The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1897-01-19
BERTHoLDe THE Dwarf.
RIs shrewd Answers at the Court of Al
boin. King of the Lombards.


Mary Shears Roberts, in her series
of Historic Dwarfs," contributes
an article on Bertholde to ST. Mich
olas. Bertholde was an Italian, and
one day he made his way to the pal
ace of Alboin, king of the Lombafds,
at atVerona and boldly seated himself
in an empty chair next the throne.
The courticrS We're as much sur
prised at his audacity as they were
amazed at his grotesque appearance,
but the Lombard chieftain smiled
grimly upon the intruder and in
quired of him what he was, when
he was born and in what country.
''I am a man, replied the dwarf,
whereupon the attendants went on
into fits of laughter. I was born
when came into the world, and the
world itself is my country. >
King and courtiers now began to
realize that they had a shrewd little
imp before them, and they COM
menced to ply him with questions
of all kinds The asking of conun-
drums was a sort of trial of wit TO
which sovereigns We're much given
at this period of history.
.What thing IS that which flies
the swiftest7'' asked one
Thought, :" replied Bertholde
promptly.
'What is the gulf that Is never
flleds"
The avarice of the miser, was
the ready answer of the quick wit
ted dwarf.
What trait is the most hateful
in young people,
self conceit, because it makes
them mteachable.
How will you catch a hare run
ningl" inquired the king.
I'll stay till I find her on the
spit. =
How would you bring water in a
sieve2"
I'D wait till it was frozen, an
swered the dwarf readily.
The king was delighted. For 80
clever reioinder, ;" he said, you
shall have from me anything you
may desire .
-"Oh, nor cried Bertholde, with a
mocking laugh. L shall have moth
ing of the sort. You cannot give
me what you do not possess. I am
in search of happiness, of which
you have not particle. So how can
you give me any
Howl exclaimed the king Am
l not happy on 50 elevated a
throne?"
Yes, you are, if the happiness Of
man consists in the height of his
seat "
Then Alboin referred to his king
ly power and dignity, and the dwarf
retorted with another mockina
laugh, and when the king called at
tention to the mobiles and courtier,
about him, Bertholde, with a sneer
remarked, "Oh, yes, they cluster
round your throne; 50 do hungry
ants round q crab apple, and Will
the same purpose-to devour il. "
well said, spake the king, keep
ing his temper, but all this doe
not prevent me from shining amonl
them as the sun among The stars.
''True, but tell me, shining sun
how many eclipses you are oblige,
to suffer ia year For the con
tinual fiattering of these men mus
nowsand then darken your under
standing
For this reason You would no
be a courtierf' inquired his majesty
whose fingers began to play upol
his sword in threatening manner
Miserable as l am, should b.
sorry to be placed in the rank o
slaves" replied the dwarf BE
sides, I have not the necessary quail
tiles to succeed i'll this fine employ
ment :"
"What, then, do you seek at IN.
court2" asked the king in an angry
tone
Something l have not been abl'
to find there, answered Bertholde
Il was told that a king was as mucl
above common men as Il tower j
above common houses. find, as
suspected, that sovereigns are hon
ored more than they deserve
This was a little too much. TIL
king lost his patience and command
ed the dwarf jester to leave the pal
ace Immediately or he would hay
him whipped out of court.
Right Living.
Right living Is, in one sense,
living without making mistakes