The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1878-06-06
OUR STORY TELLER.
THE YELLOW DOMINO.

During the latter part of the reign of
Louis XIV, of France, masquerades were
in high estimation, and public ones were
often given at immense cost, on court
days and other occasions of rejoicing.
To these latter, persons of all ranks,
who could afford to purchase a ticket,
were admissible; and accordingly rem
conters frequently took place at them,
and exhibitions almost as curious in the
way of disguise as in the assumption of
character.
Little chance adventures of an anus.
ing character were at that period not at
all uncommon; and, indeed, at these en-
tertainments strange groups and charac-
ters were often purposely concerted by
their directors and managers.
At other times feats of legerdemain or
activity were performed; and on one
occasion, it is well known, Genoese-
the Ducrow Of his day-walked upon a
tight-rope, surrounded by fireworks,
which made him visible to all Paris,
from the top of one of the towers of the
metropolitan cathedral of Notre Dame
into the window of a house near an
opposite bridge called the Pont au
Change.
Perhaps, hewever, the most whimsical
among the genuine surprises recorded at
any of those spectacles was that which
occurred in Paris on the 18th of October,
the day on which the Dauphin, eldest
son of Louis XIV, attained his majority.
At this fete, which was of a peculiarly
magnificent characterize much 30, that
the details of it are given at great length
by historians of the day-the strange be-
havior of person in a yellow domino
excited general attention very early in
the evening. This mask, in short, who,
If we except tallness with the most
robust proportions, showed nothing re-
markable as to figure, seemed to be
gifted with an appetite not merely past
all human conception, but exceeding
even the widest fancies of romance.
Even
"The dragon of old, who churches ate
When full Of good people on Sunday;
Whole congregations were to him
But dish Of salmagundi-"
even he was but a nibbler-a mere
Jackey- Go -Easy-to this stranger of the
yellow domino, who, with an alacrity
and perseverance as astonishing as it was
edifying, went from room to room, and
from one refreshment-table to another,
not merely tasting, but devouring, de,
vastating all before himl At one side
board he coolly dispatched fowl, two.
thirds of a ham, and half-a-dozen bot.
ties of champagne, and the very next
moment he was found seated in another
apartment performing the same feat
with a stomach even keener than the
first. This strange course was perse
vered in steadily the whole evening, un
til the company, who had at first beer
much amused by it, became alike
alarmed and unruly.
Is it the same mask, or are there
several dominos" demanded an Officer
of the guard, as the yellow domino rost
from a seat opposite to him and quittec
the apartmant.
"I have seen but one, and, by Heaven
here he is again" exclaimed the party
to whom the query was addressed.
The yellow domino spoke not word
but proceeded straight to the vacan
seat which he had just left, and agair
commenced supping as though he ha(
tasted for whole month of Sundays.
At length the confusion which thi
proceeding created became universal
and the cause Of the clamor reached tn,
ears of the Dauphin.
He is the very devil, your highnessp =
exclaimed a noble, saving your roya
highness's presence; or wants but tai
to be So"
"Say, rather, he is some poor, fam
ished poet, by his appetite" replied tn
prince, laughing. But there mus
be some juggling in all this; he spill
the vrtpo anI k,Joa Az xr1r.oso.. =. :,
der his dress"
"Your highness shall immediatel
witness the absence of juggle," cor
tinued the nobleman, "with your ow
eyes, for see," and he pointed to th
door Of the apartment from which th
yellow domino had that instant emerged
and was, as usual, proceeding directl
TO the refreshment-table.
Having seated himself with muc
apparent complacency, the yellow don
ino, seizing bottle before him, dram
glass after glass with a gusto and avidit
for at least half-a-dozen rounds trul
astonishing. But this appeared to be
mere preliminary movement for clearin
the way for a solid and serious masric.
tion, for Immediately after he boldly a
tackled fowl which lay most invitingl
before him, and which, cut by cut, no
began to disappear by whole wings an
legs at a time.
The prince, accompanied by h
courtiers, looked on in silence, while IL
old nobleman, who had formerly spokel
solemnly assured him that he had see
him do that feat three times.
Thrice, my lord d?-thrice inte
rupted another courtier, in rather CO..
temptuous tones; "why, I can pledge m
honor that l have seen him at it eigl
times"
"Say ten times, my lord duke" erie
another, "and you will be nearer ii
truth"
"And nearer still if you say fifteen
said the Marquis LIE Verd. az ha,
watched the fellow this whole evenin
and | can assure your highness this
the fifteenth time that l have witness
his repasts"
Say you sop replied the prime
all curiosity. "Call the master of Il
ceremonies; we are anxious to know
little more Of our guest"
The master of the ceremonies, no,
ever, on being asked, knew nothil
about him; the yellow domino was,
course, very unceremoniously, as W,
as unseasonably, interrupted, just as
was lifting bumper of claret to b
lips.
+" The prince desires that monsie
who wears the yellow domino will imm
diately unmask," repeated the mast
Of the ceremonies, with awful solemnit
The yellow domino stared at hil
and hesitated.
"The command with which his hig
ness honors monsieur is absolutely i