Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-02-08
THE PRIZE valentine.

| III Is certainly very perpIexihS, odiu
the prime minister to the king.
| Very" was his majesty's reply. That
why sent for you. 1t isn't my business
to arrange these matters. 1t Is hard
enough to be changing my costume every
| hour or two and to look pleasant when
I'm being bored. and to march around In
| new clothes when I'd rather be reading
good book in my old ones-if had any
without my doing your work: too. l re-
peat, 1t isn't my affair. The princess Is
old enough to be married. and you've
got to find out the proper way to select
husband"
Hasn't she any choice?" inquired the
prime minister, looking over his specta-
cles.
| oh 1 suppose So" answered the king
But what difference does that make!
These things have to be done in the reg
ular way You'll have to invent some
thing that will please the people"
why not promise the hand OF the
princess to the prince who brings you
three hairs from the head Of the Giant
Godenhair?"
NOW how absurdw cried the king.
'Why, the giant must be sixty-three II
he's a day. He's as bald as a badger
Badger? Are badgers bald"' asked
the prime minister.
"How should 1 know" returned the
king. IT use the expression catemagori-
caly
who didn't know the word. TINS pleaseo
the king who made it up that instant
| inst to puzzle his adviser, and his maj
esty's next remark was made In more
good-natured tone:
"Why not offer -priZe-the princess
for fq
1T doesn't sound romantic. suggested
the prime minister, respectfully. How
| about dragons? There must be some some
where" it,,
| mo, that won't do at all. You'll have to
give out three tasks.
but that is too old-fashioned." an
| swered the prime minister. land: besides,
| fairies and witches and SO on around the
palace, and they are ,cantankerous. Ihey
are sure to make trouble for the young
couple I really can't advise IT."
You really can't advise apytnns.
marked the king, again somewhat out OF
| humor '.And. by the way, 1t seems 10
| me you're getting old; you are certainly
| not so ready as you were. II you WISH
| to retire on a pension-a small pensioh-A
| think 1 know a man.
This did not please the prime minister
at all He saw matters were looking blue
for him. and he gazed wildly about the
room for a suggestion. LUCKILY MS eye
fell upon calendar hanging on the wan:
February q was the GATE. his iace
| frightened.
your majesty" he exclaimed. shaping
his leg. II have hit it.
What, your leg?" inquired the King.
membered that one week from today is
st. Valentines day."
land what Of that?' inquired the king:
Il have no pleasant memories connected
~ t1n 0cY0C mi
me comic valentine last year an enor,
mously fat portrait Of myself l would
out which one sent It."
But" the prime minister replied. 81.
Valentine is the patron saint OF lovers
| and 1t will be most appropriate to oner
the princess hand to the youth who sends
her the most valuable gift as valentine
What could be more delightful!'
Positively said the king. as his race
glowed with a smile of delight. you have
grown ten years younger in the last ten
| minutes. You certainly have some sense
in your NOODLE YETI
In day or two gorgeous posters headed
by the royal arms, printed in eight colors
and gold, were seen throughout the city
offering the hand of the princess to that
one of her suitors who should present to
| her the most valuable gift upon st. VAL
entine's day.
Before the paste on the posters was dry
| the whole city was in tumult. All the
| jewelers. shops were bare before they put
up their shutters that night. Every gold
coin in the kingdom went up to twice its
value. All the art stores were to let the
next morning, and every artist. every
sculptor. all the poets. were at work
from daylight to dark. hardly stopping to
eat lunch with their left hands. while
| their right hands kept busy. The china.
cut-glass and porcelain manufacturers
| were all perfect beehives of industry, and
all the confectioners and pastry cooks
| were stirring and tasting boiling, baking,
| stewing and frying like mad.
A few days later twenty neighboring
| Kingdoms were demanding each others
| treasures and threatening to make war
| If these were not surrendered by the
10Th of February
everybody was busy. EXCEPT one of the