The Prescott daily news., 1908-05-30


 cline I met him, his theme was the same-his beautiful isle and it's beau tiful ocean. He would talk for hours of the purple fingers Of the dawn, stealing up the rose-vermillion sky" and the huge, snow-capped mountain that rose in the center of the island | and overtopped the city of Port Philip, which think was the name of the seaport town where he was | born.
 He told many pretty stories of his home and of his parents, whose only child he was-the Benjamin of their old age, long hoped and prayed for So they named him, when he did come, Desiree (longed for). He had string of other names beside, but I've forgotten them. His desire was to see America and the Mississippi of which he had read wonderful things by Chateaubriand, his favorite author. Fortunately the opera troupe went as far south as New Orleans and his desire was gratified. He took
 
 his admiration almost took the form of awe; he would as soon have thought of ridiculing the holy church and all the saints as of ridiculing anything American. As he was of very happy disposition he would often hum little operatic snatcbes or Creole melodies while jogging along in the I l. Isxlt full to me until some would-be wag among his New York friends told him that he must never do that on Sun days, as the Americans were very strict in their religious ideas and would take it as an insult and prob ably resent it. Very seriously he opened his handsome Oriental eyes and, in tones of great surprise, ejacu- lated, as he had done for the hun dredth time, Wonderful people!"
 A little incident, while it was very amusing. showed the romantic side of his nature The troupe, while travel ing. stopped at a hotel in a southern city, where a young lady guest at tracted much attention by her hair, which was not only very thick and heavy, but of rich golden color. My Creole friend, however, was one of the few who had not seen the young lady and, as it happened, no one had spoken to him of her But as he was about to retire one evening he stepped into the corridor to say good night to a friend and met the young lady face to face, followed by her maid. just as the bells of a neighbor- ing church were chiming the mid night hour. Saluting the lady with a profound bow, as was his foreign cus- tom. he was about to re-enter his room when the brilliant gaslight, fall ing full upon the lady's form dis closed the fact that her magnificent hair was hanging loose about her like cloak. and every strand glittering like a thread of gold. The young fel- low stood rooted to the spot; then, clasping his hands, he said in tones of the most fervent admiration, T have seen the sun at midnight!'
 What the deuce is the matter with you?" said his friend.
 q have said it." replied the Creole. 'I will return to my country and l will tell them that in this wonderful America l have seen that marvellous sight-the sun at midnight"
 It appeared that the young lady's maid had been giving her mistress hair a bath and they had been sitting on a rear balcony that the warm night breeze might dry the wonderful tresses before retiring to bed.
 Which is why I say that l loved the Indian ocean years before l saw it, and when I did see it brought back these memories of my young friend and his charming and ingenious na- ture and his frank and honest heart. The sage and the greybeard may at- tract our maturer mind, but youth has it's ever compelling charm; therefore I echo the poets lines:
 "Oh, youth, sweet youth, we love yet There's naught on earth above vel"