BY MAGIC.
Louis XIV. once remarked, impatiently, in the hearing of the Duke d'Antin, superintendent of the royal buildings, that he hoped that some time a forest - whicjbf he had always disliked, because it^obstructed one of his favorite views, would be cut down.
Unknown to the king, the Due d'Antin had the trunks of all the trees in the objectionable piece of forest sawed through near the ground in such a way that they still stood, though a slight pull would bring them doW. He removed every evidence of the work, and fastened ropes to the tops of the trees, and concealed more than twelve hundred men in the forest to manage the ropes at a signal from him.
D'Antin knew on what day the king would walk in the wood, and planned his work accordingly. The king took his accustomed promenade, and, as usual, He expressed his sentiments about the hated forest.
"Your majesty, the forest shall be removed whenever you like," said d'Antin.
"Indeed?" said the king. "Then 1 wish that it might be done at once."
Al that moment d'Antin blew a shrill blast from a whistle, and, to the utter amazement of the king and the royal party, the forest fell as if by enchantment.
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Bibliographic details
Rodney and Otamatea Times, Waitemata and Kaipara Gazette, 23 June 1915, Page 7
Word Count
209BY MAGIC. Rodney and Otamatea Times, Waitemata and Kaipara Gazette, 23 June 1915, Page 7
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