rare] 
Nat 
DISSENSION, RUPTURE. 
A BROKEN STRAW. 
Tue 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 his 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 con- 
cessions to Raoul, chief of the Normans. Sur. 
rounded by their foul sedition, he prayed, 
promised, and thought to escape by 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 menaces, they advanced to the 
foot of the throne, broke some straws which 
they held in their hands, threw them roughly 
G 


SF pt i RS get Oe er ae mm 

