The grandest sight that ever was seen. Lord,
how the plumes streamed, how the sun flamed and flashed
from the endless procession of webby wheels!
I waved my right arm as Launcelot swept in—he
recognized my rag —I tore away noose and
bandage, and shouted:
“On your knees, every rascal of you, and salute
the king! Who fails shall sup in hell to-night!”
I always use that high style when I’m climaxing
an effect. Well, it was noble to see Launcelot
and the boys swarm up onto that scaffold and heave
sheriffs and such overboard. And it was fine
to see that astonished multitude go down on their knees
and beg their lives of the king they had just been
deriding and insulting. And as he stood apart
there, receiving this homage in rags, I thought to
myself, well, really there is something peculiarly
grand about the gait and bearing of a king, after all.
I was immensely satisfied. Take the whole situation
all around, it was one of the gaudiest effects I ever
instigated.
And presently up comes Clarence, his own self! and
winks, and says, very modernly:
“Good deal of a surprise, wasn’t it?
I knew you’d like it. I’ve had
the boys practicing this long time, privately; and
just hungry for a chance to show off.”
THE YANKEE’S FIGHT WITH THE KNIGHTS
Home again, at Camelot. A morning or two later
I found the paper, damp from the press, by my plate
at the breakfast table. I turned to the advertising
columns, knowing I should find something of personal
interest to me there. It was this:
DE PAR LE ROI.
Know that the great lord and illus-
trious Kni8ht, SIR SAGRAMOR LE
DESIROUS having condescended to
meet the King’s Minister, Hank Mor-
gan, the which is surnamed The Boss,
for satisfgction of offence anciently given,
these wilL engage in the lists by
Camelot about the fourth hour of the
morning of the sixteenth day of this
next succeeding month. The battle
will be a l outrance, sith the said offence
was of a deadly sort, admitting of no
comPosition.
DE PAR LE ROI
Clarence’s editorial reference to this affair
was to this effect:
It will be observed, by a gl7nce at our
advertising columns, that the commu- nity is
to be favored with a treat of un- usual interest
in the tournament line. The n ames of the
artists are warrant of good enterTemment.
The box-office will be open at noon of the 13th;
ad- mission 3 cents, reserved seatsh 5; pro- ceeds
to go to the hospital fund The royal pair and
all the Court will be pres- ent. With these
exceptions, and the press and the clergy, the free
list is strict- ly susPended. Parties are
hereby warn- ed against buying tickets of speculators;
they will not be good at the door. Everybody
knows and likes The Boss, everybody knows and likes
