A MISCHIEVOUS PAGE

New Zealand Tablet, 5 June 1913, Page 61

A MISCHIEVOUS PAGE

Court pages seem to have been forgiven a- good deal of mischief, if we are to credit the annals of European courts. The thought suggests itself that the high dignitaries were at times weary of etiquette and magnificence, and were secretly grateful to an audacious youngster for creating a diversion. One day an important official of France, who went often to Versailles, was waiting in an anti-chamber for the coming of the king. He leaned back in his chair and rested his head against the tapestry on the wall, A page slipped up behind him, and with a great pin. fastened the official’s wig to the tapestry. Just then, some one cried, ‘-Here’s the King!’ Up jumped the official, leaving the wig hanging to the tapestry, and confronting the king with bare head. He was not at all disconcerted, and said gravely,. I did not expect to have the honor of saluting your Majesty to-day in the guise of a choir-boy.’ ~ The king repressed a smile, and at once recognised the incident as the work of a page. He insisted upon, knowing who was the guilty one, and then ordered him not to appear before him until he ’ had begged the official’s pardon. The page retired after receiving his orders. At midnight he decided to execute them. He galloped, away on horseback' to the residence of the official, and. waked the household and the whole neighborhood, declaring that he had a message from the king. The official got out of bed and put on some of his court garb in, order to receive the king’s messenger properly. At last the page was ceremoniously admitted to his: presence. Then the boy said, ‘ Sir, I am here at the king’s command. I have come to beg your pardon for pinning your wig to the tapestry.’ ‘Sir/ replied the official, calmly, you need not; have made such haste.’

Then the page retired with much bustle and ceremony. He appeared before the king the next morning,, and was promptly asked if he had done as ho was told.. He answered that he had, as many witnesses could testify. When the king was told how the page had executed his orders, he shrugged his shoulders and said,. ‘ That is just like a page.’ ’