THE SKIN OF THE BEAR.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 1287, 20 August 1914, Page 4

THE SKIN OF THE BEAR.

GERMANY’S OFFER TO ITALY.

Germany’s proposal to give Italy a portion of South France yet conquered) if Italy will fight with Germany and Austria, recalls an old story. It is told by Philippe de Comines iu his Memoirs that Louis XI, sent an embassy to the Emperor of Germany, requesting his assistance to overthrow Charles the Bold (ruler over Burgundy, Begium, Alsace, Savoy, etc.), and then to partition his dominions. The Emperor, an old and shrewd man, but not warlike, replied to the ambassadors by an apologue to the following effect: —-Two men went out to Jmnt a bear, so that they might sell his skin. On locating the animal they became frightened ; one climbed a tree, but the other, being unable to escape, lay down and pretended to be dead. It is a peculiarity of this noble animal, according to the story, not to meddle with a dead body; so the bear, after turning the man over and running his snout into the man’s ear, turned round and went away. All being safe, the man up the tree descended and asked his companion what counsel the bear had whispered into his ear. “He told me,” said the man, “ never to sell a bear’s skin until the beast was dead.”