San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-04-01


many a time fools and their fancies had
stood before his throne. Why was it,
then, that as he gazed upon the men
who argued heatedly before him now
his countenance, so gentle in its mold,
should grow so stern and set? What if
this one boosted of his gold and another
of his wife and child? Was that a 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 as they
watched their king and listened to the
foolish prating of the men who made
the fight. After a time there was 81
lence in the hall, and verdict in the
case was hoped for from all who had
listened to the nonsense of the same.
But still the king looked black, and
leaned his head upon his hand and
frowned. When, after time had passed,
he raised his regal brow, smiled sweetly
on the court and beckoned to an ancient
lord who stood well 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.
AS time went on suspense became a Pc
tent and IA growing pain. Why should
so simple question of right and wrong
delay the throne so long? The proof was
positive that here injustice had been
done, and though defendant claimed a
handsome wife and most stupendous
child, the legal minds of all who heard
his plea scoffed at such defense.
Surprise was therefore great when stih
another counselor was beckoned by the
king. Surely this was trif1ing with an
precedent. The courtiers smiled, then
coughed, then shifted nervously. Each
one felt that his most honored lord
was growing very old. At length the
silence as of death fell upon the whisper
ing throng. The emperor, dismissing the
gray haired men who had come to his
assistance, again fell to musing, and AN
awaited his most fateful words. After
time he slowly rose.
MEN of my realm" he said, land you
who bring your case to this, the court Of
last resort, listen to your king. have
heard the facts in this most foolish suit
and have been annoyed. There is not.
as it seems TO me, a truly modest man
left in my domain. The egotist is all su-
preme. You boast of your wealth, your
wife, your babe. 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 are fair, and fair
women try to seem bright Even
the children who play at our knees smile
in an egotistic way. Conceit in all its
forms is rampant in the land love SO
well. have held counsel with the truly
wise men of my domain. They tell me
to be firm. shall be, l assure You. The
egotist must go. There is in my vast
empire no room for him who feels in his
pulled up heart that he is greater than
the worm which wriggles beneath our
feet. Listen then, all of you, land let
the lord keeper of the scrolls note care
fully my words. If hereafter any one ST
my subjects shall express by word or
deed or manner overweening satisfao-
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
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 Last
counselor, the thin and evil looking
Ramek, the king had summoned to his
throne. But Ramek, the wise, needed
not their looks as he plucked a 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
daughter of the king and feared that his
rival, Prince Hamassar, had already won
the hand Of the Princess Bru.
Then throughout the city spread the
news Of the emperor's decree. Over
mountains, plains and rivers Travelled
the words of the new law, and in dis
tant villages the people groaned in fear
that their king was growing old and
harsh. The faces of the women wore
sarcastic smiles, and playfully would
they enjoin their husbands to keep their
heads. But the men murmured, and in
some place, the ever ready plotter saw
chance to raise revolt; for even in the
most peaceful kingdom there is always
present the man who loves to stir up the