El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-09-18
Babbling Memories
By Gunlaume AppOIIinaire.)

w ? dEN1 was in London I stopped
M at boarding house which
w had been highly recommended
10 me and where they gave
Jne comfortable room with an excel
lent bed in which I slept like a top
The first morning, however, I was
awakened very early by the sound Of a
conversation IN the next room
understood every word that was
said, in American English, spoken with
the soft accent OF the far west 1t was
a man and a woman who spoke pas
siOnately together.
oily How could you leave without
letting me know anything about it,
Why2 Why2
why, ChisIam2 Because my love
of YOU would have killed my freedom,
and 1 love that better than love itself"
Then you did love me, oily, dear,
and just because you loved me must
lose you"
yes ChislamI I felt that I should
not be able to resist your entreares
much longer and that I would have
married you, though that would have
meant giving up my art and that is
but I win wait for you forever
The conversation went on in this
way for some time, the Independent
Oily constantly refusing 70 listen 70
Chislam's offers OF marriage.
Knowing how careful English board
ing houses are, was exceedingly sur
prised that Chislam was permitted 10
receive lady visitors in his room at
this unusual hour, but thought no
more of IT and forgot the matter during
the day.
Great was my establishment when I
was awakened at dawn the next day
by a conversation, this time in French,
spoken with the same soft western
American accent Chislam was again
talking with e woman
you do not love me any more, Mon
sieur Chislam! You are always win
the little dog trainer, oily, though she
is ugly as sin and as thin as broom
stick, and still IL Is only one short
month since you went mad at my sing
ing and you must have been In love 70
do that. for my voice f. NOT worth raw
Il discovered that at last" Mademoi-
selle CriQuette And besides you new
er loved me. 1t Just amused you to
flirt with me-"
5But surely you have not forgotten
that you promised to marry me and
told me about the little house we were
TO buy on the bank OF the Loire. where
We were to pass our honeymoon
81 decided, mademoiseue Criquette,
that II I married you, we were going
TO stay in Maine. in America
We'll, never mind that Monsieur
Chislam. I just want to tell you that
I would never have married you with
that ugly nose Of yours"
Several heated sentences followed
and I thought by myself; What run
nv accent that FrenchWoman has. She
must have lived a long time IN Cali
formal But that Chislam seems TO
be a very inconstant fellow, and am
afraid that this boarding house is not
a very respectable one after all.
The next day I was awakened In the
very sane manner, but this time the
conversation was IN Italian with the
same western twaug.
Listen to me. Belle LOcatelu! Let
rrfI
travelling and hide our happiness in
cottage I will buy at San Diego, Cal
ifornia know one with the most
lovely view Of the bay and beautiful
orange grove around It.
TT IS Impossible, signOr Chislam-
am engaged to a young cOuntryman OF
mine, an officer in the Italian army
but he has only his pay and we cannot
marry until I have saved up the dow
~ required by military law"
Then farewell. tgnOra LOcatell. A
poor artist like / have no chances OF
course against a dashing young lieu
tenant AddiO. signOrina! To make
you happy as soon as possible allow me
to make you a present Of the amount
you need to make up the dowry."
I thought: This peculiar Lovelace
is a good fellow. but his daily mania
for marriage is a nuisance, anyway, as
long as Il wakes me up at an ungodly
hour every morning.
The next night 7 did not close my
eve. MI CulclaIu was Ld4k4u6 WIN q
new arrival. evidently d countryman OF
his from the far west, for he had the
same accent
yes, Chislam, you are an unfortu-
nate devil who viii die all alone with
out love, without a family to mourn
you"
You are right, but I must resign to |
my fate. I have amused millions Of /
people on five continents, but I have |
never been able to find a wife
you have indeed made all the world I
laugh, Chislam- It was too much for |
one woman. What amuses a crowd |
may terrify an Individual"
THAT IS sol T. who have been called |
the funniest OF men. am really the most !
miEera BILE"
Yes Chislam. I agree with you. /
Your funny stories which made people l
roar with laughter have not charmed /