La Junta tribune., 1912-03-30
u HE first Of April. some do
ay. Is set apart for all fools
ay. In days long gone by it

ay, Is set apart for all fools
ay. In days long gone by it
- was the custom to have. in
E court OF royalty a professional
'4Hone to play the fool There
probably was no curriculum OF in.
struction following which these an.
cient clowns became proficient. since
the art OF playing the fool is the
one art. beside poetizing. to which
men and women are born. No espe-
ctal course was offered In uniyersi-
ties to those wishing to become fools.
for everybody knew then Al We know
now that universities and all other
institutions OF learning have as
their noblest purpose the teaching OF
men how not to be fools
But to return to the court Jest
ers. The plays OF Shakespeare and
the novels OF Sir Walter Scott abound
In references to the monarchs' favor
ties. and We have seen pictures which
showed them In fantastic costume,
the chief feature of which was the
proverbial cap and bells. II IL not
difficult to believe that the clowns
Of the present day circus. in all OF
their self-made hideousness. are an
interesting survival OF the cour,
fools.
The writer. for one. may be con-
vinced easily that the fools life was
no rosy one. and that his empty
jests, which provoked side splitting
laughter among the courtiers, may
have been many times fetched from
his heavy heart with a pitful effort
and accompanied by a smothered sigh
One poet, the same who has immor
,alizei the Indians and the Acadians.
has written a very beautiful poem
entitled King Robert of Sicily" in
which he has told how an old world
ruler was deposed and became the
Jester OF his own court. while he who
had been the Jester became the king
and proved an angel This cShaltine
poem which all should read has for
Its motif the line: He has put
down the mighty from his seat and
hath cxhalted them OF low degree.
But this. as kipling likes to say. Is
another story. aud has nothing to do
with what we started In to SAy un-
less II bc To show that fools may
become angels: and to remind you.
dear reader. that II any shall succeed
In making 4 fool OF you next Mon
day your chances for being an angel
will not be lessened. In fact. the
transition to that heavenly state may
be- accelerated-if not your transi-
ton. the translation, perhaps. Of the
other foilow-him who would make
you the butt OF his practical Jokes.
And this brings us to the point.
Monday Is All Fools Day. M you had
best make up your mind not 10 20
to the door should any knock. not TO
answer the door bell or the t'le-
phone bell. not to read a letter. not
to open n bundle. box or package
In short to assume the negative at
titudc that entire day. and. II POSI-.
BILE. TO make fool OF the other
fellow.
The biggest joke Of all. however.
IL the assuming that there is but
one day In the year when all OF Us
are fools We are not authority for
any statement that all are fools every
day II you want To get to head
quarters for the sweeping statement
you will have u approach Master
Puck. that prince Of mischief max
crs. for Il II he who has said. What
fools We nior'als be'-not failing 10
include himself by the use Of the
first person. plural.
So then II We are fools on all days.
and all fools ON one day. why then
Ne are all fools and the other fellow
IL ~ big \ fool As you and ] are.
which 10 some consolation. and the
query becomes. Who is the biggest
goose In th- lott" Which query Will.
wc have no doubt. b. answered satis-
fartoriiy next Monday.
~