Arizona republican., 1899-05-20
THE REAL CYRANO.

The original of Mansfeld's great ere aticn, Cyrano 6e Bergerac, was a reai- | ity Of the seventeenth century He 1 lived twelve years into the reign ot i Louis XIV and was soldier philos- | Cpher. and man of letters. He is de scTibed by his friends as tall and well i formed, with piercing eyes and flowing
 mustache. and a cOuntenance kindly and agreeable tc, look upon. except for the extraordinary nose, which was so large and misshapa1 as almost to seem false. This nose increased the melan- chcly of naturally sensitive disposi- ton, brought Cyrano into numerous duels. and made his life a continual
 battle Savinien de Cyrano de Berge- Tac, as he is called in the certificate Of
 his birth, was descended from the noble family Cf Cyrano who, when
 they came into the possession of a
 small estate, on the Isle-de-F France. as
 stunned also the tii,e De Bergerac As
 Cyrano had the disposition character
 istic of Gasc0ns, and served in i Cas-
 con company of guards, it came to be believed even in his lifetime, that he
 was Q native of Bergerac in Gasconv.
 Yet it is ar indisputab,e fact that this
 man, who was regarded by the seven
 '
 cons, was horn at Paris, May 10. 1619
 After course of study at the College
 Of Raauvais, in Paris, he was perslad-
 ed by his friend, Le3ret. when 19 years
 old, to enlist in the guards. The two
 comrades entered the company of ca
 dets Gasc0ns Of ". Carbon de Cas,eI-
 JalouX. CyranO took up dueiing, the
 tavori5e amusement of the corps. with
 great enthusiasm, and became i'm
 menseIy popular with his fellows. who
 called him the Demon of Bravery
 and said he could count a duel for
 every day Of his service. These rough
 CT pursuits were, however. acc0mpa-
 hled by a adeYOtiOn to study. and the
 muSes, which recalls the memory of the scholars Of the early Renaissance.
 I-eDret draws 3 picture Of Cyrano writ ing an elegy amidst the noise and pfaWIs or the guard rCcm as calnn,v as tnougn seated in 3 sequestered cham cer- CyTano remained in the guards three years. He took part in the cam palgn against the Germans at Mouzon. and was wounded there by a musket DaII: ne received 9 sword thrust in the neck at the siege of Arras, and soon aIter, becoming disgusted with mili- t3fy lfe resigned and gave himself I'D eH Htlfe-y 10 philosophy and letters, Cyrano was brave and honorable. He was the most famous due.ist of his time. and defended his friends as well as himself Rostand has preserved in ms play the story of How Cyrano is s3ld to have put to flight with his sin sle sword 100 rufhans wIlo Iav in am push to attack one of his friends. To- ward the end of his life. Cyrano he cane more settled in his habits. and iost much Of his supersensitiveness which had turned many of his early trends into enemies. His hostility to the church grew less pronounced and ne h1 longer attacked it with his old tllne anmoSity. As his mind nat11red BIS style improved, and he took time 10 correct and polish what he had written rapidly But accident or an assassin gave him 10 opportunity 10 | get greater fame on earth. His Iifa came to an end tIIi1sty-six years after lle was born. Cyranc was convertad 7n his deathbed, in answer to the prayers Of his good aunt. Catherine -yFano.-Kansas City Journal