THE EMPEROR'S NEW CLOTHES (1837)
Some evil men said they were the best at making clothes and sold the emperor a set of clothes that was so fine one could not see them. The emperor bought the clothes that were not there.
Consider the rest in "quotes" my comments in ( ):
Many years ago, there was an emperor so exceedingly fond of new clothes that he spent all his money of being well dressed. He cared nothing about reviewing his soldiers, going to the theater, or going for a ride in his carriage, except to show off his new clothes. He had a coat for every hour of the day, and instead of saying, as one might, about any other ruler, "The king's in council", here they always said, "The emperor's in his dressing room."
"Well, I'm supposed to be ready, the emperor said, and turned again for one last look in the mirror. "It is a remarkable fit, isn't it?" He seemed to regard his costume with the greatest interest.
The noblemen who were to carry his train stooped low and reached for the floor as if they were picking up his mantle. Then they pretended to lift and hold it high. They didn't date admit they had nothing to hold."
(At the end of this fairly tale, the Emperor is in his carriage so all can see his new clothes.
All are praising the beauty of his new clothes. He, of course, is naked.)
"But he hasn't got anything on,", a little child said. And one person whispered to another what the child had said, "He hasn't anything on. A child says he hasn't anything on."
"But he hasn't got anything on! the whole town cried out at last."
"The emperor shivered, for he suspected they were right. But, he thought, "This procession has got to go on." So, he walked more proudly than ever, as his noblemen held high the train that wasn't there at all."
The End.