Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1861-04-27
THE EMPFROR's NEW CLOTHES

W ueViaIe WIN 'ruthiui simplicity IHPe IS NOM
ing of-n." led. BuGLE.
THE EMPFROR'S NEW CLOTHES.
BY MANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN.
Many years ago, there lived an Emperor, who
cared so very much about having new clothes,
that be spent all his money merely for the sake Of
being very smartly dressed. lie did NOT care
much about his troops; he did not care either
about going to play or driving cut unless it we're
that he might show bis new clothes. Io had a
new suit for every hour in the day; and as one
usually says Of the King or Emperor, "He held a
privy council" so of him it was said, "His Maj
esty sat 10 council with his tailo.s."
In q large town where he resided, people led q
merry life. Day after day fresh visitors arrived
at courts" ono day, too, a couple of swindlers who
called themselves first rate weavers, made their
appearance. They pretended that they were able
TO weavethe richest stuffs in which not only the
colors and patterns were extremely beautiful, but
that the clothes made of such stufs possessed the
wonderful property Of remaining invisible to him
who was unfit for the office be held, or who was
extremely silly.
what capital clothes they must beir thought
the Emperor. "If ] had such a suit | could al.
rectly. find what people in my empire we're not
equal 20 their Office; and besides l should be able
to Distinguish the clever from the stupid. By
Jove, must have ONE OF this stuff made directly
for mel And so he ordered large sums Of money
to be given to the swindlers, that they nigh. set to
work Immediately.
The men erected two looms. and did "a If thew
worked very diligently; but in reality they had
got nothing on the loom. They boldly demanded
the finest silk and gold thread, put il all in their
own pockets, and worked away at the empty loom.
until quite late at night.
81 should like to Know how the two woayers are
getting on with my stuff" said the Emperor to
himself one day; but he was rather embarrass-
ed when he remembered that a silly fellow, or one
unified for his Office would not be able to see the
stuff. Ills true, he thought, as far as regarded
himself, there was no risk whatever; but he pre-
ferred sending some one else to bring him intelli-
gence of the two weayers, and how they were get
ting on, before he went himself. Every body in
the whole town bad heard Of the wonderful prop
erty IL us this stuff was said to possess, and all were
curious to know how clever or foolish their neigh.
bors might be found to be.
IL will send my worthy old minister" said the
Emperor at last, after much consideration; ''he
will be able to say how the stuff looks better than
any one, for he is a man of understanding, and no
man can be more fitted for bis Office than he.n
SO the worthy old minister went to the room
where the two s~wiudlers we're working away with
all their might and main. Lord help mel"
thought the old man, opening his eyes as vide as
hs could; why | cau't see the least thing what
ever on the. looml" But be took good care not to
give voice In whit he fbnnoht g = .|. q
The swindlers begged him most politely to have
the goodness to approach the loom; and then,
pointing to the empty frame, asked him if the
colors were not a great beauty. And the poor old
minister looked and looked, and could see nothinO
whatever; for indeed there was nothing at al
there. BLESS mel" Thought he to himself, "and
am really then, a simpletop. Well, l never
thought so, and nobody does know it. 1 not fl
for my oiieel No, nothing on earth shall make
me say I have not seen the CLOTH"
well, sir" said ono of the swindlers, still
working busily, you don't say if the STUFF pleas.
es you or not"
sob, beautiful. beautiful the work il admira-
BILE" said the old minister, looking at The bea m
through his spectacles. This pattern, and these
eo!ors-well. well; / shall not fail to tell the En-.
peror that both are most beautiful"
"Well we shall be delighted if you do So" said
the swiudlars. "and mama the different patterns
and -colors which are in the stuff" The old min
ister listened attentiyely to what they eaid, IL
order that be might be able to repeat all to th,
Emperor.
Thsiswindlers then asked for more money, an,
silk and gold thread, which they said they wante,
to finish the piece they had begun. But they put
as before. oil that was given them into their owl
pockets, and still continued to work with apparen
diligence at the empty loom.
Some time after, the Emperor sent another OF
hcer to see how the work was getting on, and i
the piece Of brocade was most finished. Bet h.
Jared like the Others he stared at The loom from
every eide, but as there was nothing there, o! cours
he could see only the empty frame. 4 A
Does the stuff not please you as much as it di
the minister" asked the men. making the sam
gestures as before, and talking of splendid colors
and Of patterns which cid not exist.
~"Stupid ] certainly am not" thought the new
commissioner; "then it must be that | am NOT I'll
ted for my lucrative ofice-that were a good joke
however, no one dare oven suspect such a thing.
And SO he began praising the stuff which be coul(
not see. aud told the two swindlers how pleased
he was 70 see. such. charming patterns. "Indeed
yOuraMajesty," said he to the Emperor, on his re
turn. 'the stuff which the WeaVers are making i
extraordinarily fne." a.8ltl1 e1 rss sT
The magnificent brocade that Inc Emperor, wa
having woven at his own expense, was the talk o
the whole town. ltFa a1s s.
The Emperor wished to see the costly stui
while it was on The loom; so. accompanied by
chosen train of courtiers, among whom we're tn
two trusty men who had so admired the work, Of
he vent to the cunning cheats. As soon as the,
hsArdof the EmperOr's approach, they began t
work with all diligence. although as yet there wa
not q single thread On the loom.