Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1899-03-14

l1H0 4OlIOW1uS SIOIy Is DdSeu Ou Guo
celebrated play, "Cyrano de Bergerac, ?"
in which Mr.. Richard Mansfield, the
actor, has been recently creating a SEN
sation in New York. In the play Cy-
rano, man of brilliant intellect, but
handicapped by an enormous nose, wooes
his cousin Roxane, through handsome
focl, keeping himself out of her sight.
Phyllis began to laugh inst as soon
as Cyrano made his appearance This
conduct on her part was as distinctly
disappointing as though hadn't fully
expected her to act in such a manner.
To tell the truth, I really didn't want
to take Phyllis to see ''Cyrano" at all,
because-well, you see, I've pretty
big nose myself. 1t isn't Cyrano MEM
ber by any means, of course, but even
as child the women who didn't like
my mother used to pity me openly on
account of it, and my college friends
still allude to my unfortunate proboscis
as Irregular wind splitter. So, as 1
said, wasn't at all anxious to see
"Cyrano" in Phyllis company, and if
hadn't feared her suspecting the rea-
son of my unwillingness in this regard
should never have done SO. AS it was
it really hurt me little when her dim
pies began to come and go at sight of
Mansfield s colossal nasal organ. said
nothing, however, and it was not until
the end of the poets bakery act that
received my first cruel blow
81 think Mansfield is perfectly sub
lime, don't you? p gushcd pretty girl
of Phyllis acquaintance who sat in
front of us. It was with difficulty that
Phyllis restrained the dimples from
open instruction as she replied.
''Well, they say it is only little
step from the sublime to the ridicu-
lous. she remarked with dancing eyes,
''and as 1 never in all my life saw any
thing half so ridiculous as that nose I
suppose its wearer is at least approach
ing sublimity.'
'Phyllis, said 1 when the music
had given me half chance to speak
without the girl in front hearing all 1
said, "don't you think it's possible for
the owner OF big nose to be anything
but ridiculcus2"
Phyllis cast a mischievous glance at
me over her shoulder and before MAX
ing answer buried her face in the big
bunch of violets had given her.
''All things are possible, I" she then
rather cruelty said, "but should think
it would be rather difficult for the owner
of big nose to be anything else. -
The kiss scene was beginning now,
so had long act in which to recover
so much of my equanimity as 1 might.
When Roxane had delivered her pas
sionate exhortation to Cyrano to protect
her lover from all the danger which
might threaten him at Arras, begin
ming with sword wounds and ending
with cold, and when she begged her
cousin to see that the wordless object
of her devotion wrote to her frequently,
Phyllis turned to me as the curtain fell,
and / could see there were tears in her
eyes. She acted as though she would
have said something, but did not. For
once was wise enough to hold my
tongue and to leave all chance of assist
ance for my cause to fate or providence
and the girl in front of US This girl
had been crying openly, and her eyes
were all red and moist still as she
squirmed about in her seat in order to
face Phyllis.
perfectly grand character should have
such an awful nosel" she exclaimed
weepingly. Phyllis regarded her with
an air of chilly contempt.
''What under the ever blessed canopy
does the kind of nose he has matter2'
she inquired loftily. with character
like Cyrano's features don't matter in
the least. Who with any soul at all
would dream of considering or even
remembering his nose p
The girl in front of us was properly
squelched, and was unwisely elated.
"Who. indeedT' 1 murmured ac-
quiescently. Phyllis stiffened immedi-
ately.
81 wasn't talking to you. thank
you. she remarked in tone softly
suggestive of icebergs and the Klondike
and SO on. 1 was SO crushed by and in
dignant at her manner and speech that
] didn't even come to her rescue when
she lost her handkerchief during the
course of the fourth act and was in dire
distress for another wherewith to wine
away the tears consequent upon Rox-
ane's sorrow over her lovers death and
Cyrano's wounding And she in turn
was strangely silent when we rose at
the conclusion of the last act and made
our way toward the street.
The crowd was great and we were
obliged to stand few moments in the
foyer Phyllis turned TO me suddenly
with an apologetic touch upon my arm.
81 didn't mean what 1 said about
about big noses, . she said softly, and
picking shyly at my coat sleeve as she
spoke-''that is-not about all big
noses. CyEano' recovering herself
somewhat as the onward movement of
the crowd recalled her to conventional
ity and the recollection of where we
were-eCyrano was perfectly lovely in
spite of his nose He was SO sweet and
faithful tn his love - she finished more