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A Sojourn With Royalty (October 26, 1865) (13 pages)
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Page: of 13
unless it might be a hare-skin: robe in very cold weather. Notwithstanding this potentate held the
lives of his subjects under his control, and could shoot, hang, slay, or disfranchise, without fear
of being called to account, or of having his right questioned, he seldom had any trouble with his
people, for it was his august will (which usually lasted from January to December) to let them do
pretty much as they pleased---a kind of patriarchal government, not much improved upon in
latter days by the Patriotic mode of doing things in opposition to constitutional authorities.
The territory of his Imperial Highness, Homodv Weimer, was bounded on the north by the
South Fork of the U. B. Dam river; on the east by the lofty summit of the Snowy Mountains ; on
the south by Grizzly Stream, now known as Bear river, and English's Bridge; on the west by
Johnson's Crossing and that Irish hotel where hot griddle cakes were served up cold in pork
gravy, and, whisky sold in latter days at a bit a drink.
Although this kingdom might not contain as many geographical miles as the principality of Duke
Gwin or his Magnificence Maxi-mexico, he was nevertheless "every inch a King," with more
absolute powers than either of those great and, distingnished rulers. In one respect he was far
more independent than any of his brother monarchs of Europe or America. He had no national
debt to pay, no issue of greenbacks or Confederate bonds, no foreign loans to sap the energies of
his people, no hordes of State Treasurers or financiers to absorb the stealings, no diplomatic
blood-suckers to devise ways and means of appropriating profits to themselves. Yet this great
King had more gold in his banks than any European monarch or rebel President could boast,
With untold wealth, Weimer adhered to his primitive habits and economical customs, regardless
of cost. He wasted no money on useless display in fashionable society; he built no wooden
castles with Ophir or Gould Curry stock. His Summer robe, even when seated upon his
throne, was simply his own well oiled skin, for he disdained even a Georgia costume,
and his palace was only a hole in the ground, covered with sticks and earth, with an
aperture in the top to let out the smoke of his fire.
His recreation after ‘the fatigue of the council was over was to bask in the sun and
slap the musquitos [sic] and sand flies that disturbed his repose. Well could he exclaim
with that mighty monarch, Charles V., "Naked came I into the world, and naked I
remain in it." And so he did, till his scepter was wrested from him, when he
condescended to wear a shirt in token of his vassalage.