Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-07-05
Absurd Royal Ceremonies.


There are greater matters to attend
to than the absurdity of royal cere-
monies. We do not even grudge the
money that it costs to maintain you in
state. This is trifling compared to the
sum we waste in ornaments. II is moth
ing compared to the wealth wrung from
have said this much for the sake of
sincerity and that l might clear myself
and the company of those who are now
grovelng before YOU like pagans before
a fetish.
Il address YOU sir. not to vindicate
my principles. but from a desire to see
YOU a greater power in this realm.
greater power for good. ] would RiadlS
see your throne strengthened amid the
topping thrones OF Europe if a nobler
tradition of kingship came with it. IL
You are in earnest to better this land
you must often desire free hand, and
often covet the liberty of direct appeal
TO the people.
can YOU render no real service TO the
commonwealth? l know you are tram
meled by the requirements that the
king must be above all politics and clear
of all party controversies. and II you
put foot outside the run of perfunctory
duties YOU give immediate offense to
some one or some class. There are, how
ever. avenues of public service which
seem to me to he widely open to you. but
which. it seems. you scarcely enter at
ALL
Are the men of letters. the artists,
the musicians. the captains of indus
try less important to the state than
the field marshals. admirals and gen
erals of divisions? Would VT make
escorted to the Abbey by men from
forge and mine instead of by troops?
You choose to live in a world of sol
diery. but not by them is your throne
supported. 1t is open to you to he
the patron Of the arts. You have
honors bestowed which We at pres
ent hold in contempt. because they
have been wrongly bestowed. Have
YOU any right, sir, to confer coronets.
'knighthoods and stars on political
nominees whose only claim is the gift
of money to party funds?
Genius Starving in It's, Carrot.
Meanwhile genius is starving in its
garnet, starving unrecognized. Paint
ers. singers. writer's. actors. men of
science have to sell their soul to make
a living. Nothing, sir. in your empire
is SO cheap as brains and genius,
nothing SO easily despised by the Wpl-
gar rich. nothing SO tragically mis-
understood and disregarded.
You patronize the turf and stimu
late the multitude to gamble on horses
they never see you.N Your private tastes
are not my concern. but IL you are
the head of this nation you must make
yourself acquainted with more than
its jockeys The glory Of kings in the
past has been too much the glory of
sword and conquest. There Is great
err glory within your reach IL you have
courage and discernment for 1.-THE
glory of the king who thinks less of
his office than of his people. who thinks
more Of the needy multitudes than of
peers and place. and the king who is
known to set his face against Oppres-
sion, who IL known to be a friend Of
equality and a believer therein.
You can do this and be this. You
cannot do it without cost and danger
to yourself, not without risking un-
popularity in your immediate circles,
but there is a wider court which you
may rule-the court Of the people,
l.. III. MOORE.