KISSING UNDER THE MISTLETOE.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 3, Issue 259, 24 December 1914, Page 1 (Supplement)

KISSING UNDER THE MISTLETOE.

HOW KIJLATE AND OSK MADE

HISTORY,

It was a Christmas party, and the talk had turned upon the subject of kissing. "Now, Professor," coaxed a charming blonde, turning to a benevolentlooking old 'gentleman, "you know most things. Tell us how kissing under the misttetoe originated." Profeasclr Knowitall, a twinkle ra his eyes, glanced at, the bunch of mistletoe beneath the chandelier, the cause of the topic. " K|issi«g under 'the frnistldtoe, my dear young lady, was originated"—he stroked his chin —"oh, yes, I remember," he smiled. "The latest excavators at Nipur, the oldest known city in ithe world, discovered a tablet on ■which was inscribed the origin of the custom of ktiSing under the mistletoe."

"How lovely!" gushed one young lady. "According to the .tablet," commenced the Professor, "it was in the time of the Pre-Adamites, when the people who inhabited land wei» cave dwellers. Nose rubbing was the common form of salution, the gentle friction causing great joy to the participators." "Ugh!" shuddered a sensitive girl, clasping the arm of the nearest young man. TWO TERRIBLE NOSES. Ignoring the interruption, the Professor continued: "The cave dwellers lived ini amity till a terrible calamity visited the community. Konki and Probiscus, the leading men in the national customs, were stricken down with a great sorrow. "At last f'he secret leaked out. Kulate, the new baby daughter of Konki, had an absolutely flat nose; never would she enjoy the chaste delights of noso irritation, tears of joy •would never tremble in her pansy eyes when she saluted a friend. "But worse .news came like a thundenbolt to disturb the general harmony. Oik, the baby son of Probiscus, suffered under a nose which was so very snub that it was really no nosfl at all. '• A pow-wow of the elders of the Boko society discussed the matter, and it was resolved that Kulate and Osk should be allowed to live in the hope that they would see the error of their ways, ana grow proper noses like everybody else. " But Nature was in one of her freak moods, and reversed her usual procedure. As the years passed their noses receded further into obsicuirity, and their liras protruded. They were pariahs. None of the high-toned Bokos would associate with them.

"Again the elders met in solemn conclave, and it was decided to allow them to live the time of Saturnalia, and then, when the Christmas time arrived, to wipe away the reproach at the evening sacrifice.

THE FIRST KISS OF ALL. " Fastened to a patriarchal oak near to each other, Kulate and Osk awaited their doom. Their eyes downcast. Curiosity to examine her companion caused Kulate to raise her eyes. So fascinated was she by Osk's unstanding figure, and the curious light in his eyes, that she never noticed his flat nose alt all. "Osk was equallv attracted by the moving light in the liquid depths of Kulate's pansy eyes. Above their heads on the oak tree a strange parasite was growing, known to us as the mistletoe. "Whether it was the full moon, the glamour of the evening, the mistletoe, or a hereditary impulse will never be known. But all' at once an irresistible impulse came over them to rub noses, obvious of the fact that it was an impassibility. "They pressed forward, and their lips met in the first, the most delicious kiss tho world ever knew. It was Kismet " Here the tablet had crumbled away, and no further fragment could be found," finished the Professor. A burst °f applause greeted the end of the story. " Oral tradition," commented tho Professor. "pa>sed on the custom, and gave us a word in vogue at the present time.

"From Osk and Kulate w*e got the word osculate —to salute with a kiss." "Osk," whispered the demure young lady in pink, looking wistfully at tho jiistletoe.

"Kulato," replied the fair young man. They did.