The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-08-11
ROYABTY In MINIATURE.
"Qaol ban petit roj c'etajtla
L0i MW


against their prince in 1889, commissioners
were sent by them to Paris to propose an
alliance with the French revolutionists
whereupon treaty was effected, which treaty
consisted of the two following articles:-
cart. l. There shall be peace and alliance
between the French republic and the repub-
lie of Monaco.
art II. The French republic is delighted
to make the acquaintance of the republic of
Monaco
The preparation of this excellent lest
no doubt contributed greatly to the good
humor of the reC0lVtj0anajrGs. but, if they
had looked little nearer home they might
have seen another separate sovereignty, in
comparison with which the principality of
Monaco, so much laughed at, would have ap-
peared gigantic. This was the ''iingdom of
Yvetot, which for more than thirteen hun
dred years remained a marvel to everybody
There was never anything like it before, and
there has never been anything like it since
1t was a curiosity, sort of ball within a
ball, like a Chinese puzzle Strange as
the statement may appear, there existed in
the heart of France, from the middle of the
sixth century nearly to the end of the eigh-
teenth, regularly organized kingdom, ruled
by king, whom France England, and all the
great powers recognized and respected-in
one sense at least-which high and mighty
kingdom, presided over by its suzerain, with
his privy council, high chamberlain, master
of the hounds, master of ceremonies, and
other dignitaries, consisted of an ordinary
chateau, and what would be called in this
country "a good farm
This farm was called, as we have said, the
'kingdom of Yvetot and was situated near
the present town of the same name in Nor
mandy, between Havre-de- Grace and Rouen.
The chateau, built, according to all accounts,
some time in the sixth century, may still be
standing. What is certain is, that here lived
and reigned a long line of monarchs whose
will was supreme within the boundaries of
the little domain; who paid no taxes of any
description to the neighboring and surround
ing kingdom of France, or to any other; who
took part or did not take part in the various
wars carried on 10y France, Just as they fan
cied; and who were treated with. ''as be-
tween crowned heads, 10y royalty elsewhere.
1t is not singular that this anomalous condi-
tiOn of things should have originated a num-
Der of jests at the expense of his majesty the
King OF Ivetot IN every generation. Ac-
cOrdingly, we have all manner Of caricatures,
lampoons, pasquinades, and good-humored
filings, at their NIaiesties in French prose
and verse-the most noted and best known,
doubtless, being Berangers ''ROi dEvetot.
In all these friendly-they are not unfriendly
--CHTlCdluTGS. you see llt Sdlllb DtISOutRG. II
fat little royal parsonage, mounted on an ass,
and followed by a dog, as fat and good
humored as himself, going from door to door
on his domain, chatting familiarly with his
peasant Subjects chucking the maidens under
their chins, patting babies on the head,
asking the news-who was mar
ried, or born, or dead-and never refusing the
good glass of wine proffered to this merry
little king by his subjects. Then on his re-
turn the four stalwart members of his body
guard, who have been working in the royal
garden, drop their hoes, hastily don their uni
forms, and salute this Jolly monarch as he
arrives upon his donkey; the four seam
stresses or housemaids, daughters of his
tenants, and ladies of the bedchamber, usher
him to his queen; he dimes en- tUHJiUc, waited
on by the one efoOtman who is lord high-cham-
berlain; and at night he puts on, instead of a
crown, an excellent and comfOrtable-night-
cap!
Such is the picture, half traditional, half
historic, of the King Of YvetOt 1t is al
together comic as the reader will perceive:
but under the humorous caricature there ap-
pears to have been a solid substratum of flct.
This seems to have amounted to what follows
The first SeigReur of YvetOt was Vauthier
chamberlain to King Clotaire l of France, son
of Clovis and Clotilda. The chamberlain is
represented to have been a man of great cour-
age, intelligence, and devotion - qualities
which made him favorite with ClOtaire: and
the result was that he stood in high favor
with his Majesty. Thence many heartburn
ings on the part of the other courters: much
jealousy of Lord Vauthier, as of one growing
too powerful; eventually a conspiracy to ruin
him with Clotaire the Long-haired. This
conspiracy, long ripening, came at last to a
head-Clotaires mind was artfully poisoned
~ i Il.
of his lord the King-and finally the conspi-
rators succeeded in filing Clotaire with
enormous rage against him-on what grounds
the authorities do not say. These were not
important, however. Vauthier was absent,
and the conspirators had it all their own wav
They clearly demonstrated that the chamber
lain was a traitor; and as in those davs.
kings we're often their own "iusticers. "
Clotaire publicly announced his inten-
tion to slay the Sieur d'Yvetot on
sight His majesty had put his
own nephews to death, as personages inter-
ferlng with his views; was known to be a
man who stuck at nothing; and when a friend
at court sent a messenger in haste to Vau-
thleF at his chateau, informing him of the
reception which awaited him from Clotaire.
on his return, Vauthier wisely made up his
mind not to expose his throat to the knife. or
As Drains 10 inc royal axe, ana haStcnCH to
put the Rhine and other broad streams be-
tween himself and King Clotaire,
For ten years, then, the Seienem dYvetot
remained abroad, hewing away with his sword
at the barbarOus ThUingians, enemies of the
true faith. AS Clotaire upheld the latter
Vauthier hoped that his 'record" in these
long years would restore him to favor with
the King; so, pining no doubt for M patrie
and sick of exile, he determined to venture
back, and throw himself upon the mercy of
his sovereign. He did so, but not without