The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1877-05-31

: More authentic is that naughty obserya
= ton Of William Rufus that at be had
duties toward God, God had had also
duties toward him." Happier, had il
! been moro revercnty expressed, wa:
the thought of Alfonso the Wise, of Cas-
t tile, who, latter drawing up his astronomi
, cal tables in accordance with the scicn
t tific theories Of the day, and placing the
, earth in the centre Of the universe, re-
marked that, had he qeen consulted, be
! should have placed the sun in the centre
But before the handmade charity is dis
missed she must be made to tell slight
ly improper story. According TO an.
Gent chronicler, Saint Bernard as alb
bot was exceedingly hospitable to all
who claimed the shelter of the monas-
terry. Like a kindly host, he thought
moreover, that he was bound to keep
his guests in countenance and one day,
accordingly when be had drunk, cup for
cup, with some thirsty travellers, posi-
bly, German barons, the saint-One
bushes to write it-behaved even as one
who hath partaken of cucumbers at a
public feast. His monks gently re-
preached their superior. Naughty
children" quoth he, with vinous sophis-
try, at is not !, but charity, that hath
eaten and drunken"
There was another Bernard, Simple
/ priest, with no honorary prefix Of can
onization to his name, who seems to
havo carried out in daily life the hard
est rules of the gospel. One day he
called on minister of state to demand
the assistance of the government IN re-
spect to a work of charity. The minis
ter was obdurate, but NJ. Bernard was
not easily ropulsed. He continued to
urge his request, and at lenghth succeed
eli IN putting his excellency into a vio
lent passion. The minister even forgot
himself SO far rs 10 give the priest a box
on The ear. Immediately Bernard fell on
bis knees, turned the other cheek, and
said, "Monseigneur, give me another
buffet and grant me my request" The
minister, already heartily ashamed Of
himself, and filled with admiration for
this true Christian, torwith granted him
all he asked for. Perhaps the precepts
in the Sermon on the Mount are no mere
figures of speech, bat practical lessons
OF conduct dict ated by a wisdom higher
than that of the earth.
To return once more 10 charity, which
is surely dIscerner of the thoughts and
intents Of the heart, and the ways OF
which are therefore worth studying,
there is story which rebounds much
to the credit of the unfortunate and al
most imbecile Charles ii. of Spain.
When very young he was performing
Oh foot the stations OF the Jubilee. A
beggar crossing his path, the king flung
him a cross of diamonds without so
much as looking at it, and without any
body at the moment perceiving what he
had done. When he had entered the
church, however, his courtiers noticed
the absence OF the cross from his breast,
and cried out that their master had been
robbed. The bcggar, who had folio wed, |
Immediately camc forward, saving,
"Here is the cross; twas his majesty |
who gave it to me-" The king confirm
ed the land then it was perceiv-
ed the first time that be had given away |
one Of the crown jewels. But he was
too much of n gentleman to take it back
without giving the man an cquevolent;
and besides, as a Christian and a Catho.
lie, he felt that the gift was sacred, hav-
ing been made In the very act ofprayer.
He, therefore, had the diamond valued,
bought it back from the mendicant
at its proper value, namely, twelve
thousand crowns. 1t was royalty done.
Less magnificent, but not less sincere,
was the charity of Robert H. of France,
the gentle, pious king, the author Of that
most sweet and, beautiful of Latin
hymns, the Veni, ,SanctLe SpirHuS." A
thief one day, by dexterous use Of the
knife, was cutting the gold fringe from
-he kings dress. "Stop my frlend,"
luoth Robert, "you have now half; leave
he other halt for some one else" 1t
was this Robert who, in spite OF his pie
y and docility OF temper, managed car
y in his reign to embroil himself with
he church. lie had married, in 995,
Bertha, widow of Eudes count OF Blois,
whom he dearly loved but there were
ome difficulties as to the lawfulness OF
no marriage. Popo Gregory V. refus-
ID dispensation, and declared the mar
age void. The king refused obedience,
n CONSCIENCE of which he was excom-
and i; is related how I'M
Ter this terrible sentence, his palace
vas deserted by all but two menlals,
Who, after every meal, purified by fire
he utensils employed at the royal table.
Robert at length yielded, and put away
Bertha in 99S, marrying IN her stead,
Constance, daughter of tho count Of
Toulouse, beautiful shrew, who led
i'm a dismal life. Often in bestowinp
harity on his beloved poor, the king
would say with smile that i'll dissem-
led real fear, "Mind and don't tell the
ueen." lie went on pilgumages TO all
ne shrines in France, and in 1919 went
o Rome TO visit the tombs Of the apos.
les. This last journey he made for
hree reasons-frst, from a feeling OF
eviction; secondly, TO get away from
queen Constance thirdly $50 curious is
he mixture of human motiyes), with the
lew of inducing the pope to annul his
marriage with his first wife, Bertha
'hich reveals an alarming confusion of
ieas on the subject of morality in the
lind of the good king.-Cornh!l Maya
inc.