The Wichita daily eagle., 1897-12-19
Yawns-A Kansas Fairy Tale.

Briefly, Princess Phersonia had heen
stolen. she had been betrothed 10 the
charming Prince OF Ness. and the wedding
day having been set the whole people had
gwen themselves over more or less TO fes-
;ivity- But one night the fierce Prince
Barber, creeping through the castle. seized
upon the lovely Phersonia. smothered her
cries, and. jumping upon his horse. car
ried her away to ais castle.
No one saw the truculent Barber co this.
but this was the conclusion King Reno
came upon at once, and ne thereupon open
ed a small jewel-box, out OF which sprans
Sneewunkle, King Reno's fairy she was
beautiful creature. far more beautiful
than any butterfly, and possessed of the
power TO 20 any distance in any brevsty
OF time. upon any errand- The most pecu-
liar restraining provision OF Sneewunkle's
power was that she must be directed.
She could not act voluntarily. and. while
she could bring tidings. could not convey
messages
.-Sneewunkle." said King Reno. Prince
Barber has kidnapped my daughter. Haste
TO his castle Find where she IS imprisoned
and who guards her. and return
The fairy flew out the open window ana
across the sun-lit prairies. King Reno at
once called Prince Ness. the prospective
bridegroom. to him. and told him of Pher-
sonia's disappearance and his suspicious.
In towering anger, Prince Ness drew MS
sword and would have set out al once for
the castle of Barber. but King Reno said.
Stay your heady temper. Prince. II is
our imperial desire 10 do no one violence,
not even Barber. All, here is Sneewunkle
returned. What news"
'She is there" answered the pretty fairy
.'in the top cell OF the northeast turret of
the castle. she IS guarded by Anthony the
Sleepless. Her care is entrusted 10 him
alone"
"Alack,'' cried Reno. Understand.
Prince, that this Anthony makes Pherso-
MAS rescue difficult matter. For years
ne has been a victim OF insomnia. He
sleeps only a few seconds at time and
only few moments in all during the en-
tire twenty-four hours. That is why Bar
ber has placed him on guard"
But we might slip upon him and kin
him." suggested Ness.
NO" said Reno.
I'VE might get morphine into his food"
said the trembling Prince.
Impossible" murrured the King, put
ting Sneewunkle back into her box.
Then, by the bIusi of ST. Magialene
L
by storm
You shall do notG lg of the sort" re-
piled King Reno. Ring for my wise
men,"
The Prince rang and told a servant to
send for the wise men and they presently
entered four of them, in queer, peaked
hats. They were very w,se indeed.
Tell me. We wise men, commanded the
ic hat WI
yawns another man will yawn also? In
stanter!'
For time the wise men consulted to-
gether and then the wisest bowed and
said: Your majesty. The contag!on of
the yawn is primarily mind transference.
Ordinarily one man of equal temperament
to another by yawning can make the other
man yawn because the second man sees
him yawn. But the eye is not necessary
TO the transaction. A man of strong
soporific temperament could yawn and
force a companion near him TO yawn even
II that companion did not see or hear the
yawn.'
60" said the King THAT is sufficient
Now, Prince, summon to me ten of the
best sleepers in the royal guard, and get
me blind man.
The blind man was soon presented. The
King found that he had just arisen from
a good nights rest and told him to be
seated. Then the ten big soldiers marched
in. The King gave them whispered instruc-
tions. The first soldier took a seat ten
feet away from the blind man and began
to yawn. He continued five minutes, but
the blind man gave no sign. Then sec
ond soldier sat down and yawned. but the
blind man did not change the expression
of his face. Seven other soldiers went
through the performance without effect.
AT last the tenth soldier. a big, fat, sleepy
eyed man, took mis- chair. He relaxed into
the big chair. threw his head back. and
yawned fearfuly.
The blind man yawned.
wait five minutes" whispered the King
Five minutes later the sleepy soldier
yawned once more.
Again the blind man yawned.
wait five minutes again. whispered
the King.
And five minutes later the King motion
ed the sleepy soldier and found him dead
asleep.
the Prince.
''The rescue will be made" the King said
confidently.
Just at midnight the sleepy soldier slipped
up in the shadow OF the turret OF Prince
Barber's castle and placed a long ladder
against the stone wall Up this he crept,
and. reaching the window. sat down in It.
There was Anthony the Sleepless reading
a book. and there was Princess Phersonia,
IN a chair, weeping.
The soldier of the soporifc temperament
watched them for while and then began
to yawn. Anthony the Sleepless yawned.
the first time in twenty years. Two min
utes later the soldier yawned and again
Anthony yawned. Again and again was
this performance executed. Anthouy's
book fell MS head dropped. He was sound
asleep. So was the soldier. Phersonia sec
ing Anthony asleep, rushed 10 the window
and started back. So they put even there
4 soldier TO guard her. But she crawie1
by aim. reached the ladder. then the
ground and sped homewsrd.
1t was three o'clock the next Afternoon.
when. tired and foot-sore, but happy. sae
sprang into Prince Ness arms in a
moment King Reno ~as with them
But my child" ne said. Your shoes |
are al dusty. Did not the soldier carry |
you back?''
What soldier. Pspa?"
The soldier whom I sent 70 81. in yoIr I
window and yawn your guard 10 sleep"
Was that your soldier? / thought Ne 4
was Bsrber's. He went 10 sleep there in 1
the window and I left him there, think /
.ns he was guarding my escape"
The King laughed and told his daughter 1
OF his plan which had worked 50 effect /
.veIy.
However" he said. cursonsIy. we must 4
rescue this sleepy head. We may neei i