The Wichita daily eagle., 1898-01-09
Kansas Tale of Negative Justice.

| Quivart began to arrive Among them
was one who attracted particular atten-
| ton. This was huge, raw-boned. awk-
ward old man with a mop OF red hair
| This was none other than Lord Com
| manche. Now. while all the other guests
| avoided and shrank from this old and ugly
man, King Reno was extraordinarily
| pleasant and affectionate towards him
| But. despite this partiaiity upon the
| part of the King. the courtiers seemed
| to feel a strong antipathy 20 the rugged
old man, so disagreeable in personal ap-
pearance and voice, and when he ap-
preached a group, 1t would suddenly
break into individuals and disappear alto
gether. King Reno noticed this, so he
gave great dinner to the guests and in
the course OF it proposed Lord Com
| manche's health.
For said the King. ''it was I who
made him Lord Commanche in return
for a pleasure he afforded me by render
ing my late spouse the happiest woman on
earth"
Then the King told the story and after
that the guests treated the ugly Lord
Commanche with respect The Kings
story was to this effect:
When King Reno and Queen Mariona
were blessed with their first child. girl.
and none other than our Phersonia. they
thought she was just the cunningest lit
tie thing that ever lived. the prettIest.
sweetest. dearest little angel on earth. IN
brief, the most beautiful child ever born
She was just six months old. when King
Reno said one night to his wife. after the
cradle:
AZ
we not promise each other that we would
not follow the usual foolish path of young
couples
the Queen.
Did we not say that under all circum-
stances we would avoid being silly?"
Certainly, you dear old SOUL" answer
ed the Queen.
well, we haven't done it, said the
King. Strengthening his neck-tie I'VE
are just as foolish as any couple ever were.
Now. you think that little baby is the
prettiest ever born, don't your
''Of course do
$50 do I. There's the trouble All young
married people think the same of their
particular baby. There's mistake some
where. Every baby can not be the pref
ty at all, but ugly, positively ugly"
The Queen gave something like a
scream.
Now, Mariona," said the King. I'VE
mustn't be foolish II the baby isn't pret-
~, I want to know it. i don't want TO
fool myself. / must know it,
The Queen looked up at him with tears
in her eyes and said:
=t,o h. ~,
That's just what fear" said the King,
sorrowfully.
mo. No, " said the Queen. 'It can
not be possiblet'
Il must find out" said Reno. "Of course
our friends say she is pretty. They would
not hurt us She may be as ugly as sin
They would never say so. And then again
the people who are not friends at court
will say she is pretty because they fear
to offend me. Oh, I wish I were not q
King Then I could know the TRUTH
The King looked at the Queen, who was
weeping and then continued:
I'll issue a proclamation Offering a
large reward 70 the person who will come
up and look upon our child and tell us
whether she is pretty or ugly, and prove
to US. beyond cavil or doubt, that hts
So the next morning King Reno issued
the proclamation. Great hordes of people
were soon in the capital. anxious for a
look at the child. The nurse insisted that
the child must have some sleep and that
the first two hours after high noon only
should be given for audience. For many
days, then, men. women and sometimes
children. filed in, looked upon the infant
hos- ct rr-fxv 49,.
said so.
All of them said: "She is a beautiful
child"
All of them when asked how they could
tell. answered:
Because she is. That's why"
But that didn't satisfy the King and the
Queen. Because she is was not good
reason and they knew 1t. Poets began
to write verses to prove she was pretty:
orators compared her eyes to the sky. her
skin to driven snow. But the King and
Queen were unhappy.
One night a very ugly old man appeared
at the palace gate and asked TO be grant
ed the privilege of deciding on the beauty
Of the child.
Tell him to call tomorrow at from 12
to 2 o'clock" said the King.
saws he must make the trial now or never.
He is travelling in a van with his family |
and must go on tonight. He says he can |
tell surely. for he is an expert"
Let the King behold him." said Reno.
The ugly stranger walked in. He was |
ugly-hideous-
"You say you can tell whether this child |
is pretty or ugly and prove it?'' asked the |
King
Yes" said the man. in a deep.rough |
voice. Il can
How"
The King rang for the nurse. and she /
Queen.
Now" said the King. take your
ok
The rough man looked at the infant and
nuttered How unlike" and then turn
ID to the King.
Your subjects, sir. have fa'tsred you.
am a rough man ard SPEAK the truth"
The Queen grew pale and lclned a.nst
he King
That" said the rough nan. 'is the
,sliest brat ever laid eyes on
The Queen glided forward. her white
:sts doubled, her eyes burning dry tear
ess.
Prove ~" she hissed.
That I will said the man How
sv putting a beautiful infant beside it-by
comparison
50 he passed out. and came hack pres
r,tly bearing a Hitie baby IN his arms.
, hich he had taken from the straw n
lis wagon
Vow said the rough man. This Is
What ! call beautiful infant"
That" cried the Queen. You call thst