The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-11-05

self compelled to defend his strange
views at the point of the sword. In a
duel his nose was cut clean off. After
hat he was obliged to content himself
With a gold nose, which he stuck on
With cement and wore spectacles to
secure it.
In due time Max was graduated and
became an astronomer. He collected a
quantity of instruments and took them
to an island where he watched the mo-
tiOns of the stars. The people there
came to regard him as a magician.
This idea was fOstered by his gold
nose Women especially were afraid
of him and when he appeared would
snatch their children away for fear he
would turn them into cats and dogs
One day a man who knew Of Max's
reputation went to Jerome and told
him that Max possessed the power of
divinatiOn, or sorcery; that he could
turn whatever he liked into precious
metals; that he had already turned his
own nose into gold. The old man
pricked up his ears. So long as Max
did nothing more practical than give
out his wild notions he was no match
for his daughter; but if he could
change things into gold, that was
different matter. He told Julia to go
and ind out if the report was true,
intimating that If it was perhaps she
might marry Max after all
Julia made the journey and return
ed in due time.
Well asked her father, sis it true
that Max can turn things into precious
metals?''
Il don't know. father; his nose is of
gold"
1T must be the devil unused the
old man. DO you think he can turn
my boots into gOld?''
He says he is turning darkness into
light every day"
THAT is nothing to me. Go and tell
him that If he Will turn my boots into
gold he can have you for his wife"
Julia carried her fathers message to
Max.
TEL him" said Max. that this day
week 1 viii marry you in his house.
If he objects I Will turn his eyes into
gold"
When Julia delivered this message.
Jerome paIed. Gold eyes were no
compensation for the loss of sight.
Nevertheless he was very stubborn
and would not give his consent. Six
days passed. Julia made hasty prep
arations for the wedding. On the
seventh day, which was bright and
beautiful, Max drove up to the house.
He was followed by a wagon contain
ing queer-loOking instruments. Jerome
looked out of the window and saw his
wOuld-be son-in-law, his nose glisten-
ing in the sun, followed by persons
bearing brazen circles, disks, tubes and
spheres. Jerome trembled. Max had
evidently brought the implements with
.
forever.
Max stood out where the sun could
strike him and, looking up at the
house, saw Jerome at the widow. A
1 bright spot was dancing about on the
wall, and Max seemed to have the
power to direct it. In a moment he
brought it to bear on Jerome's eyes.
With a Shrek the niser cried:
Il consent"
Very good" said Max. Then I
withdraw the curse
Jerome rubbed his eyes and, finding
/ that he could still see, staggered to
meet the astronomer and, falling on
/ his neck begged him not to make an
other attempt-that he should have
Julia on his own terms. This was easy
/ for Max to promise and perform, for
Z he had simply filed a small plane on
/ the tip end of his nose and FURNISHED
/ it. Catching the reelection of the sun
on it, he had directed the vivid raps
! to the old mans eyes.
Preparations for the wedding having
! been made, there was nothing to do
but send for priest, who came, and
the couple were married. Max asked
the miser what doWry he intended to
] give his daughter. Jerome trembled
and going to his bedroom returned
with a bag of gold. Then Julia got
into the carriage with her husband
the instruments were put back into
the wagon and all were driven to the
observatory.
The real name of the subject of this
story is Tycho Brahe. He made great
/ improvements in astronomical instru-
ments, and by his observations pre-
pared the way for the grand dfscOv-
cries of Kepler's laws of motion and
/ gravitatiou This much of the story is
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. he lost his nose in
a duel at the university. that he was
an object of superstitious wonder to
/ the people, and that he was considered
by them great magician.