The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-05-09
TOOK 1T AS A JOKE
The Kings Good Nature Ma
Things Pleasant.
London Letter in Brooklyn Life.

London Letter in Brooklyn Life. 5'
Some weeks ago a royal messenger was
dispatched by the lord chamberlain with in
yitatiOn5 for the great court which was held
by the king and queen last night. AL of the
400 invitations were sent by hand and were
not intrusted to the tender mereies of his
majestys mail. Among these invitations was
one to celebrated foreigner, whose distinc-
ton in art and letters entitle him to the
royal preference. He had been presented be-
fore, but he was not known to the court Off
Gals. There are so many people who are
eligible that it is not possible for the cham
berlains to know them all, by sight.
Early this week the distinguished foreigner
took to his bed with the fashionable Eng
lish ailment known as 1.-THE Floo," otherwise
the grip. His card for the Buckingham pal
ace court was displayed, ostentatiousy on his
mantel shelf and a young military friend who
called yesterday said it a pity that he
could not use it.
Il Think he said. "you had better let me
go and represent you .-. -.
My dear fellow replied the sick man, 81
could not think of letting you go. Sup
pose you were discovered, what then?''
'fOh, never mind that said. the venture
some one, 'if l am, I'll say stole the card,
and then the worst thing they can do is to
put me in the hands of a life guardsman
whom I'll bride with five shiIlings and 50
regain my freedom IT,. =. -. -
After much persuasion the card was given
up, and the daring young man repaired early
In the evening to Buckingham palace, COM
fortably seated In the brougham of another
friend, from whom he had borrowed the We
hicle. He was admitted into the sacred pre-
cincts of the palace yard A chamberlain
looked at the card-both sides-and uuttered
something to himself about Herr x looking
more like a Yorkshire fox hunter than a
German professor versed In the mysteries of
logarithms, ethnology, entomology. Egyptolo-
gy and all the other ologies. But he got
through, and the first man he met was an I'M
Gle Of his who acted as a sort of gold stick in
waiting. 49,. II
Hello jack" he cried, what the dea,ce
are you doing here? How did you get your
invitation?" Es.I e :. +
= Hush" whispered the frightened Jack,
Il am the Herr Professor x, and please
do not betray me-
J. The next surprise was in the form of
recognition from a famous soldier under
whom the festive Jack had served two years
ago at the Cape, and with whom the impos-
tor had earned the distinguished service
medal, which, by the way, he had carefully
.refrained from wearing The famous soldier,
who has the of loyalty, could not keep
the joke to himself, but told it to one of
the princes of the household, who, in turn
unable to guard the secret, whispered it to
the king as a great hoax. Finally, when the
line of people passed by the king the Herr
Professor found the sovereign's hand
stretched out to him and the king said:
well. professor, how do you like our Eng
fish climate now? Is it not better than the,
South African veldt?
Not word from the humbug, who nearly
& collapsed He bowed low, so low that he
nearly fell to the ground, and so he backed
himself out Of the royal presence. When
he reached the next room he looked about
him for a means of escape, and then cham
berlain tapped him on the shoulder and said:
q His majesty would like to have your COM
.pany at supper in the private room, Herr
Professor k -.
Visions of boiling oil and the executioner's
ak foated before the unhappy mans eyes,
but he went. and there he found the king
most kind and condescending He never all
sluded to the fraud that had been perpetrated.
but when he was dismissed the sovereign
said: The next time I hold court. Herr
SPorfessor, shall certainly see to it that
your friend, Captain Jack sB-, receives
card