The morning call., 1890-08-31

And break his looking glass.
@5O thought Thomas Carlyle when he
@2 answered the query as to the Brit
9S ish population, 100000, mostly
FOOLS
The picturesque fool as we know him In
romance-the creature with the motley and
tinkling bells-typified human intelligence
masquerading before brute force and await
ing an opportunity to assert itself, mean
time working in an indirect way toward its
redemption.
Like the first Brutus, the human mind
made itself ridiculous to save itself from
extinction. 1t carried as its gift to the
future worthless reed. and triumphant
force never suspected that the reed was
filled with thought of gold. The fool carried
a wooden sword or baube-crowned stick,
and the King saw in 1t no prophecy OF what
his own Scepter one day would be. The
fool also wore q cowl which ended in the
ears of an ass, and my Lord Abbot saw in
it little that was offensive and nothing por-
tentous.
The fool was licensed to speak in the iron
age, because he was supposed to be harm
less. What wonder, then, that wisdom
often masqueraded in his suit, and took
advantage of the only outlet for free speech
which then existed? True, the jester, if he
stung more than he amused, was sometimes
whipped, but as rule the majority
shared in his laugh, and diplomacy sec
Onded wit
The origin of the court fool is hard to
trace. He is believed to have flourished in
the time of the Saxon Kings, and COrteZ
fou nd him at the court OF M0ntezuma. In
the strict character of jester he could
hardly have existed in Europe until after
N N Ri for E'nrnnp
to that time the sense of humor had not
been sufficiently developed to make Occa-
sion for Il professional jester
The jests of the FreDch and Normans
were boasts. and were called "gabs-
whence the expression of to-day, gift Of
the CAB" The word in medieval Latin
was 'gaDa," supposed to be derived from
the classical Latin word "cavlla," mock
or taunt. In the practice Of bOastlng the
fun-maker may have been developed and
probably became to the court what Sir Kay
was in the legends of King Arthur.
But whatever was the origin OF court
fools it is certain that the kings of France
possessed them in the middle Of
THE FOURTEENTH CENTURY,
And from this time anecdotes about them
began TO be common. One of these stories re-
latcs to the victory OF Sluys, gained over
1t is said that no one dared to announce
this to the French King, Philippe ", until
a court fool undertook the task. Entering
the Kings chamber he kept muttering to
himself, but loud enough to be heard:
"Those cowaraly English! The chicken
hearted Britons."
How so, cousin?" the King inquired
why" replied the fool, because they
have not courage enough to jump into the
sea, like your French soldiers, who went
over headlong from their ships, leaving
those to the enemy. who showed no incli-
nation to follow them." The King thus
became aware of the full extent of his ca
lamity.
II was with the court fool that the cos
tune was introduced which has ever since
been considered as the characteristic mark
OF folly. The motley garment was probably
worn with the aim of satiriZing one OF the
fashions of the fourteenth century, as were
also the bells.
In the illustration copied from Wrghts
History OF Carcature and Grotesque" may
be seen the court fool in one variety of COS
tune. The c0wl or cap is fitted with asses
ears. There are bells to the sleeves.
The Institution Of the court fool was car