New-York tribune., 1922-12-16
The Lantern
A Matter Of whI.ksrs
On. ~ "a r.l,.n., ~. Iln

In efficiency and d~Jo kept ms
desk clean, a lenient monarch who
hardened the mos, mesdsn rs Grim
inals and put them In his body
guard, and a faithful patron OF all
the ats, sciences and more digni-
fed vices.
But he had his unconventional
side. Like Ia,oun Al Raschid, he
used 20 disr1ise himself and wan
der as a con mon man unknown
among the people. This habit grew
upon him. until after some years
Of indulginE Il he found himself
living two lives, and it was q ques-
ton in his mind which was the
more genuine.
Asa King, he was bald and clean
shaven. when he doffed the crown
/ ne donned a complete set Of red
I vh,skers, and the cab drivers and
laborers and dock wallopers and
COPS and bootleKgers with whom he
associated knew him as Big Red
Smith.
Big Red Smith used 70 listen 70
the stories of complaint against the
administration Of King Michael, and
he finally began 20 wonder about
that individual. "This King
Michael. now" Big Red Smith
would say 70 himself, "does the best
he can. He tries 10 be just and
decent. but somehow he fails.
There Is whole kettleful OF
bubbling animosity against him in
this realm, and all he ever knows
about II Is a little stray pun OF
steam now and then, which his
councillors say means nothing AZ
all. But some day the lid viii blow
Oft"
And the more Big Red Smith dug into
the grievances Of the people the more
he synnpathized with them, until he be-
gan 20 share their Frothered anlmosity.
HIf the King Il trying 70 DO right, Big
Red Smith would say 20 himself, then
/ it's the form Of government that -
wrong" But as soon As he took OF bis
whlsfers and put on his crown again
and sat down on bis throne In front OF
his desk Of administration his point OF
view would change, and he would open
his mail and curse his people FOR their
/ ingrHtitude.
bis spies began 10 bring King Michael
reports Of q widespread but secret agi-
tation against the governmsnt, and they
represented that the leader Of the nal
contents and spoil-sports was one Big
Red Smith. King Michael, just for the
| looks Of things. was forced 70 put
/ price on Big Red Smith. dead or
alive" said King Michael, signing the
warrant with a flourish.
And this persecution Of Big Red Smith
made that popular democrat still more
popular. Heretofore Big Red had ad-
yissd the people In the direction Of eau
tion and moderation, but now that q
price had been put upon his head he felt
a personal anger against the snug eour.
tiers and reActionary lords who had
forced King Michael 10 do T. The whole
damned rotten bunch must gol" cried
| Big Red Smith, and tie crowds eheerec.
When the lid blew OF Big Red Smith
| found himself at the head II q If
armed multitude who were animated hv
love Of liberty, By the desire for loot
and By the impulse % even up the old
grudEes OF exiItenee IN about equal
proportions. There was a Wild and
rhirlinz day Of bloodshed and arson in
the capital city, With Big Red Smith In
tho van Of ssdition topping over can
non with his two hands and Draining
whole fleg Of soldiery with a drpo ping
crowbar, and st dusk, with the streets
ablaze behind them and the ruined
town screaming like woman In trav-
ell, they rushed the gates and cut 70
pieces the last company Of guards and
swGrmed With iron and FIRE into the
royal palace.
king Miehaell" cried Big Red Smith.
"King Miehheil Come and fight met"
And then. when they had ransacked the
palace, @The eoward He has Aedi"
big Redl Big Red 70 the thronel"
cried a part Of the crowd. For an In
slant Big Red had the honest impulse
10 put on the crown and take OF the
whiskers, but he reeolleeted himself in
time and made q speech telling them
that there must be no more kings or
crowns and that he considered himself
merely their equal and always their
humble servant. And they eheered
harder than ever, for they had found
the wine cellars.
Big Red Smith had not met King Nj
chael when he stormed the palace, but
| he was 20 meet him later. Il is a
! thing which none Of us can avoid, and
the basic drama OF existence Is just
that: when q man meets himself. There
vas a republic. and Big Red Smith vas
/ its chief; there was the threat OF q
eounter-revolution and Big Red Smith
was forced 10 eentrsliIe Gil the forces
Of The land In himself and become q
dictator.
And Big Red Smith, the Dictator,
harassed and oppressed by cares and
doubts and disllusions, used 70 wander
the old familiar palace. nights, the
prey 20 insomnia, and debate theories
Of government with himself
II am more OF a dsspot than King
Michael used 20 be-" he would murmuT,
perplexed. But it's all right-Tm
despot for the sake OF liberty"
And then he would say: These new
I friends Of mine are Just as greedy and
selfish. despite their new nomenclature
Of government, as the courtiers and
aristoerats and merchant princes ssed
TO be. They will not let me rule wisely
and justly without struggling against
IL, any more than the old crowd would.
The people are eontented because they
think they are ruling themselves
they would rather think they
are ruling themselves, and have \ poor
government. than be ruled BY somebody
else and have n good government"
But the people did not stay content
ed. Certain Of them began 20 say;
"The monarchy was not perfect, and
now the republic is not perfect. Let
US be done with all government entire
~, and have an anarchy"