women's apart
ments. A band of females burst into the
room, shrieking and lamenting. %, great
king a terrible demon suddenly appeared
among us. He snatched your beautiful son
out of the nurses arms and flew through
the window, with frightful noise And
so this trick is repeated, from week to
week, and the poor fool continually laments
over his lost children. Not long since
Portuguese mountebank happened to hear
of this delusion. He repaired to the king,
told him that he had discovered the nature
of the demon that molested him, and would
destroy him for certain sum. The king
agreed to the terms, and in few days the
people of Lucknow were startled by seeing
great body of workmen engaged in Dig
ging trenches in a meadow near the river.
After several days labour they threw up
a rude fortlfcation of earth. in the centre
of which they buried several barrels OF pow
der. The Portuguese declared that he was
IN the possession of charms which could
entice the demon into the fort, whereupon
the train would be fired, and instantly blow
him to atoms. A favourable night was Sc
lected for the operation, and the inhab-
tants of Lucknow were shaken out of their
beds by terrific explosion, followed by
salvo of one hundred and twenty-one guns,
as peal of rejoicing over the slaughter Of
the demon. But alas the scattered frag-
ments of the fend reunited, and he has
since then carried off nearly score OF the
kings newborn progeny"