The Great Round World and What Is Going On In It, Vol. 1, No. 19, March 18, 1897: A Weekly Magazine for Boys and GirlsVarious
History
The Great Round World and What Is Going On In It, Vol. 1, No. 19, March 18, 1897: A Weekly Magazine for Boys and Girls
Various
History, Modern -- 19th century -- Juvenile literature -- Periodicals
So sure was he of the strength of his walls, and the cleverness of his
warriors, that he laughed at the idea of the Queen of England punishing
him for his wicked deeds, and waited for the soldiers to come to Benin,
expecting to be able to make very short work of them.
Now, however, he has learned that there are greater and more powerful
monarchs than the King of Benin, and that his boasted stronghold was of no
account when attacked by a clever foe. Obliged to flee for his life,
leaving his city in ruins behind him, Drunami, King of Benin, is learning
that he is not so great or powerful as he thought he was. It will probably
be a very useful lesson to him, and make him a better man.
* * * * *
A very curious law case has just come to an end in France.
It is such a silly case, that it seems strange that the French lawyers
waste their time over it.
The Duke of Anjou and the Duke of Orleans each claim the right to the
title of King of France.
The lawyers on both sides argued and struggled over the matter with all
seriousness.
The Duke of Anjou did not want the Duke of Orleans to call himself the
head of the Royal Family of France, nor did he want him to have the right
to use the royal shield of France as his coat of arms. Only the King of
France has a right to use the lilies of France, or fleurs-de-lis, as they
are called, on his shield.
The Duke of Anjou was, further, much troubled lest the Duke of Orleans
should have the right to sign his proclamations with his first name only,
after the manner of kings.
After many a legal wrangle, and many a fine argument, the court finally
gave its opinion that the Duke of Anjou had lost his case for the
following very good reasons:
First, because there is no longer a King of France--France being now a
republic.
Second, because the title of King of France is not one that can be handed
down from father to son, like other titles. It is the sole property of the
ruler of the kingdom of France. France being no longer a kingdom, it has
no king, and therefore nobody has the right to the title at all.
Third, because there being no longer a kingdom of France, nor a king of
France, nobody has any especial right to use the coat of arms of the king.
The court was of opinion that anybody may use it who feels inclined.
Fourth, because there being no longer a kingdom of France nor a king,
neither of the quarrelling dukes has any need to issue proclamations. If
they do issue them, no one will take any notice of them, and therefore the
court cannot see that it is anybody's business what name is signed to
them. The Duke of Anjou has no right to interfere with the Duke of
Orleans' signature as a private individual, and therefore the court
refuses to dictate to the Duke of Orleans how he shall sign his letters,
whether with his first, his last, or with all of his names.
The court therefore ordered the Duke of Anjou to pay all the costs of the
trial, and dismissed the case.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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