Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1913-01-25
GERMSVERSUSLOvE
Antiseptlc Engagement Tha
Caused the Loss OF Delicate
Little Mustache.
nY ouY ARTHUR JAMESON.

munhuoE NJ Lake Mouohhs Whohe W.
had come TO the supreme understand
ing intuitively and inevitably rather
than by any conscious intent. Tech
nically. we had been engaged two
months. Ours had been an ideal fried
ship and gave promise Of an ideal mar
riage. We fitted into each other like
the halves Of perfect whole. 1t
seemed that the gods had planned 1t
all and we were but willing. foolishly
happy puppets in their hands. The
blending OF our love and personalities
was beautiful to see. Then came the
serpent In our Garden OF Eden. with
the usual serpent results.
II happened on this wise. When /
called one evening Florilla did not
kiss me az was her custom. l offered
myself as usual. but she purposely or
absent-mindedly ignored me. ! felt ex-
tremeiy awkward. II flashed through
my mind that her love for me had be.
gun to grow cold. It filed me with
uneasiness and at the same time
famed my passion into flame.
caught her in my arms impulsive-
ly and kissed her. Kissed her on the
snaky coils OF her hair. for to my
dismay when she fathomed my inten.
ton she ducked her face and must
perforce expend the exuberance OF my
affection upon her hair-or was It her
hair7
She struggled from my embrace.
holding her hands out dsfensively.
Don't. Harold. don't. You mustn't
kiss me-"
"Florilla, what has come over your
l asked. following her up.
Please sit down. Harold, and let me
explain." she said determinedly. "Ive
been reading"
"Readingy What has that to do with
your refusing TO kiss me?"
Don't interrupt me. Harold I've
been reading that wonderful book,
The Insidious Pervasiveness of
Germs by Professor Helmbalts Won
Baldoni. He says people little sus-
pect the danger that threatens them
every minute of their lives; that there
cre millions of deadly germs lowering
about US waiting a favorable oppor-
tunity to assault US. strike US down.
They are in the air. on the furniture
and bric-a-brac. on our clothing and
bodies. He says larvae are more to
be feared than lions. You shouldn't
have kissed my hair. Harold You
were taking an awful"
"Florilla, what nonsense. Won Bal
doni Ia crazy"
IT'S terrible to think of, Harold"
Florida went on ignoringly; "but he
said where there was IA mustac che
or beard--it gave me the creeps when
read that. and we'd always been SO
reckless. And you have such little
dear OF mustache. But think. dear,
what might have happened. That's
the reason, dear Harold, didn't kiss
you," she said naively. her eyes avoid,
ing mine.
$50 your fear OF Baldoni germs out
weighs your love for me-" said
coldly.
Harold. don't be unreasonable. |
love you Just the same. only couldn't
think OF endangering-we- love
each other just as devotedly--"
And cut out unsanitary OSCILLATION.
| interrupted, ironically. you are
quite correct couldn't think for
moment OF inoculating you with any oil
the fifty-seven varieties OF insidious
germs Professor Baldoni writes OF so
illuminatingly. So ours will be a kias
less engagement. We will love strict
ly along sanitary and scientific lines.
Is there anything else Professor Won
Bald advises lovers 10 cut out? While
we are at 1t, we had better settle on
some definite program so as to avoid
the chance OF embarrassing each
other"
Now, don't be silly, Harold There's
nothing we need to cut out--if-you,d
cut your mustache. Really would you
dislike 1t very much. Harold7"
And you'll stand for the conse.
quences?"
Eyes,"
II warn you. Florilla, 1t will make a
difference In my appearance. You've
never seen me shaven."
How foolish. Do you think fell in
love with your mustache? It's such a
delicate little muBtache, too, Harold .
"You were kind enough once" said
reproachfully, ito say 1t was hand.
some. That It gave me a distingue
air."
80 did. II does. But | may ad.
mire you even more with It off, IL that
were possible. and--and I'd feel so
much safer"
"Then of she. he or It goes" l said
with heroic finality. Never again viii
you see me adorned with hirsute,
delicate or otherwise, II It brings the
shadow Of shade between u.s."
rose and bent over her. seizing her
arm
kiss me. Florilla." said persua.
sively: lust as a kind OF farewell to
Ito the old order OF things"
ia love to. Harold. but I will not
Just from principle and--because
you've been SO sarcastic"
"Oh. beg your pardon---I--"
Good night, Harold" she said, hold
ing out my hat. took II. and blowing
her a kiBs. slipped out into the night.
called on Florilla the following
Monday evening. That afternoon
had heroically sacrificed the pride OF
my young manhood to the all power
full Baldoni germs The transforms
ton was startling. really felt as II
I needed an Introduction to myself