The Anaconda Standard

The King and the Peasant

Well illustrated by an anecdote from the days of the last royal hunts at Monza. King Humbert is accustomed to take his sport with the gun in pretty much the same clothes as other persons and without attendants, thereby distinguishing himself from his imperial German ally, who has insignia of his high office all over his hunting costume, and is accompanied usually on the chase by noblemen and flunkeys.

Shortly before the end of his last season the king's hound started a hare about two miles from Monza, and the king fired. At the same instant another shot was heard, and the Italian peasant with an old-fashioned gun and a mongrel dog hurried up from the opposite direction. The peasant mistook the simply yet elegantly clad sportsman who disputed his possession of the hare for a rounder, and caught up the royal arm stretched toward the dead game. There was a hot discussion, which ended in the triumph of the king's superior logic and his taking off the hare.

At the royal castle the king gave the hare to the servants that they might prepare it for his supper, and stood by as they dressed it for the pan. When the entrails were removed the bullet that caused the animal's death was found. It was the old style for a gun of the pattern of 50 years ago. The king looked at it, and at once sent out a messenger to summon to the castle the peasant who had disputed the possession of the hare. When the old man was led into the king's presence the latter stretched to him both hands, and said:

"My dear man, I have just discovered my mistake. The hare belongs to you. As it is already roasting, however, I can do no more than to ask you to help me eat it."

The peasant sat at the king's right hand at dinner that evening, and although high society spoiled his appetite, he jingled his wine glass against that of his sovereign, and rode home, considerably exhilarated, in the royal carriage.