San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-04-02
An Emperor 5 Decree.
By EDWARD s. VAN zILE

| There was not q sound In the hall
Every one knew that life or death hung
upon the next words Of the king, and
Ramek gazed eagerly at the stern face
upon which all eyes were turnad.
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. you break the letter and
the spirit of our law Your crime. if l
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 a man of
straw. The law must be enforced.
and my child have loved you well. 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. "Hamassar. 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. Hanassar's face was white, but
his lips trembled not at all Suddenly
upon the startled air arose 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: "Oh. spare hint Spare
him! Save him for my sakeT
Silence, my child" the emperor
sternly 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 curtiy,
"but see to 1t that your words are few
and to the point"
Stepping forward until he stood in full
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 loc'I at
Prince Hanassars case. The witnesses
have shown that in an egotistic way he
boosted of his nose. He spoke not of
his 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
ttsEI. but to make our people modest.
Therefore | say that its spirit will be
carried out in full if 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
60 hand in hand.
A roar of applause resounded through
the palace as the old mans clever speech
came TO a sudden end. The emperor
looked pleased and seemed to reflect that
a nose is not essential to son-in-law,
The Princess Bru clapped her fair hands
delightedly. and even Hanassar seemed
to lay aside for moment his studied
and phleginatic 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. "You were not wont
to be rattlepate."
Nor am makiry foolish interruption
now, my lord; but as subject some
times useful to the state | 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
his persuasive voice went to my Utmost
soul. But bear in mind, my king, that
| this especial case will serve for pre-
cedent, and as the late decree is now in
terpreted SO shall its influence for all
time be felt. Now, mark you! Accord
ing to the counselor who just now spoke
! it is sufficient for the law that he who
disobeys it should lose that of which he
: boosted. HamaSsar then forfeits to the
state his nose But we must bear In
mind that he also showed IN word and
manner. quote from the decree, over
weening satisfaction in his betrothed,
According. therefore. to our friends in
depreciation Hamassar's nose and your