Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-08-22

(charles Dickens, Is12-1s7o. was British
author IF PfSTsfk Of TWo
Cities" etc.
A great many centuries ago there
fiouriShed in a great state the famous
and renowned Lud Hudibras, King OF
Britain, who was a mighty monarch.
The earth shook when he walked; he
was so very stout. His people basked
in the light of his countenance; it was
so red and glowing. He was, indeed,
every inch king.
This good king had queen who 10
years before had had a son who was
called Bladud. He was sent to a pre-
paratory seminary in his fathers do
minions until he was 10 years old and
was then dispatched, in charge OF q
truSty messenger, to g. finishing school
at Athens, and as there was no extra
charge for remaining during the holi-
days and no notice required previous
to the removal of a pupil, there he re-
manned for eight long years, at the
expiration Of which time the king, his
father, sent the lord chamberlain over
to settle the bill and to bring him
home, which, the lord chamberlain do
ing, was received with shouts, and PEN
stoned Immediately.
When King Lud saw the prince, his
son, and found he had grown up such
q fine young man, he perceived at once
what grand thing 1t would be TO nave
him married without delay so that his
children might be the means Of per-
petuating the glorious race Of Lud
down to the very latest ages OF the
world. With this view he sent a Spe-
cial embassy, composed Of great noble
men who had nothing particular to do
and wanted lucrative employment. to q
neighboring king and demanded his
fat
stating at the same time he was arx-
ious to be on the most affectionate
terms with his brother and friend, but
that II they couldn't agree In arranging
this marriage he should be under the
unpleasant necessity OF invading his
kingdom and putting his eyes out. To
this the other king (who was the weak
very much obliged to his friend and
brother for all his goodness and that
his daughter was quite ready to be
married whenever Prince Bladud liked
to come and fetch her.
This answer no sooner reached Brit
ain than the whole nation were trans
ported with Joy. Nothing was heard on
all sides but the sounds of feaSting and
revelry-except the chinking OF money
as it was paid In by the people to the
collector Of the royal treasures to de-
fray the expenses Of the happy cere-
mony.
In the midst Of all this festivity and
rejoicing there was one individual who
tasted not the sparkling wines. This
was no other than Prince Bladud him
self, in honor of whose happiness a
whole people were at that very moment
straining alike their Threats and purse
strings. The truth was that the prince,
forgetting the undoubted right Of the
minister for foreign affairs to fall in
love on his behalf, had, contrary to
every precedent of policy and diplo-
macy, already fallen in love on his own
account and privately contracted him
self unto the fair daughter Of a noble
Athenian.
The prince, not being modern
could neither marry his fathers choice
ing her or dispose of her in some more
severe way. Instead he solicited pri-
vate audience and told his father.
It is an old prerogative Of kings to
govern everything but their passions.
King Lud flew into a frightful rage,
tossed his crown up to the ceiling and
caught it again-for in those days
kings kept their crowns on their heads
and not in the Tower OF London
stamped the ground, raped his fore
head, wondered why his own flesh and
blood rebelled against him and, finally
calling in his guards. ordered the prince
away to confinement in lofty turret.
When Prince Bladud had been shut
up In the lofty turret for the greater
part of year he naturally began to
ruminate on a plan Of escape, which,
after months of preparation, he man
aged to accomplish, considerably leav.
ing his dinner knife in the heart OF
his jailer, lest the poor fellow (who had
q family should be considered an &C.
complete in his flight and punished
accordingly by the Infatuated king. :.
The young prince, effectually. dis
guised, wandered on foot through his
fathers domains, cheered and support
ed in all his hardships by sweet
thoughts Of the Athenian maid who was
the innocent cause of his weary trials
One day he stopped to rest In coun-
try village and, seeing that there were
gay dances going forward on the greer
and gay faces passing to and fro, ven-
tured TO inquire of a reveller who stood
near him the reason for this rejoicing
He learned the tragic news that his
Athcnian beloved had been married to
some one else and that his father the
king had broadcast the news and that
every one was happy because. Prin;'
Bladud would row rcturn end marry
the r'''l CT h'' C. - s go.
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