The Savannah morning news., 1904-07-24
BEAUTY AND THE BEAST.
venerable Old Fairy Tale Brought
Up to Date.
Percy French in the Taller.


.-o,,~ately. many years ago, there lived
paodad a merchant, who had three
II ,ll,iabTers. The youngest daughter was
- GOOD but the other two were, 1
1ograt TO say only middling. The one
- was good was also very beautiful,
Ltob ANNOYED her sisters very much.
W photograph was in all the station
- Windows, and every one loved her,
-5iob annoyed them still more. Her
tstber called her Beauty"
T,ba merchant was at one time very
IL md his family were looked upon
-,1ita nice people. AT home" cards
~ d. at all angles from the pier glass.
~ a large one on a photo stand par
oivzsd the country cousins with the
Ieesrd. ITO meet the prince" But the
-,srchant, having put all his money
into company for supplying COM
rressed air to cyclists. and the direc-
tiore fnding at the last moment that
- secure a monopoly they would have
~ INV up the atmosphere, the COM
rony hurst up and the merchant found
himself ruined
~ the moment when the merchant is
obont to take leave of his family. Be
sore starting he asked each of his
douehters what present she would like
him 10 bring back to her.
The eldest SISTER, who had been look
ire at some English fashion-plates,
said she would like a tailor-made
rock an openwork hat and tan shoes.
The second sister, who took in a
french paper, wanted a rational cos
tune, a gypsy hat, PINK blouse ana
nlush 'bloomars.
Raauty. who knew her father had
orlv the price of his railway ticket in
bie nocket, asked him to bring her a
rosa which the thoughtful girl knew
he could sneak out of some ones front
garden.
+ba women resumed the spring clean
ing" and were all employing them
selves as women do at such times
when a knock came to the door.
"Bother!" exclaimed the eldest sis
ter. IF that's visitors we're out"
1T was only a single knock" said
the second sister; perhaps it's our
new dresses"
But when they opened the door there
was nobody there but an old woman,
who asked if they had a "sup O. tay
for a poor ola granny who had more
aches in her bones than there was
fishes in the sea-"
As no one likes to be interrupted in
the middle of house cleaning the two
elder sisters We're about to politely
shut the door in the old lady's face
when Beauty, who had gone upstairs
at the first knock to tidy herself came
down and suggested that the old lady
might be an acquisition as a char
woman.
It's my private opinion that Beauty,
WHO had read Hans Andersen"
Froude's History of England" and
other fairy tales, knew this was her
fairy godmother and behaved accord
ingly.
She invited her in, and going to the
cupboard placed a cruet stand and the
remains of an omelet before the old
lady.
The old lady having satisfied her
hunger, the sight alone of these viands
having been enough to take away her
appetite, proceeded to reveal herself
in her true colors (green, with gilt
stars.
do not be alarmed, my dear" she
cried, 1T am your fairy godmother,
and in return for your kindness I
bring you good news. Your dear faith
er is under sentence of death for try
ing to steal rose from a gentlemans
garden"
The gentleman must be a beast"
said Beauty, "but why is this good
news?"
HE is a beast. a perfect beast"
said the fairy, 'but he will spare your
fathers life if you will marry him."
rs he rich? ?" asked Beauty.
Immensely rich" replied the fairy.
Then my fathers life must be
spared. I'll marry him"
Noble gyurl!" exclaimed the fairy,
there is his address. The tram passes
his door. Farewell"
We must now go back a little in our
story TO see how the merchant Jared
in his journey.
Having been appointed agent to a
life insurance company he started to
push that industry on an uninhabited
island not far from Bagdad. The first
house he came to was a very fine one
and had notice over the avenue gate.
ANY one found breaking the shrubs or
picking the flowers will be prosecuted"
The merchant walked up to the front
door and rang bell, then observing
the word servants" over it he hastily
used the knocker. AS nobody came he
was walking away when he saw rose
bush on which was pinned a very fine
specimen of the artificial rose.
Just the blossom for Beauty" said
the merchant, hastily culling the rose
and placing it in his hat. He had
hardly done so when a loud roar told
him that he was observed. His first
impulse was to fly as he saw a huge
bear approaching him, but having left
MS wings with his overcoat at the ho-
tel he determined to remain.
Who steals my roses?" said the
bear who had taken lessons in elocu-
ton
Il did not know this was a bear gar
dem said the merchant, cor / would
not have come hither. only wanted
rose for my daughter. You are the
gardener, I presume?"
am the owner of these grounds,
and of this island" said the bear, land
my word is law. The punishment for
pulling rose is: For the first offense,
death. For the second and any subse-
quent ofense, to be hung by the heels
curing his majestys pleasure.
Would 1t mitigate the sentence If
me- rose was for a young lady?"
Yes" said the bear; IF she will take
free "
But you won't kill herr"
Not exactly, but as | am at present
cut by all the best people, marrying
me- viii amount to social suicide"
ia! ] understand. Then l will go
and fetch her."
d. Not so fast, good sir. We will send
But Beauty, as we know, has al
ready been told by her fairy godmother
ludi her presence is requested, and
sppears on the scene before the bear
"ar nAd time to change his coat.
A. hehold your future husband" said
.ne merchant, indicating the bear, who
as hugging himself with joy at the
S'snt OF Beauty.
But I CANT ,,,ar~,r - b.nun .L4..A