Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 19, Number 93, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 July 1898 — QUEEN MARGUERITE’S POODLE. [ARTICLE]

QUEEN MARGUERITE’S POODLE.

Kin* Hnmbert Used His Hair Dye on the Little Beast. King Humbert’s gray hairs and the dye that was to cure them are the subject of an amusing little anecdote in the Berliner Tageblatt. The king, ft seems, favors the iron-gray of age and sees nothing to object to in the years that lead to reverence and the silver hair. But Queen Marguerite was very zealous on the other side and wished to see what Paris and the coiffeur could do in the work of restoration. She therefore thought of an imperial hair dye, the only modern witchcraft that science allows. The king one day found on his dressing table the elixir, carefully packed, with directions for use. and guessed whetice and why it came. Now, Queen Marguerite had a favorite poodle, white and fleecy, which was wont to pay her a morning visit every day. but on one of his duty calls shortly after the elixir arrived the faithful toutou arrived sleek and glossy as ever, but the snow-white fleece was changed for a garment of bluish black. As there was no reason why court and courtier should go into mourning, the queen was horrified at the change. “You poor breature,” she cried, “how grotesque they have made you look." “And your husband?” was all the king said, and the queen asked no more questions. The poodle is said to have resented the parable; the snowwhite fleece never came round, and having once dyed he was obliged to dye till the end.