The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1897-01-22

s}S's "A sss
1ERTHnLDIc, THE DWARF. ~ g
1 4as shteyvd, Answers q thA Ceutt q
Alhodn, tking of the LoMhaFas.
III Mary Shears Roberts, ID her erles 81
aiIistoric Dwarfs, ? contributes an artl-
IScle on Bertholde to the, January s..
Nicholas. Bertholde was an Italian'
and one day Ne ms de his way 70 the
palace Of, Alboin, King Of the LON
bards, at verona, and boldly seated
himself In nm empty chair next me %
tn. one. .fss s3 n
The courtiers were % much sur
prised at his aud.city as they were
| amazed ut his grotcslue appearance;
but the Lombard chieftain smiled
grilnly upon the intrudc., and inquired
1 OF him, what he was, when ne was
born, and In what country
| 81 am O man" replied the dwarf,
wllelcupOn the attendants went on IN
/ to fits Of laughter. Il was born when
| 1 came into the void, aud the world
itself is my country. s
King and c0urtiers now began to re.
| alize that they hid shrewd little Imp
before them, and they commenccu to
| ply him with questions Of all kinds.
] The asking OF cOnundrnms was shirt
| Of trial of Wit to which sovereigns were
much given ut this period of history.
what thing is that Which flies the
swiftest z" asked one.
Thought" answered Bertholde,
/ promptly.
.sWhat is the gulf that is never
6lled?"
..The avarice of the miser," was the
ready reply Of the quick-witted dwarf.
| what trait is the most hateful In
young pe0plc?"
"self.esteem, because It makes them
unteachable."
sHow will you catch a hare run
ning!" inquired the king.
''I'll stay until / find her on the
spit"
"TIow will you bring water in q
| sieve?"
"I'd wait till it was frozen" replied
the dwarf, readily.
The king was delighted. "For 30
clever rcjoinGar," he said, s.you shall
have from me anything you may de-
SIRE"
ooh, noy' cried Bertholde. with a
hooking laugh. II shall have nothing OF
the sort. You cannot give me what
you do not possess. I am In search Of
happiness, Of which you have not q par
ticle. So how can you give me any?'
Howl exclaimed the king. Am
not happy on so elevated throne?'
Eyes, you are, IL the happiness Of a
man consists in the height Of his seat. !"
Then Alboin referred to his kingly
power and dignity, end the dwarf re
torted with another hooking laugh;
and when the king called attention to
the mobiles and courtiers about him,
Bertholde, with. q ,sneesss remarked;
yes; they cluster round l your i,
throne; 90 do hungry ants round a crab
| apple, and with the same purpose to
dev0ur it"
well said,'' spake the king, keeping
his temper; 'but all this does not pre-
vent me from shining among them, as
the sun among the stars
True; but tell me, shining Sun, how
nany eclipses you are Obliged to suffer
in a year? For the continual fiattering
Of these men must now and then dark
en- your UNDERSTANDING
''F0fffhis reasOn, you would not be a
.c0urtler:", inquired his majesty, whose
fingers began ito play upon his sword
In threatening manner.
Miserable MS l am, should be sor-
~ to be placed in the rank Of slaves y
replied the dwarf. besides, I have
not the necessary qualities to succeed
III this fine employment
what. then, do you seek at my
court?" demanded tile king, in an an
gry ttne.
find there" answered Rertholde. II
was told that a king was as much
above common men as a tower Is
above common houses; find, as ex-
pected. that sovereigns are honored
more than they deserve
This was a little too much. The
king lost his patience, and COM
mallle.l the dwarf Jester to leave the
palace Immediately, Or he would have
him whipped out Of court.
Questions for Young Men-smokine.
Perhaps this is dangerous subject
for any one to touch upon, and yet
there are a few things still to be said
on the subject of smoking to which any
respectable person should be willing to
listen. Many young man does NOT
understand why his parents do not
wish him to smoke, still less when be
is told by these persons that 1t is wick.
ed or immoral or wrong for him ia
smoke. Az a, matter Of fact smoking
| In itself Is neither wrong nor immoral
nor wicked. To some people 1t is phys.
ically Injurious, but they soon find that
out and are obliged by their doctors
to give It up. II It is not in any way
Injurious to you, or to me, or to any
| person, there is no reason why We
should not smke, except that IL you arr
fond Of outdoor exercise. II you have
an ambition to get on an athletic team
| II you look forward to college daya
when You hope to; be a member Of some
class or varsity team, 1t IL wiser fol
| your own interest that you should moi
smoke. Nj
| S.~S,fA -. 49,