DISSENSION, RUPTURE. 
A BROKEN STRAW; 
The custom of breaking a straw, to express 
that treaties are broken, may be traced to the 
first days of monarchy; it may even be said 
to be of royal origin. 
The old chroniclers relate that in 922 
Charles the Simple, seeing himself abandoned 
by the principal lords of his court, had the 
imprudence to convoke an assembly at the 
Champ-de-Mai, at Soissons. He sought bis 
friends there, but found only a factious crew, 
whose audacity was increased by his weakness. 
Some reproached him with indolence, with his 
prodigalities, and his blind confidence in his 
minister Haganon; others were angry for the 
dishonour of his concessions to Raoul, chief 
of the Normans. Surrounded by their foul 
sedition, he prayed, promised, and thought to 
escape hy the display of new weaknesses, but 
in vain. When they saw him without moral 
courage, their audacity had no bounds ; they 
even declared that he ceased to be their king. 
At these words, which they pronounced with 
every sign of violence, accompanied by me¬ 
naces, they advanced to the foot of the throne, 
broke some straws which they held in their 
hands, threw them roughly on the ground, 
