Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1871-02-04

reached the small but happy kingdom of
Burinapoor. The native king, knowing
his own weakness against the mighty hosts
Of Alexander, received him and his army
Hospitality. He sent messenger to in.
vite Alexander to his modest palace, and
prepared banquet. When the conqueror
was seated, he beheld . most singular
spectacle. Instead of tho usual fish and
flesh and fowl aud bread, all that was
placed before him was either of gold. silver,
or precious stones. Thus, instead Of the
soup there was plate of emeralds. The
goblet Of pearls. Birds srtistically made
Of gold were served up to him, and silver
loaves were there to represent the wheaton
loaf.
DO you cat gold and silver and drink
pearls in your land ?" asked Alexander as
tonished.
"Can I believe" said tile native king
"that you, the great conqueror of the
world, who has left your own land to sub
due the remotest kingdoms of the earth
can l think that you can feel satisfied to
be fed from the usual productions of the
land like other men !? Surely, of grain,
meat, and wine you have plenty in your
own country. Your roaming aud con-
quests can have no other object but riches
aud power. Here there is gold, silver,
and precious stones. Eat aud drink them,
aud show US that you are more than COM
mon mortal"
Alexander, who could at times appreci-
ate stern truths, kindly answered, "My
friend, lave not come to conquer nor to
rob your kingdom. l wish simply to in.
form myself cfyour habits, your customs,
aud your laws"
"Alas, great conquerorv r said the ma.
tive prince. " if inquisitive princes thirst.
ing for knowledge should all adopt your
plan, BY bringing an armed host along with
them to learn the customs and laws of dis.
tant lands, there would be little of either
left after the departure Of such body Of
philosophic travellers. However, will
crafty the curiosity of my great guest"
CIapping his hands he demanded of the
attendants whether any causes or lawsuits
were at that moment before the great cato
Of the palace; aud, finding that there
were. Let the suitors como before me-"
said the native king.
Two villagers then appeared before the
king. The first one addressed him thus :
81 have bought small piece of ground
from this my neishbor. Digging upon it
for we'll l suddenly discovered hidden
treasure, which I forthwith took to my
neighbor, telling him that although l
bought land I did not buy gold and silver
from him therefore the treasure belongs
to him."
The second villagcr said, "May it please
the king, when sold my neighbor the
land felt that I had no further right nor
title to it; how then can accept the treas.
ure which no longer belongs to me?
The king, strokiug his long beard, asked
whether the contending parties had chill.
drcn.
"Yes," was the reply, "we have. both
Of US sons and daughters"
swell, then" said the king, b" my judg.
mcnt is, that the, daughter of the one liti.
CANT marry the son Of the other, and the
treasure be given as dowry."
The villagers thanked the king and left
rejoicing.
Alexander, who had listened to this
strange suit aud the kings decision, could
not conceal his astonishment.
"Has my decision failed to obtain your
appreciation" demanded the native king
Of Alexander. "How would you, in your
own country, iu case like this, have do.
cidcd2"
"In my country" said Alexander, the
autocrat and couqueror speaking in every
word, "a treasure found in the bowels Of
tho earth, no matter who the owner Of the
surface may be, belongs to the king. and
would put to instant death any subject of
mine who, finding treasure should dare
to conceal or fail to deliver to the authori.
ties within the day."
The native king, much astonished, aud
looking at Alexander attentively, At last
said: Pray tell me, great couqueror, does
the sun shine in your countryi"
Certainly" said Alexander.
How strange!" said the native king.
musiugly. "Does it rain in your country?"
no asked again.
Certainly" replied Alexander.
Wonderful" murmured the native.
Have you any domestic animals iu your
land |"
"Of course We havc," answered Alex
ander.
Hal" cried the native prince, relieved.
ait is for the sake Of these poor animals
that good aud wise Providence allows the
blessed sun to shine and the rain to fall
upon your fields; for surely you and your
people, o great king, do not deserve these
blessings"
~ A benevolent citizen of Brunswick,
Germany, supplies blankets to the poor
during the winter months. They are
stamped, to prevent them from being sold
or pe~nsd, and are returned in May. The
system has been in operation six years,