The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1891-05-09
N Emperor S Decree,
Bv EDWARD & VAN ZlE

By EDWARD q VAN ZILE
copyright. All rights reserved.1
rho orOw or MIN VINO ruied the lana O
growing cloud was seen. What meant
this grange emotion of the king? Full
many time fools and their faucics had
stood before his throne. Why was it,
then, that Us he gazed upon the men
who argued heatedly before him now
his co1ntenance, SO gentle in its mold,
should grow SO stern and set? What il
this one boosted Of his gold and another
If his wife and child? Was that cause
for him who sat upon throne to lose
his poise and scowl as though his royal
head throbbed from painful thoughts:
So thought his courtiers Us they
watched their king and listened to tho
foolish prating Of the men who made
the light. After q time there was 81
lence in the hall, and . verdict in tho
case was hoped for from all who had
listened to the nonsense of the same.
But still the hing looked black, and
leaned his head upon his hand and
frowned. When, after time had passed,
he raised his reg..l brow. smiled sweetly
on the court and beckoned to an ancient
lord who stood we'll with his chief. In
whispered consultation the two old men
bent their heads together. while the
courtiers remained and wondered what
had happened to their ever ready king.
Az time went ON suspense became q po-
tent and \ growing pain. Why should
~ {vvnvNlo = ns1nutSnsH ~ S&s,1>k
delay the throne 90 long? The proof was
positive that hepe injustice had been
done, and though defendant claimed
handsome wife and most stupendous
child, the legal minds Of all who heard
his plea scoded Mt such defense.
Surprise was therefore great when still
another counselor was beckoned by the
king. Surely this was triAing with all
precedent. The courtiers smiled, then
coughed, then shifted nervously. Each
one felt that his most honored lord
was growing ve-y old. At length the
silence as of death fell upon the whisper.
ing throng. The emperor, Diminishing the
gray haired men who had come to his
assistance, agai'l fell to musing, and all
awaited his most fateful words. After
time he slowly rose.
Men of my realm" he said, ''and you
who bring your case to this, the court of
last resort, listen to your king. Ihave
heard the facts IN this most foolish suit
and I have been annoyed. There is not,
rs 1T seems to me, truly modest man
left in my domain. The egotist is all SUI
preme. You boast of your wealth, Your
wife, your bate. My courtiers stand
about feeling proud that they possess
neither wealth nor wife nor babe. Our
young men boast of their strength, and
our old men claim to be wise. Homely
women think they arc fair, and fair
women try to seem bright. Even
the children who play Mt our knees smile
in IN egotistic way. Conceit in all its
forms is rampant in the land love so
well. have held counsel with tho truly
wise men Of my domain. They tell mo
to be firm. shall be. assure you. The
egotist must 60. There is in my vast
empire no room for him who feels in his
puffed up heart that he is greater than
the worm which wrigyles beneath our
feet. Listen then, nil Of You, and let
the lord keeper Of the scrolls note care
fully my words. If hereafter any ono of
my subjects shall express by word or
deed or manner overwecning satisfac-
ton in his achievements, his possessions
or his appearance he shall lose his head.
Any case which comes under this new
law shall be tried by me and my ad-
visers. You may go. The suit which
led to this command is of too trivial l.
character to call for my decree. And
take heed, all of you. how you give !;
voice to the egotistic thoughts that are |!
boiling in your brains."
One by one the courtiers filed from
the hall. casting dark looks upon the Lac. !
the thin and evil looking
Ramek. the king had summoned to his |
throne. But Ramek. the wise, needed
not their looks as he plucl.ed flower in
the garden and placed it in his bosom.
For well he knew that he controlled the
ear OF the king. and when he wished to
raise storm the royal clouds would an.
swer to his word. And in this case he
had his ends to serve, for he loved the
laughter OF the king and feared that his
rival. Prince Hamassar, had already won
the hand of the Princess Bru.
Then throughout the city spread tho !
news ut the emperor's decree. Over
Mountains. plains and rivers Travelled
he words of the new law, and in dis.
ant villages the people g.oaned in fear
hat their king was growing old and
aarsh. The faces of tho women wore
arcast:c smiles. and playfully would
hey cnjoin their husbands to keep their
lcads. But the men llar,nurca, and in
ONE place, the ever ready plotter saw -