The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-04-27
MECHANICS OF KINGS.
Generally Significant OF Character and
Disposition.

Kings have always been more or less
peculiar, and being such prominent
folks have had their little ways noted
by every body. They may have been
no wiser or drawer or worse than or
binary people, but being kings they
have been regarded in a different light.
These royal peculiarities are noted in
a curious way by history, and one can
get good idea of what the various
kings have been like by studying the
niclznames given to them.
Once upon time there were four
kings named Boleslas, who reigned
over Poland at different times, and al
though no one might care to study the
history of Poland to find out about
them, history sums up in word
the characteristics of each. The
first was the Lion Hearted"
like the famous English Rich
ard; the second was the Intrepid"
while the third and fourth were entire
~ different men, being the ''Wry-
Mouth" and the ''Curled," and there
you have an idea of the four Polish
Boleslases. To further learn what 9TH
er varieties of kings ruled Poland in by
gone days one need but run over the
list and find the Pacific" the Care
less" the Just" the white" the
Black" and the ''Short'' These
names are suggestive in many ways, for
they afford an insight into the history
of the time as well as describing the
monarchs When Austria was only
dukedom there were three rulers who
won for themselves the respective titles
of Catholic" Glorious" and War
like" The first was perhaps religious
man, like Ferdinand the Catholic of
Spain; the second may have been Ike
Lorenzo the Magnificent, and the third
a great warrior and SO from these titles
or nicknames we have likewise some
idea of the conditions of the people
while these dukes ruled.
France has had M ost wonde rful as
sortment of kings. One has been the
Little" and another the Bold" One
was the ''Stammerer," another Sim
pie" while a third and fourth were
"Indolent" and Fair" These names
are descriptive of the kings themselves,
but it is hardly to be supposed that
hiAiS WIZ Nflo 'libdOltlJ VI SlulDIe OlC
much to further the interests of his
subjects But when we find Robert the
Second called the "Sage," we realize
that he ruled wisely, and that the peo-
pie were better off for it. This is a
very quick way of getting a broad idea
of history. France has been a see-saw
nationalist up, then down, and its
position may be reckoned by the kings
it had One was saint Louis" and an
other was Hutin, meaning "headstrong
or mutinous." Another king was
the Long" while his successors
were ''Handsome,,' Fortunate"
Good" Wise" Beloved" and
"Affable." France must surely have
been on the top then and have prog
ressed further when two kings were
respectively called the Father of His
People" and The Father of Letters"
We know English history better than
any other probably, and can recall
what was accomplished by Alfred the
Great Edward the Confessor, William
the Conqueror, and Richard Ceur de
Lion. The English did not give many
of their kings nicknames, however, |
leaving their doings to speak for them |
selves.
Denmark has had most curious ar |
ray of sovereigns-the "Blue-Tooth," |
''Forked Beard" Simple" Hungry"
barefoot" Lamb" "Pious," and !
Cruel" being among them. This lat
ter, who was Christian the Second, be-
lied his real name by gaining the
80
North" There was probably little
happiness in Denmark when he sat
upon the throne
Some of the early kings of France al
ready mentioned ruled over Germany
at one time when there was no division,
but when there was separate German
nation the rulers gained many curious
titles Fat" was one and Blind" an
other. Also the Child. the Fowler"
Then blood" Red Black" ..Su-
perb" and sharp" while one king is
particularly described as the "Holyard
Lame"
The rulers of the provinces that now
make up Spain had number of kings
called Great and Catholic" Then
they also had the Monk and "Gouty,"
and included others who were In
firm" bad" Noble" Strong" Val
iant," Gracious" "Sickly," "Impo-
tent" and "Ceremonious Ferdinand
III of Leon and CASTLE was the Saint
and Holy"
hungary has her rulers described as
Saint, German" Thunder" sVene-
liam, Great" and King" Mary,
Who was probably the only woman
Who ever had like title Over Por-
tugal reigned the Fat" idle" "Afri-
can. and Great and Perfe ct
The people of Russia have genera lIy
mad a hard time of it. We realize this
to-day and the names given TO their
Kings show the reason therefor. None ,
we're Good" Wise" or Just"
though there was Peter the Great"
who did all ne could to help his coun.
nv. But how could nation progress
With rulers who gained the titles Of
Terrible" ''Impostor," Proud"
.Lightfoot," Grim" Fierce" and
Lion?
So il is all through history, and the ,
names that the kings have gained for
tell in manner the story
If their own lives and the state of the
counties over which they ruled.-Chi- ,
ago Tribune ,
Getting Even.
Old Man (irascibly)-I never saw such
J boy as You are. Bobby. You never
want to go to bed at night
Bobby (stupidly)-Well, pa, make
Up for it by never wanting to get out of
ed in the morning.-Texas Siftings