Connecticut western news., 1892-01-14
THE COMET.
TRANSLATED FOR THE NEWS FROM THE
 FRENCH OF ERCKMANN- -CHATRIAN.
BY H. 0 MACKEY.

~~ try had printed it.
 Zacharias Piper had calculated that a comet would descend from the sky on Shrove Tuesday that 1t would have n tail thirty five millions of leagues long, composed of boiling water, which would pass upon the earth in such density thai the snow on the highest mountains would be melted, the trees wither away and the people be consumed.
 It is true that an honest philosopher of Paris, named Popinot, wrote later that comet would undoubtedly arrive. but that its tail would be composed of such light vapors that no one would ex pelience the least inconvenience that each one might occupy himself with his business, and that he would make him. self responsible for every thing.
 This assurance calmed their fears very much.
 Unfortunately. we have in our city an old womnn who is a wool spinner, named Maria Fink, who lives in little alley. She is little old woman, quite white and wrinkled, whom u @ people often consult in the delicate circumstances of life. She lives in basement chamber. of which the ceiling is ornamented with painted eggs on blue and rose-colored strings, some gilded nuts, and a thous- and and one other strange objects. She dressed in an antique fashion, and sine lived on sugar-cakes. This is what gave her such reputation in the country.
 Maria Fink was not of the same opin- ion as the honest and good MT. Popinot was, but she openly declared herself as being of the same mind as Zacharias Piper, saying . Be ye converted aud pray i; repent ye of your fanlts, and make some use of the Church, for the end is near-the end is near"
 Then the greater part of the people said We will not celebrate the car nival we will pass Shrove Tuesday ill acts of contrition."
 No ons had ever heard of anything similar to this.
 The adjutant and the captain, as well as the under officers of the garrison, were in great despair All the prepara- tions for the feast, the large town hall that they had decorated with moss and trophies of arms, the platform that had been erected for the orchestra, all the refreshments, were going to be lost. since the young ladies of the city would listen to nothing about the dance.
 II am.not cruel, " said Sergeant Du- chene, [" but if I had hold of Z4charias Piper would make life hard for him D
 With all this, the most discoDsolate were the mayors secretary, the post masters son. the tax-collector and my | self. Eight days before we had gone to | Strasburg, ill order to get some cos tunes. My uncle had given me fifty francs out of his own pocket, so that n"thing would be incomplete. had therefore chosen the costume of clown. It is a kiud of shirt with large folds aud long sleeves, covered with buttons in the shape of onions as large as mans fist, and which hangs from ones chin tc ones hips. For the head covering there Is black cloth, and one could whiter himself with four, and, provided one had long nose, hollow cheeks and kep his eyes very wide open, 1t is admirable
 The tax-c'll"ctor, on account of hi large stomach, had engaged the costume of Turk, embroidered on all the seams the secretary had the costume of Punch, made of thousand pieces 0 red, green and yellow, hump bebipt and another before, large hat of bear skin upon the nape of his neck.
 The postmaster's son was to dress lik q savage, with some parrot feathers.
 Now, when one has gone to such ex pense. to see all go to the winds by tn fault of an old woman and Z Piper-i 1t not enough to make one angry wltl the whole human race !? But what wa to be done?
 Shrove Tuesday arrived The last da, the sky was full of snow. One migh look to the right, to the left, above 0 below, but see no comet. The younl ladies appear confused the boys run t, their cousins homes, to their aunts houses, to their godmothers' houses an, to all the houses.
 "You see now that old Fink is a foo all her ideas of comet are nonsensi cal. Do comets arrive in winter ? b they not always choose the time of har vest ? Come, come, it is necessary t decide ! There is yet time."
 Many began to regain their courage The old men and the old women began to arrive arm in arm to see the larg town hall the sabres were arranged i the form of suns, and the little three colored draperies between tue window excited universal admiration.
 Then everything changed, for they re membered that it was Shrove Tuesday the young ladies hastened to get thei dresses from the closets, and to blac their little shoes.
 At ten o'clock the town hall was fu of people we had gained the victory we were not conquered there was nc one young lady of the city who was n, there !; all the instruments of the mus clans sounded, the high windows shon in the night, the waltzers turned, th dancers thought of nothing else; ti