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Show Our Man Hoppe Hark, Opportunity Knocks By ARTHUR HOPPE Chronicle Features Once upon a time, the country called Wonderfuland fell upon evil days. It was ruled by an old king hardly anyone liked. The people thought him untrustworthy, untrust-worthy, devious, bullying and downright unrefined. unre-fined. For he was fond of saying things like, "Don't spit in the soup; we all got to eat." Doubt and distrust dis-trust enveloped W o n d e rfuland. And the people noble lineage and who had a vast army at his command. The Young Knight said nobly that he believed in loyalty. And anyway the omens were ominous and why not wait for another year? So he swore fealty to the old king and the people gave up hope of deposing him. Then one day, a Gentle Knight mounted his somewhat spavined horse and announced quietly that, not having much else to do nor anything much to lose, he would give the old King battle. And, oh, how the people laughed. They said they certainly admired The Gentle Knight's bravery, nobility no-bility and gentleness, but he was obviously no match for the ruthless, opportunistic old king. Yet would you believe it? in his very first battle, the Gentle Knight fought the old king to a standstill! Oh, how the people cheered. "It just shows you," they said, "that bravery, nobility and gentleness will lick ruthless opportunists every ev-ery time." The Gentle Knight had just raised his visor to accept the plaudits of the throng when there was a thun der of hoofs and The Gentle K was knocked eight ways froip day before he knew what hit More Fit V "I'm terribly sorry," said Thl Young Knight. "But you were J my way. And I must get on wititjj task at hand, deposing the o-king o-king a task for which I am' viously more fit than you." At first, the people were so--what uneasy about their newW; Indeed, some said he seemed a of an untrustworthy, devious L - in fact, a ruthless opportums. But The Young Knight addr the crowd, saying things m, me your hands and I shall ' a new Wonderfuland." And everybody came to agr he wasn't like the old king . For obviously, he was very r So they flocked to his ban droves. As for The Gentle . .; eventually wandered. W where. But he was sAot sally admired - by those wd membered his name. t: Moral: Admire the gentle and the noble - j i tort the ruthless opptfW your choice. ..... said things like, Mr. Heppe "How can we be brave and noble and gentle when we are ruled by a ruthless old opportunist who pushes weaker sorts around?" For, as is well known, the people admired bravery and gentleness and nobility above all things. Battle The lng But everybody was afraid of the old king and none would give him a battle not even The Young Knight, who was wealthy and of |