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Show THE JOKE OF A KING. Historic Hoax Perpetrated by Gusta-vus Gusta-vus III. of Sweden. King Gustavus III. of Sweden had been frojuinllv Invited to the little , court of Schwerlu. In 1783 he paid a I visit lo Germany and as soon as the Ducneys of Mecklenburg heard of his approach she prepared fetes In his honor. Dut Gustavus, who disdained the petty courU of the small rulers, sent two of his attendants a page named Peyron, and Desvouges, a valet who had formerly been an actor to be entertained by the duchess. The -two personated the king and his minister, Daron Sparre, and sustained the characters char-acters throughout. They accepted as their due all the homage meant for their master, danced with the Mecklenburg Mecklen-burg ladles who were presented to them, and Peyron went so far as to ask ono of the ladles for her portrait Meantime Gustavus was enjoying himself him-self elsewhero la secret. |