Larry's Fairy Tales - Part 4

The Emperor's New Clothes

Once upon a time, there was a a young emperor who loved clothes.  Tailors from all over the empire competed to make him the most fabulous garments.  But he was never satisfied.

(Painting: Emperor Napoleon by Francois Gerard, 1805)

One day, a new tailor appeared at the palace.  He promised to make a magic garment that only the wise could see.  “But first,” he said, “I have to measure your Majesty’s body."
    "I had no idea custom made clothing required such detailed measurements,” said the emperor.
    “Oh yes.  I may have to measure this part several times to get it right."

(Image: cartoon by Gerard Donelan)

The next day, the tailor returned and pretended to drape the garment over the emperor.  “Here is the garment, your Majesty.  It’s so light, you can hardly feel it.  Only the wise can see it.  It is invisible to fools.”

(Photo: Aviation recruit medical exam, 1918.  Photo by Lt. Reid)

The emperor was not deceived, but he thought this might be a good test of his subjects.  First, he called his counsellors into the throne room.  He asked their opinion of his new magic garment that was invisible to fools.  They all told him it looked magnificent.

Then he went to church, where the Archbishop and all the priests praised the magic garment.

Then he read a public address from the royal balcony.  The press were fulsome in their compliments.

(Photo: Greek exhibitionist John Mask)

Then he mounted his horse and led a procession through the streets.  The public cheered him.

(Photo: Horse cantering with nude rider, by Edweard Muybridge, 1887)

But one young young man in the crowd cried, “The emperor is naked!  And so am I, unless you think I have a magic garment, too!”
    The emperor was happy to have finally found someone who would tell the truth.  “You shall be my prime minister,” he said.

But having found that he could get away with being an exhibitionist, the emperor continued to wear the “magic garment” for the rest of his days, as did his prime minister.  And they lived happily ever after.