The Winslow mail., 1914-10-17

Of those things that have made all he
has done possible. But in happier
times, don't you think, Wilhelm. he
would have remained just what his ia
ther was-a successful epicier, very
clean. very accurate, very honest? And
on holidays he would have gone out
with Nine I4ablanc and her knitting
in a punt with jar of something gen
tie and have sat under a large, reason
able, green lined umbrella and fshed
very neatly and successfully for gud-
geon."
The president and the Japanese
prince in spectacles protested together
IF | do him an injustice" said the
king, 'it is only because l want to elu-
cidate my argument. / want to make
it clear how small are men and days
and how great is man in comparison"
SO it was King Egbert talked at Bris-
sago after they had proclaimed the uni
ty of the world. Every evening after
that the assembly dined together and
talked at their ease and grew accus-
toned to each other and Sharpened
each others ideas, and every day they
worked together and really for time
believed that they were inventing a
new government for the world. They
discussed a constitution. But there
were matters needing attention too
urgently to wait for any constitution.
They attended to these incidentally.
The constitution it was that waited.
70
keep the constitution waiting indefinite
ly, as King Egbert had fOreseen. and
meanwhile with an increasing self con-
fidence that council went on governing.
On this first evening of all the coun-
ellis gatherings, after King Egbert had
talked for long time and drunken
and praised very abundantly the sim
pie red wine of the country that Lee
blanc had procured for them, he gath
! cred about him group of congenial
spirits and fell into a discourse upon
simplicity, praising it above all things
and declaring that the ultimate aim Of
art. religion, philosophy and science
| alike was to simplify, He instanced
himself as devotee to simplicity. And
Leblanc he inStanced as a crOwning in
stance of the spendor of this quality.
Upon that they were all agreed.
When at last the company about the
tables broke up the king found himself
brimming over with a peculiar affec-
! ton and admiration for Leblanc. He
made his way to him and drew him
aside and broached what he declared
was small matter. There was. he
said, Il certain order in his gift that.
unlike all other orders and decorations
in the world. had never been corrupt
ed 1t was reserved only for elderly
men of supreme distinction. the acute
ness of whose gifts was already touch
! ed to melIowness, and it had included
| the greatest names of every age so far
| as the advisers Of his family had been
| able to ascertain them. At present,
| the king admitted, these matters of
stars and badges were rather Obscured
! by more urgent affairs; for his own
! part he had never set any value upon
| them at all, but a time might come
when they would be at least interest
! ing, and. in short. he wished to CON
fer the Order of Merit upon Leblanc
! His sole motive in doing so. he added.
Was his strong desire to SignaliZe his
personal esteem. He laid his hand
upon the Frenchman's shoulder as he
said these things with an almost broth
! erly affection. Leblanc received this
/. proposal with a modest confusion that
greatly enhanced the kings opinion of
his admirable simplicity. He pointed
out that. eager as he was to snatch at
the proffered distinction, it might at
the present stage appear inyidious and
be therefore s,---sted that the con-
ferrin9 of it should be postponed until
it could be made TIE crown and con
clusion Of his services. The king was
unable to shake this resolution and the
two men parted with expressions of
mutual esteem.
The king then summoned Firmin in
order to make short note of num-