The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1894-02-22
LEGENDS or LADIES.
DISCUSSION CF THE INFLUENCE OF
BEAUTY c. THE TLNDER PASSION.
Did the D.sii Iver Choke the Life out Of
Beautifui Womsn'-A stors Which L.
Very Lnrid To Say the Least 4 Homeiy
Woman Seen Through Love's Eyes.


Very Lnrid. 10 Say the Least \ Honeiy
Woman seen Through Loves Eye.
\ discussion interesting u the lidie-
Is running through some 81 tn French
papers Briefly stated, the gne-tion j.
whether or not beauty has anything 10
do with The kindling Il the teud.r pas
sion. Handsome women Say Vs. home
ly ones. or, 10 be more correct. the less
beautiful, say no. In proof of tho
soundnesa Of Their platform, which re
3ects the plank Of affection for lowell
ness only, the latter have unea1lhed the
musty old legend Of the loves Of Leile
and Megnonn
When the king Of Persia heard Of the
smitteu yonHg man, he sent for him and
asked him how it was that be had be
come 50 desperately spoony.
In order to understand that. - re-
piled Megnoun. you would have to see
my ladylove.'
"Well, g." said the king, let. see the
wonder. =
Leile WAS brought before him. She
was redheaded scragey. squirt eyed
stump nosed and freckled face.
"A thousand billiards. roared his
majesty. Is TINS the object Of your
extraordinary ardor: Splinter my scep-
ter! The meanest slave in my kitchen
is better looking than She
"Then Judge how must love her. "
said Megnoiin. since She Is az heauti-
ful in my eyes as she is ha1nely in
yours"
50 far 50 good But here comes the
lurid legend Of the famous Ninon De
Lenclos Ninon fourished during the
reigns Of Louis XIV and Louis Ky. and
many enthusiastic descriptions have
been given Of her Incompatible charms.
Well. one fine day Mile. de Lenclos
was quietly seated in her parlor when
the servant came to announce to her
that gentleman wished to see her, but
that he would not give his name She
told the servant TO say tn the stranger
that she Wis engaged with company and
could not see him.
Il know very we'll, said the stran-
ger TO the servant. that mademoiselle
is alone. Go back ard tell her that
have matter Of the very highest i'm
portance TO communicate 10 her ''
This strange reply tickled the curios-
ity of Mile. de Lenclos. She gave or
ders to admit him. He appeared before
her. He WAS little old man, clad in
black, with sinister lock. He wore
a black skullcap and carried a little
black cane His ewes We're full Of fire
but, after all, his features were intel
lectual.
Mademoisele, said fe. be good
enough to send away Your waiting
maid. Nobody hut you alone must hear
what have TO reveal. .
Ninon was terrified at first. but at
last, remembering that she was in the
presence of little, decrepit cid man,
she took courage and sent away the
waiting maid
Don t let my visit f,ighten you,
said the stranger. 1t is true that | do
not honor everybody in this way. but
you have nothing To fear. You have
before You man who is oheyed. more
or less, by all the world. and who can
bestuw at will all the gifts OF nature. /
was present at Your birth. fashion
the fate Of all human beings. and
have come here to learn from your own
lips how | shall dispose of yours
bring you the highest titles. enormous
riches and an eternal beauty. Which
will yuu have: Take Your choice and
rest assured that no mortal on earth has
the mower to Give Won So mucb -