The Sunday morning news. [volume] (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1886-1891, 1891-01-04

nurmured among themselves and there
was an echo Of pity III their tones For
doubtless most of them knew that wine
when taken in excess plays strange
pranks with men, And to them all it
seemed as though Hamassar's words had
not been greatly out Of place, fdf the
beauty of the princess dazzled them all
and they had to acknowledge that
Hamassar's nose was a work of art,
Such lenient thoughts as these entered
not the einperors head He sat buried
In contemplation for q while after lie
last witness had stepped aside.
aHarnassar" said the king, 1.-THE evil
dence in all its details hes before me.
What have you to say before tell your
DOOM"
Most gracious lore, in firm and man
~ voice the prince replied, the honesty
Of these, my friends, | cannot well i'm
peach, for what they say they say UNI
willingly But in very truth | reInem-
Der nothing Of the boastful words they
charge me with Your cleneney ask
not. but let me say that never in my con
scious thoughts have had wish to dis
OueJ your fcIt Wise NSc4cS.
The fearless manner of the prince i'm
pressed the throng, and u murmur of ap-
plause caused smile to cross the face Of
the Princess Bru For moment even
the emperor looked less stern But it
was only for moment. His brow again
darkened and he communed in silence
with himself
There was not sound In the hall.
Every one knew that life or death hung
upon the next words of the king. and
Ramex gazed eagerly at the stern face
upon which all eyes were turned,
Your words, Hamassar, said the en-
peror at length are doubtless true, but
they alter not the sentence that must
come. In your own home. before two
hundred guests. yen break the letter and
the spirit Of our law Your crime, if
forgive you. would corrupt the land. and
once again the egotist and braggart
would meet us at every turn. My word
would be but wind to my people, and
they would call their king man Of
straw The law must be enforced.
and my child have loved you we'll, and
your sad fate has filed our hearts
with gloom. But though father, am
also a king. must be firm. although
long to grant you mercy" He paused
here, and there were those who thought
they heard him sob. tHamassar, your
sentence pronounce Before to-mor-
rows sun has set behind the hills your
head must fall May the deities that
love our land be kind to you.
A dread silence followed these fateful
words. Hainassar's face was white, but
his lips trembled not at all Suddenly
upon the startled air arose d shrek and,
rushing forward. the Princess Bru sprang
up the stairway to the throne. Throw
ing her white arms about her fathers
neck she cried: aOh. spare hiini Spare
himi Saye him for my sakel'
Silence. my child. the emperor
gternly cried. though his hand touched
her shoulder lovingly Remember you
are the daughter Of king Guards, re-
move the prisoner.
Most gracious lord" exclaimed
white haired man pushing his way
through the throng permit me word
before the prisoner departs.
Speak said the emperor curtly.
sbut see to it that your words are few
and to the point
Stepping forward until he stood in fun
view Of the crowd, the old man said:
THAT his head is forfeit to the state
according to the ruling of our king is
true. heard them and know. But
in our courts the spirit. not the letter,
Of the law is held to be the highest guild
ance for our use. Now, let US look at
Prince Halnassar's case. The witnesses
have shown that III an egotistic way he
boosted Of his nose He spoke not Of
bis head. nor claimed that any feature
but his nose was worthy Of all praise.
What followsy The letter of the law de-
mands that he shall lose his head But
| this punishment is too severe. The de-
cree was laid down not to Cypress our
land. but to make our people modest
| Therefore | say that its spirit VIII be
carried ont in full ii Prince Hamassar's
nose is severed from his face. Let him
lose that of which he Dragged, and If, in
the future. he shall vaunt the beauty Of
| his ears, or call his hands unrivaled, let
| further mutilation be his fate. This is
strict justice, and mercy and reason here
| go hand in hand.
! A roar Of applause resounded through
the palace as the old mans clever speech
came to sudden end The emperor
looked pleased and seemed to reflect that
a nose is not essential to ii son-in-law.
| The Princess Bru clapped her fair hands
delightedly, and even Hanassar seemed
| to lay aside for moment his studied
and phlegmatic pose.
"Old man, you have spoken well, the
emperor said. "Your reasoning is most
| profound. hereby revoke the sentence
| just pronounced and decree that"
Most gracious king" broke in Ramek,
rushing forward. grant me moment
before you take another step"
What means this noise, wise Ramek?"
the emperor cried. ssYou were not won't
| to be rattlepate."
| Nor am making foolish interruption
now, my lord; but as a subject some
times useful to the state I crave your
notice to word or two."
"Go ON, then, and be quick"
Permit me, then, to say that in his
argument my aged friend has spoken
| brilliantly. He is skillful in the law and