AN IRREGULAR PROFILE.

Evening Star, Issue 3887, 9 August 1875, Page 3

AN IRREGULAR PROFILE.

In an article in the * Contemporary Review,’ Mr Julian Hawthorne, writing of duels between German students, says : “ Once he was present at a notable duel between two renowned fencers j and for a lorg time the advantage was on neither side, ‘No cut had been given ; it was feared that their skill would prove too perfect—that there would be no blood. Just then, however, Fritz appeared to grow an inch taller ; his wrist extended itself admirably—ah ! Karl was hit. So true and swift was the blow that Karl himself knew not at first that he was overcome ; only when he went to speak, and the blood poured into his mouth, did he become aware of it? A sponge was brought; the blood wiped away; when lo ! Karl had no end of his nose. Du lieber Gott! where is then the nose which Karl had lost ? All search for it —it is still in vain—the nose—the nose had disappeared ! Then cries out all of a sudden, Fritz—‘The dog! the dog! Potz tausend Donnerwetter ! look once at the dog,’ One sees the dog make like a cough, with something in mouth. One runs to him, catch him, pound him on the back, lift him by the tail and shake, Ach! 10, at last tbe nose, the poor nose, the end of the nose which Karl has lost. Then Karl takes that end and sticks it to his face—to the root, you see. Yes, we exclaim, breathlessly, seeing the narrator pause ; well, did it grow on again? But surely, yes. For seven days it it held continually on; then is the bandage removed, and the nose is whole once more. But alas! au unlooked for misfall has occurred. ‘ How so ?’ *ln the haste of replacing that lost end, the poor Karl has it upside down applied ! It is now too late to alter—so grows it to this day. Karl was before a handsome man ; he has still the Geiat —the vivacity; but the profile— one finds it irregular.’ ”