Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1899-05-19
STORY OF A NOSE.

STORY OF A NOSE.
The Juror that Cyrano's nose has
made in two continents makes timely
the question, How would a play turn
ing upon q fascinating woman with q
dubious turnip nose DO received? 1t
doubtless would DO at once doomed to
disaster. The question Of such a pro-
boscis upon a woman is wittily handled
In tho, sparkling little translation from
the Spanish which We print herewith.
1t is reminiscent Of tie anecdote which
is told Of Arago, the famous French
scientist, who was gifted 10y Providence
with a great brain and q mighty nose.
During carnival time-when in Paris
in the old days all sorts of pranks and
curious costumes were permitted-Ara-
90 found himself in an omnibus oppo-
site a mother aud her infant child. At
sight Of Arago's extraordinary beak the
infant set up q dismal wall. The moth
er at first attempted to quiet the terri
fiod infant, hut, failing, took courage
in her two bands, as the French say,
and at once impulsivoly exclaimed to
Arago, ooh, monsieur, | beg Of you to
take of your noser' The irritated
scientist was obliged to explain that his
hose was not a carnival nose, but that
it belonged there. The incident in this
little Translation suggests TIE Arago
Gnecdote.
my little masquerade, is it possible
that l am not TO see your face?"
st cannot be. The desire of crafty
ing you counsels mo to keep the mask
on"
"Your conversation charms mo and
every word increases my inlpatienoe to
know you"
Ibid you not call me the sweet OBJ
joct Of your inspiration? While I remain
concealed l nm sure Of hearing latter-
ing expressions from your mouth, to
which / am not accustomed perhaps. If
/ remove this protecting Grape from my
face, then farewell to illusion I"
"This modesty is to me the best proof
Of your merit"
"Yes, / nave tho merit Of being mod
est-no, ! nm wrong-I mean of being
sincere"
"You-you nro not ugly. lean swear
it. Only one thing would grieve me-"
/ continued, eff you should unmask."
"What?''
''That it would not be lawful to
speak to you as to q mountain girl-as
to a ~masquerader. Now l speak to you
rs an intimate friend or u lover would
do"
"Were l to commit the indiscretion
of taking off my mask you would has
ten t. leave me. You would hardly be
able to aIticulate an indifferent aud ir-
ritable Farewell, lady,"
II will suppose for a moment that
you arc ugly, hideous. Gould You re-
move with the mask the spell that al
lures me. II the attractions of your
conversation, Of this voice that bewitoh-
es me, of this grace that charms me,
can be removed with the mask, how
can o woman appear i'll with such
gifts? If your face is ugly, / pardon
you for it"
"But arc you moro indulgent than
other men? In their eyes ugliness is a
woman's greatest crime"
"Oh, l am of another species, or else
you calumniGte the men, little noun
tain girl. Undo this mack that tor
ments me, and you will see how, fal
from being cooled, my affection will
augment. Do not believe my PROPOSE
tion is so venturcsome. Whore can this
ugliness reside with which you pretend
TO frighten mel Do not behold the ele.
gance Of your shape? Do not CLASP
your beautiful hand? Am | not fasci-
mated with your small and graceful
A.,tg naau ,,k Nlo .,u1vftataan CT fkal
heavenly bosom reveal the greatest en-
ohantment? Do not the beams of light
from those charming brown eyes pierce
me? Those ebony ~tresses. that form
such q lovely contrast with the dazzling
whiteness Of your throat, whose are
they but yoursg II there was anything
SO i'll, l should know it. Does it lie il
the movement Of your head-which
nave net yet seen-cr in the delightful.
smile Of your divine mouth?'
II assure you that | am frightfuli
should horriiy you if l uncovered ms
face"
''That is impossible. Tho charm o
your lily white brow, %exquisitely mod
eled cheeks, enhancing nose
Here she interrupted me with a burs
Of laughter.
"You taught Docs your nose chance
70 be-Romau?"
"or C%arthaginian? don't know.
will not engage to say"
II accept the consequences of the ia
var | entreat. With hat mouth, witt
those eyes, hat incompatible form,
permit you to be fiat nosed or lonI
u0sed."
"You are impudent."
mo. | am not. Reveal yourself.
Rash man.
"Will yen oblige me TO go upon m,
kneesf viii you expose me "a tho laugh
iug stock Of the company"
Enough AS you will. You az