The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1890-11-02


east an emperor who loved his people
and was beloved by them. He had
grown old happily, and no wasteful wars
had reduced his Golfers nor whitened the
hair upon his majestic head. Strong,
calm and dignifed, he welded pater-
nal scepter above his subjects, and when
he went among them they bowed before
him in affection. 1t had come about as
the years went by that his people con-
suited him upon all kinds of curious
problems, and if another doubted the
vigor of her babe she sought audience of
the king. Merchants and lawyers, doc
tors and soothsayers, took much stock in
his royal judgment, and when his eye
beamed hopefully there was joy through
out the land.
Thus it happened that the emperor
was nearer to his people than are his
kind in modern days, and he felt the
pulse of his race and knew the health,
so to speak, of his kingdom at large.
Watching closely, therefore, the temper
of those about him, the aged sovereign,
as time went on, became convinced
that the besetting sin Of those who
called him king was self conceit. This
worried him, and in the dark watches
of the night he would toss about upon
his royal couch, crying, 'Egotists, oh,
egotistsH'
As the conviction grew upon him
the peace of his earlier days fast fed
Ii A l., l.
held immodesty abhorrent, and prayed
to the strange gods whose presence filled
his mind to keep his people humble in
his sight. 1t may be that this itself was
proof that he was not as modest as an
earnest king should he, but still the fact
remains that they who make obeisance
to a monarch should hold their pride in
check.
There was one strong reason why the
emperor should be SO firm in this regard,
for he possessed no heir, and in the course
of nature his throne would descend TO
his daughter and her spouse. Thus was
It that he wished TO leave modest
Kingdom and one easy to be ruled.
One morning, as the emperor paced
his audience hail, these thoughts were
thick upon him. Why should men hold
their heads so high and women plume
themselves upon their beauty? Was not
death the end of al? The rainbow faded
and the flowers had died The bloom
upon the forest must depart. and the
golden glory that made the sea so fair
must pass away with night. He HIM
self had once been lusty, and soft. white
hands had sTnoothed his face and called
him beautiful, but now old age had
creased his face and crowned his head
with snow. Why should men walk Sc
jauntily, and women talk as though they
held the secret Of immortal youth? Sure
ly, of all the sins that tempt the human
race, none is SO foolish as that of sell
conceit. Thus thought the emperor as
he looked about upon his court and won.
dered why his advisers We're so richly
dressed.
AS the morning passed the good old
potentate grew grave. Case after case
came before his notice, and in every ID.
stance the conceit of man had made es
sentlal protest to the throne. Never be-
fore had the passion of self conceit
seemed to him so hateful, and as the day
went on his royal brow grew black. His
courtiers, grouped around. looked I'D al
him in dread, for they knew his heart
was kind, and feared to see his gentle
face so strangely overcast.
What thinks the king that he should
speak SO sharp" they whispered to each
other in tones of dread, and when he
turned his rowing eyes upon them they
shuddered through and through anc
pulled each others robes and coughed
AT length there came before the king ;
man whose dress betokened wealth
Raising his voice he spoke in tones thai
thrilled the throng and boosted of hi.
wealth. Then asked he of the emperor
revenge upon man who, as he claimed
had wronged him of his gold.
The man who was accused stepped
forward then and loudly claimed tina
he himself was rich, and of his menta
force had made his wealth. And fur
ther still he boosted of his probity ant
pulled his wife and said that his child
was fat. The courtiers laughed, but O,
the brow of him who ruled the land
growing cloud was seen. What mean
this strange emotion of the king? Full
many a time fools and their fancies ha,
stood before his throne. Why was ii
then, that as he gazed upon the mel
who argued heatedly before him nov
his countenance, so gentle in its mold
should grow so stern and set? What i
this one boosted of his gold and anothe
Of his wife and child? Was that caus
for him who sat upon throne to los
his poise and scowl as though his roya
head ihrobbed from painful thoughts:
So thought his courtiers as the,
watched isaeir king and listened to th
foolish lsating of the men who mad
the light. After a time there was 81
lellce in the hall, and a verdict in tn
case was hoped for from all who ha,
listened to the nonsense of the same
But still the king looked black, am
leaned his head upon his hand an,
frowned. When, after time had passed
he raised his regal brow, smiled sweet
on the court and beckoned to an ancien
lord who stood well with his chief. L
Whispered consultation thrtwo old me-
bent their heads together. while tn
courtiers remained and wondered wha
had happened TO their ever ready king
As time went on suspense became a pc
tent and a growing pain. Why shout,