Stevens County tribune. (Morris, Minn.) 1877-1880, 1878-12-12
A KINGS NEW-YEAR'S NIGHT.

L
TWAS in the evening of the 3lst of
December, 1899, that King Henery ". of
France lay yawning on the sumptuous
lounge of his sittingroom, in the mag.
nifcent palace of the Louvre, in Paris.
He was then forty-seven years old, but
looked much younger. He had accom-
plished what almost every body at the time
had deemed an utter impossibility-he
had made himself the sole and sovereign
ruler of one Of the great nations of the
Old World, which, until then, had been
torn into discordant and bitterly hostile
factions. He had made France more
powerful than ever, and, with the assist
ance of the great Sully, restored the pop
ular prosperity to such an extent, that
every body said, France has never before
had such great and wise Monarch"
At the same time his personal amiabil-
ity and magnetism were such that the
people idOhZed him. and that he could do
with impunity what none of his Royal
predecessors had dared to do-namely,
to go out alone and unarmed in the dead
of night into the streets of Paris, which
were then narrow, crooked and very dark
But Henry ", Notwithstanding his ex
traordinary successes and his proverbial
good humor, had at times the blues, asd
such was the case on this occasion
"rhese incesSant stiff court festivals
he said to himself, shave become disgust
ing to me. This is New Years night, and
do not intend to spend it in the midst
of my fawning courtiers. believe will
sally ont into the street in plain attire
and mingle with the people. That will
be by far more amusing to me-"
He dotted his ricn velvet suit, d0nned
rather threadbare clothes, put on an old
soldiers hat filed his pockets with gold.
pieces, wrapped himself into a white
cloak, and left the palace through Sc
cret passage without being seen by any,
- body.
As be stepped into the street, neigh
boring clock struck ten. He walked
hastily over the Vaulting bridge that
spanned the Seine, and soon found HIM
self in that labyrinth Of narrow and
crooked streets where the bulk of the
Partisan population lived at that time.
The streets were crowded yet, for the
Parisians always went late to bed.
Bending into the Rue de Courbo7s,
the disguised King saw large crowd fol-
lowing strange procession, which
moved toward the eastern end of the
street.
Accelerating his steps, the King was
not long in Overtaking this procession.
He was surprised beyond measure up
on perceiving that it consisted Of half
naked women, whom some twenty arch
ers were dragging along. The women
were weeping and sobbing, and the crowd
seemed to sympathiz7 with them.
At last the procession halted in from
of large and brilliant building.
It was the Office of the Lieutenant o.
Police. Monsieur De Goroy, one Of tht
most influential men in the country, a!
his powers extended all over France.
The archers dragged the unfortunate
pris 0nrs into the vestibule of the office
There young man received them.
"Bawds', he said to them, harghtily
tonight you will receive your fifty lashe
here and to morrow the same dose at thu
Spinning house, where you will be con
fined for five years."
The young women burst into loud Ia
mentstions. Many of them protested
emphatically that they were respectable
girls, and that the archers had dragged
them wantonly out of the houses of thei
parents. The man who had announce,
their sad fate to them, turned his bac
on them scornfully, and ordered tn
archers to take them to the whipping
post, when Henry w., who had quietl
entered the place, said to him:
s'How do you know that these wome
are bawds9"
1--WE have to leave that to the archer
who arrest them" answered the man. "a
any rate, it's none of your business, oil
fellow. Get out of here!'
"Ho, ho!" rejoined the King. "Non
of your impertinence. / am the beare
of message to Monsieur de Goroy, I'll
Maiesty's Lieutenant of Police"
"Ahp
"Where can find Monsieur De Goroyi
HE is at carousal at the Golde
Hart tavern. I'm his nephew, Chando
De yicitry, and attend to his business
his absence. Where is your message?"
"You won't get it, young chap. All,
King Henry ". knew how you were ca
rying on herep
"You mean about those women2"
ell, yes.
"Pardieu, Monseigneur De Culavr
the Governor of Paris, told my uncle Il
other day there were too many bawds
Paris, and 80 be must arrest every mig
forty or fifty girls"
II thought the Lieutenant of Poll
did not receive any orders from any boo
but the King9"
sold fellow, you are right. But
does, though, and how is the King goil
to find it out2 Henry w. pays no 8
tention to such trihes. they say that
is now revolving in his mind plan
conquer the whole world"
..Maybe he will, one day." remark
the King, significantly.
"Do you know Henry ". then
ssDo / know him2n fought very Gle
to His Majesty at the battle of Iyry.n
'Ahl You are an old soldier, tht
Come with me into the room, and tell
some of your stories about the pars
have some nice warm spiced wine insi'
You will like il. It's genuine Ne