San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1892-03-24
SINGLE SATURDAYS.
BY REBA GREGORY PRELAT.

my Dig girls looking up from the
ever present history book, with dark
indignant eyes. The good kings
don't seem TO have any better time
than the bad ones, and some OF the
worst men are the best rulers"
Oh! that perpetual struggle OF the
young mind, after the outward and
visible symbol'-the difficulty i5
finds in the abstract, how almost i'm
possible to make it accept the state
menJ that the rain TAILS on the just
and unjust alike, and that the wet
ting does not really matter. The
wicked must flourish for time,
otherwise how would they possess
the knowledge of contract which
renders their fall so ACCOUNTING.
Yet it is the green OF that perpetu-
alDay tree which appeals 10 the young.
Their strong dramatic craving
claims to be present at the final
Judgment, which is 10 wither that
triumphant and superintendent fol-
Iage.-
History tells US what successful
sinners did, but religion leave US to
infer the state of mind, which be-
came their punishment.
The two Old kings, that she is
comparing, illustrate this idea SO
fnrcIbly Philip Augustus IL. of
France and Louis w.
IneIr influence Is still practically
about US. students study today i'll
the University of Paris, founded by
the iormer, and the latter gives his
name TO our city OF Saint Louis.
THE SINNER AND THE SAINT.
No greater contrast can be offered
than is to be found in the character
of Philip Augustus and Saint Louis.
They had but one quality in COM
mon, q love for France. the glory of
which was sought by one, by every
means OF intrigue, ana dishonor, by
the other with the highest word and
christian methods.
Philip Augustus came to the throne
before he was twenty and showed at
once the bent of his nature and
places. He had inherited from his
grand father, Louis the Fat, a talent
for organization and command. He
was bitterly opposed to the rule of
the mobiles, and his first kingly act
was to pass a law Tor bidding them
to fortify their castle.
Like Charlemagne, his ambition
was to extend the domain OF France
IN what had been the ancient Roman
Empire. He had no objection to add
ing England to the Gallie Crown,
and did not scorn possible chance
of Austria and Spain. He had no
scruples and no conscience to hold
him back from schemes for the adj
vancement OF his base plots, and he
had the most dangerous combination
of demands ,-caution and bravery.
The family of Henry ii. of England,
became the object of Philip Augustus,
attent ton, for he proposed by clever
~ arranged quarrels to take from
them all of their splendid possessions
in France. He encouraged Henry
LIS soDs to rebel against their
father, then advanced them money,
to carry on war. AS security he ob-
tanned mortgages oDNormapdy, Aqua
tame, Touranie etc.
The money was never repaid, the
artful monarch claimed the land in
stead. He finally led Richard the
Loin-hearted to Palestine, intending
to leave him in the Holy Land and
return to side with John. After
putting John on the English throne,
it was Philips intention to gradually
acquire it for himself. He had also
stirred up the enmity of the Austrian
Duke, so that ii Richard should re
turn, he would be instantly made
prisoner.
These plans were very nearly &C.
complished, and but for the love of
the English people for Richard would
have been triumphsntly successful.
AS it was, Philip Augustus died be-
fore the gran q out look he had plann
ed coul0 be turned into reality, and
his successor, Louis VIII. lacked the
force to wear his Isther's mantle.
1t was again reserved for grand
son to take up the thread OF broken
renown, and the last OF the Great
Capets, was the most distinguished.
he was called Saint Louis, and his
noble deeds, both in war and in
peace, have come down to the pres
ent day as household words. He
was raised by his mother, Blsnch of
Castlle, and his early youth was
spent under a very strict regime,
Ills education was conducted prin.
cipally by celebrated bishops. In
this way he acquired strong church
bias. and became an early deyotee To
the best doctrine of his time. John
he reached the age at which he
should have taken the throne, a new
difficulty confronted him.
His mother mad ruled the land so
long and guided the ship of states 90
well, that she was unwilling to give
1t up; 1T would have seemed heart.
less and uDgrateful in Louis, to tear
from her power she so dearly priced
and for several years after his coro.
nation he took no active part in ruI-
ing France. He married Augusta of