The diamond drill., 1890-02-15
THE QUEEN WINS.

tocracy still dapced through the
saloons OF the royal castles. Maurepas
still reigned prime minister-that
Same friend OF humanity who made
the compassionate decision concerning
tho peoples welfare: why build
hospitals. Can not people die ON the
roads II they likep'
This evening Maurepas had the
honor OF being permitted 10 lead the
beautiful Marie Antoinette TO the card
table. but complaining of severe
headache as they passed through the
saloon. the good queen excused him
from further attendance that the pain
might not be increased. As he was
Fastening back through the ante
chamber 10 the dancing hall. where
the king was taking his coffee. he per-
ceived beneath the gobelin tapestry OF
the famous Louyois window IA man in
citizens dress. who regarded him ex-
pectantly and bowed low before him.
1T Is all right. Dumonet." wnis-
pered the asthmatic old man; "this
evening his majesty will taste OF it."
And he forthwith thrilled out one OF
his hundred madrigals. which. in
truth, were tame enough. but which
his flatterers found very witty. In
the royal apartment be saw just then
Louis XVI. take from sugar basin
two delicately broken Jumps OF sugar
and sweeten his coffee with them. AS
the king took a mouthful OF the coffee
the ministerial friend OF the people
approached and asked respectfully:
'How docs your majesty find the
coffee this EVENING""
LAS usual, excellent"
THE best mocha Is always upon
your majesty's table; but does the
ness OF the coffeeP'
Louis XVI. was sensitive 10 mock
cry and and irony even to tlmidity;
therefore he said inquiringly:
what do you mean by that"
Maurepas laughed. "Your majesty,
permit me one question. How much
sire, do you think these two pieces OF
sugar costP" The king looked uneasy.
do you wish 10 test my mathemat-
ical abilityP" Maurepas continued 10
laugh. We'll. then. / will answer
your problem: Sugar costs the peo-
pie about 80 sous u pound. III reckon
eighty pieces 10 the pound IL makes
sou for each piece; but since 10 me as
king everything Is quadrupled, have
this evening consumed 8 sous worth
OF sugar"
This sugar is the gift OF one OF
your subjects. who counts himself
happy that IL Is considered worthy OF
place on your majesty's table; there
fore 1t costs you nothing. sire, but the
giver values every piece at full
Louis dor"
You are beside yourself NJ. do
Maurepas. Eighty Louis. d. or for
pound OF sugari Az that rate 1 should
be compelled 20 sell Ramboulllet to
supply my brother with sugar for n
year. for you know he takes IA handful
TO every cup. But explain 10 me your
jest"
''In moment. your majesty" And
he took the sugar basin and emptied
the contents upon the marble table
and counted the pieces. "Forty-thrce.
with the ones used forty-hve. worth
1850 francs; but look, your majesty.
what dazzling whitcness aud how light
II is and how sweet, without any bitter
after-t ste."
"Come. now" said Louis. interrupt
ing his babble, lis sugar ever bitterp"
And your majesty will never guess
from what this sugar is made.
The king Vas not without somo
knowledge Of chemistry, therefore he
answered hesitatingiy:
Naturally from the sugarcanc.
Pardon me. your majesty, IL Is
bcetroot sugar"
'Beetroot What Is beet-root?n
The 1u.haaa Of ffhut.tpanaa vhn xvo n
listening. drew near and said: "Beets.
sire. arc little red leaves, OF which my
servants make salad.
M. dc Maurepas cut OFT her oxplana-
tion with malicious laugh. "Bects
are edible roots. which people rs we'll
ns cattle find palatable, and now they
hive been found TO yield sugar"
Respect kept tho brilliant company
out OF hearing distance. and they
watched eagerly the strange proceed
ings. All this examining Weighing.
and counting OF the sugar tossed up
the court gossip among them like a
bright soap-bubble. Who hrst whis-
percd IL: ''rhc king has been poisoned
by cup OF coffeeg"
"lIeaven forbid And we have
drunk the same coffee ~
mo. not the ootfec--it was the SUI
gar"
Some one go tell the queen :"
So whispered. murmurcd. and chat
tered the excluded circle.
Marie Antolnotte sat with the
duchess OF Polignac. her tsndc rly Low.
cd friend. at cards
What nils you. Agatha?" asked she
kindly. ns the favorte sighed.
Ar tina dc PoIIgnas raised her
rosuirh brown head and said. saucily