Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1898-12-23
THE STORY OF A NOSE
How the Lifting of Mask Cooled the Ardor
of an Admirer.

Translated for the Arsonaut from TIE spanish
of Breton dc los llerreros.
(Thc furor that Cyrano'S nose has
made in two continents makes II timely
question: How would 4 play turning
upon fascinating woman with Il bull
bous turnip nose be received? 1t
doubtless would be at once doomed to
disaster The question of such pro-
boscis upon Il woman is wittlly han
died in the sparkling little translation
from the Spanish which we print here
with. 1t is reminiscent of the anec-
dote which is told OF Arago, the IA
nous French scientist, who was gifted
by Providence with great brain and
Il mighty nose. During carnival time
when in Paris in the old days all sorts
of pranks and curious costumes were
permitted-Arago found himself in an
omnibus, opposite mother and her
infant child. At sight of Arago's ex-
traordinary beak, the infant set up a
dismal wall. The mother at first at
tempted to quiet the terrified infant ;
but, failing, took her courage in her
two hands, as the French say, and at
once impulsively exclaimed to Arago:
oh, monsieur, l beg of you to take
off your nose!" The irritated scientist
was obliged to explain that his nose
was not a carnival nose, but that it be-
longed there. The incident in this
little translation suggests the Arago
anecdote.)
"My little masquerader, is it posi-
BILE that can not see your face?"
alt cannot be. The desire of graft
flying you counsels me to keep the
mask on.
"YOur conversation charms me, and
every word increases my impatience to
know you"
"Did you not call me the sweet OBJ
ject of your inspiration? While re-
main concealed, l am sure OF hearing
tiattering expressions from your
mouth, to which am not accustomed
perhaps. If l remove this protecting
Grape from my face then farewell to
illusion"
"This modesty is, to me, the best
proof of your merit"
"Yes, l have the merit of being
modest, no, lam wrong; l mean of
being sincere"
"You, you are not ugly; can
swear it. Only one thing would grieve
me-" continued, "if you should un-
mask"
Wnat?"
"That it would not be lawful to
speak to you as to q mountain-girl-as
to masquerader. Now, l speak to
you as an intimate friend or lover
might do"
"Were / to commit the indiscretion
of taking off my mask, you would
hasten to leave me; you would hardly
be able to articulate an Indifferent and
irritable Farewell, lady,"
l will suppose for a moment that
you are ugly, hideous; could you re-
move with the mask the spell that al
lures me? If the attractions Of your
conversation, of this voice that be.
witches me, of this grace that charms
me, can be removed with the mask,
how can woman appear ill with such
gifts? If your face is ugly, / pardon
you for it,"
"But are you more indulgent than
other men? In their eyes ugliness is
woman's greatest crime"
"Oh, I am of another species, or
else you calumniate the other men,
little mountain girl. Undo this mask
that torments me, and you will see
how, far from being cooled, my affec-
ton will augment. Do not believe
that my proposition is so venturesome
where can this ugliness reside with
which you pretend to frighten me?
Do not behold the elegance of your
shape? Do not clasp your beautiful
hand? Am not fascinated with your
small and graceful foot? Does not the
palpitation of that heavenly bosom
reveal the greatest enchantment? Do
not the beams of light from those
charming brown eyes pierce me?
Those ebony tresses, that form such a
lovely contrast with the dazzling
whiteness of your throat, whose are
they but yours? If there was any
thing so ill, should know it. Does it
lie in the movement of your head
which l have not yet seen-or in the
delightful smile OF your divine MOUTH"
al assure you that 1 am frightful ;
l should horrify you if l uncovered my
face"
"That is impossible; the charm OF
your lily-white brow, exquisitely mod
eled cheeks, enhancing nose"
Here she interrupted me with a
burst Of laughter.
"You laugh-does your nose chance
to be Roman?"
"Or Cartagenian? don't know. /
will not engage to say"
al accept the consequences of the
favor l entreat. With that mouth
those eyes, that incompatible form, l
hermit YOU to be tlat-nOsed or LONG