edals on My Chest

ome time ago Baron Von Lodge was the head of a small country near Switzerland known as Lilliland.

One of the subjects that the Baron continued to talk about at his meeting with his advisor, Professor Hamblin, and fiancée, Lady Angela of Alpine Castle, was the official attire that he was supposed to wear at state affairs.

The Baron’s point of view was that his formal attire was full of medals for acts of something, but he was not quite sure. All royal members seemed to wear a lot of medals on their official coats, plus a sash over one shoulder.

“I must have a jacket that has a dozen medals on it for some purpose. Everyone at court or a reception knows that I am the Baron of Lilliland, with or without the dozen medals on my jacket or coat.

“Professor Hamblin was asked if I, as Baron, really need all these medals. The Professor said, ‘Yes because it is expected of you as the official head of Lilliland. You should have the most medals to show my authority.’ ”

The Baron again protested and asked Lady Angela for her opinion. She said that it was a good idea to uphold tradition, but the medals could be redesigned.

“Redesigned. That’s a great idea,” said the Baron. The Professor nodded in agreement.

The official jewelry was called in for a consultation. The Baron said that he wanted to have all the symbolism of the twelve medals designed into one medal no larger that two inches square or round.

The jeweler said that it would take some time but he believed that he could come up with a design to show all twelve symbols within one small medal.

In about two weeks, the official jeweler submitted a new design and it met with the Baron’s approval. The Professor agreed with the design as being dignified and encouraged the jeweler to proceed and make the new medal.

Two weeks later, the jeweler returned with the new medal and the Baron liked it very much. He said, “I still feel like an official of Lilliland without all those medals on my chest.”

The Professor and Lady Angela both like the new medal.