The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-08-06
rHE Nosr OF cLnoPArRA.

THE NOSE OF CLEOPATRA.
 That somewhat soured French writer. Blaise Pascal, who died nearly two and a half centuries ago. declared that "if the nose of Cisopatra had been shorter. the whole face of the world would have been changed" He referred, of course. to the bewitchment of Marc Antony by the Egyptian syren and argued that If the great Roman general had not fallen under the spell of her beauty he might have defeated octavius at Actium and made himself master of the world as 1t then existed.
 It Is very sasy to say what might have been if something else had not actually occurred, because no one can prove that different results would have followed different causes. but we cannot avoid the conclusion that Pascal was building on slender foundation. Cleo patra has been handed down to our day through the long line of twenty centu- ries as a woman of incompatible beauty. but we do not really know so well about it. The Egyptian style of beauty differed from ours. and 1t may be that a face which enchanted Caesar and Antony might fail to attract a modern connoisseur.
 But there's the nose. and that feature did all the mischief. according to Pas cal. Judging by the book descriptions of the ancient Egyptians. "the nose was rather long, and with Q slight briage.' while portraits on the coins of Cleopa- tra show that she had an aauiline nose. Now. a slight bridge might mean an ai- most imperceptible swell on the tip line of that useful organ, while an aqui- line nose Is supposed to resemble the beak of an, eagle, long and pointed. with a decided hump to 1t. That may have been the style of nasal organ that the Egyptian Circe carried about with her, and as that Is what is usually termed a Roman nose, 1t may be that that is what caught the old Roman warrior. He just couldn't get over the bridge of that nose We are to remem- Der, also. that Antony, If he has not been wofully misrepresented. was a gay old buck. who had surfeited himself with the beauties of his country until they palled on him. For that reason a new style of beauty landed him the first pull Cleopatra was then about thirty years old, and unless she has been grievously slandered she had gone all the gaitss as might easily be believed of a young, torrid-natured queen in an age and country where a queen was a law unto herself, and where her con- duct was regulated. entirely by her own desires and inclinations. What we re- gard as the most essential of all female virtues was not considered as of any consequence in Egypt at that time.
 But notwithstanding her advanced years--for thirty was middle age then and there-we must believe that the woman had lost little of her beauty and attractiveness, and that she fully un- derstood all the arts which an ambi- to bear on a man when she has a pur- pose to serve. So when old Mare. tired of the fair beauties of his own coun- try. first. laid eyes on the dark and petite houri, who had set for herself the task of captivating him, he threw up the sponge and was "her'n" at once. to do with as ahe pleased. That he sacri- ficed manhood. duty. patriotism and honor for her is a matter of history. The charms of her face and form. in- ciuding the nose the fire of her eyes and the sinuous and enticing subtleties of her manner. fired what remained of virility in Antony's makeup. and started his sluggish blood dancing to new tune. She had him as securely bound as ever captive was. and she held him as long as she cared to.
 But to get back to the nose and it's influence in the business. We often hear of people being led by the nose. but in this case Q great warrior was evidently led with @ nose. and not very large one at that, we should judge, as she was Q small woman. If it had been one-fourth, or even one-eighth of an inch shorter, If we may believe Pas cal. the woman would not have en-
 
 thralled Antony and the fate of the Ro- man Empire and the rest of the world would have been changed. That. 1t seems to us. is hanging great events on a very small hook. If that organ had been just a little shorter it would not have made her less beautiful. accord ing to modern ideas of beauty, nor would 1t have detracted from her other graces and attractions. Shakespeare tells us that her person 'beggared all description" and the shortening of her nose a wee bit would hardly have made her repulsive to Antony. In short, we think Pascal hung too much importance on her nose ".
 Connecticut State troops are in camp at Mantle and letter to The Hartford Courant states that lover half the meat and every potato that has been sent here for the use of the 1st regiment during it's week in camp were con- ttto pd ta adHaN