The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-02-06
MUST WORK OUT
OWN SAL WALTON
Is Kaiser's Edict of Mecklen-
burg Strelitz.
FOR FREE CONSTITUTION.
Leo ToIstOf Tells Beautiful story of
How Old King Was shown God
by Poor But Wise
Shepherd.
BY STEPHEN BURNETT.

Berlin, February 5-fSpeciaI)- THE
Kaiser is determined that if the peonle
of Mecklenburg-Streit one of the very
few federated states of Germany which
still retains tho feudal constitution 1t
possessed in the middle ages, want a
modern free constitution, they must work
out their own salvation.
The gand duke of Mecklenburg and his
ministers have long been willing to listen
to the clamor of the people and grant
them liberal constitution, but the
House of knights, an institution which
greatly resembles the English House of
Lords, objects, and as there is no way of
getting around the objection, the liberal
members of the Reichstag appealed to
the Kaiser to use his constitutional right
to force the Mecklenburg knights to lis
ten TO the will of Che people But as
force of arms might have to be resorted
to, the imperial government refused to
take action
The latest story of Leo Tolsto which
has reached Germany, deals with a le-
gend entitled "The Work of God" which
he Is accustomed to tell the companions
of his walks in the neighborhood of
Jassnaja- Poljana.
The legend, as Tolstoi tells it, is as
follows:
In far land there lived a king who
was filled with care as old age APP
preached. 81 have" he said. during my
life enjoyed everything. and seen every
thing possible for the human eye to see.
DIT l.. t.. r
seen. and that is-God. Him, | will seei
And turning to his dignitaries and priests
he commanded them, on pain of being
thrown into prison and heavily punished,
to show him God before three days had
passed.
The courtiers sadly waited the expira-
ton of the time. and at the end of it
were summoned before the king.
They continued TO keep silence. and
the king was about TO order them to
prison, when a poor shepherd at that
moment came before the king and adj
dressed him.
Sire he prayed. grant me wish.
sit is we'll" replied the king. "but re-
member, your life Is at stake"
And the shepherd led the king to a
place, pointed to the blazing sun and said
and tried TO look al the shining Mass.
but the SUMS rays -.dazzled him and he
closed his eyes What do you mean2'
he asked: would you have me blinded?'
Thereupon said the shepherd Sire
that is only one of the creations of God.
a single ray of His glory a small corner
of His burning throne. How then can
YOU demand to see God with your weak
and weeping eyes? You must endeavor
to see God with other eyes. 81
The king was pleased and said: 4
honor the intelligence, of your soul An
swer me- therefore. the following ques-
ton: what was before God?'
The shepherd thought for a while. and
then spoke: II pray you, Sire, not to be
angry, but-count.
The king began: zone. two" mo.
no." interrupted the shepherd. you
didn't count right you don't begin to
count before one"
How is that possible objected the
king There Is nothing before one. "A
wise word, Sire" said the shepherd;
there was nothing before God also.
The king. still more pleased. continued
''I will reward you richly In any case,
but answer me one more question:;
'"what does God do?"
II will reply said the shepherd. but
first change clothes with me-" The king
did So taking off his royal robes and
putting them on the shepherd, and thus
assuming the shepherds garments.
And the shepherd mounted to the
throne took the sceptre in his hand and
pointing to the king at the foot of the
throne, said:
THAT is what God does. One he raises
to the throne, another he drives away
from it." And he resumed his shepherd
clothing. Thereafter the king stood deep
in thought. At last the king raised his
head and exclaimed in tones of joy.
Yes, now / see God!'
A school boy of 10 appeared before the
court for juvenile delinquents at Munich |
yesterday on charge of writing threat