The Washington herald., 1912-01-07

A king IN love IL just about as hu
manor as foolIsh-as any other man
and the letters he writes 70 his LADY
love would set the court In a roar 4
| they were read out in a breaeh-of-prom-
ise action. There is a whole collection
Of them. beginning with Edward II %
Isabella Of France. way back in me
fourteenth century, and ending with as
many as eight by the great Napoleon
TO his beloved Josephine. and three more
from that tempestuous ruler to his sec
ond choice. the ultra aristocratic Haps-
burg Archduchess Marie Louise-aIl au-
thentic.
One realizes something Of the good,
common. red blood Of humanity which
underiay the formal stare OF those royal
personages. when one finds King Henry
ouatre (of Navarre). finishing a fervent
letter to the comtesse de Gramont with
Good night, my soul: would love to
be In the corner OF your fireplace to warm
up your soup. kiss you a million
times"-or beginning another TO Gabrielle
d'Estrees. "My beautiful angel" and
ending stiil another to Marie Medici
with Good night. my heart: I embrace
you hundred Thousands times"
The letters Of Henry VIII are like
himself Bits Of them are too gross for
publication. Here 10 one sent to him
by Anne Boleyn that is as frank and
Eelf-reyealIng as any love letter possibly
could be. King Henry's consor. at that
time was Katherine OF Arragon. A ru-
NOR got abroad that Anne Boleyn was
betrothed to a son OF the Earl Of North
umberiand. and Henry. having "a priv
ate affection for her himself had this
engagement broken of without any ado
and made the beautiful Anne One Of the
maids OF honor to his Queen. This Is
how Anne wrote her thanks TO him for
the appointment:
Sire: II belongs only to a great King
like yourself. to whom nature has given
heart full Of generosity toward the sex.
to repay by such exceptional thanks n
trivial and very brief conversation with
a girl. Inexhaustible as is the treasury
OF your majesty's bounties. I beg you
consider that Il cannot be sufficient for
your generosity. since II the latter recon-
penses a brief conversation by SO great
gift, what will your generosity be able
to perform on behalf of those who are
willing to swear an entire obedience to
its wishes7 However great may be the
bounties have received. the Joy that Is
mine Of finding myself loved by a king
whom I adore, and to whom I would
gladly sacrifice my heart. II fortune had
rendered II worthy Of being offered him.
Will be Infinitely greater. The warrant OF
maid OF honor to the Queen with which
you have honored me induces me TO
think that your majesty has some liking
for me, since this win give me the means
OF seeing you more frequently and of
assuring you with my own lips, which
shall do on the first opportunity. that I
shall always be your majesty's very
obliged and very obedient servant. with
out any reserve"
Following this come letters full of deep
sighs and gushing protestatiOns. The
time seems to me very long since / have
heard from you II seems a
very small return for the great love I
bear you to be kept at distance from
the person and presence Of the woman in
the world that value most
Consider we'll my mistress, how great
ly your absence grieves me .
Wherever I am. am yours only .
No more at present for lack of time,
but that wish you In my arms -
Oeseech you now with all earnestness to
let me know your whole intention as TO
the love between US two, for / must of
necessity obtain this answer from you.
having been a whole week struck with
the dart of love, and not yet sure wheth-
er I shall fail. or find a place in your
heart and affection. This uncertainty has
hindered me OF late from naming you my
mistress, since you only love me with an
ordinary affection; but IL you please to
give up yourself. body and heart, to me.