An Amorous Aeronaut.

Te Aroha News, Volume II, Issue 72, 18 October 1884, Page 4

An Amorous Aeronaut.

A late French journal contains the following curious and characteristic incident. It is a fit idea for the construction of a melodrama. While Monsieur Godard was filling an immense balloon in the Champ de Mars, he amused the spectators by sending up the small figure of a man, the perfect semblance of M. Thiers, without spectacles. The little man, being filled with gas, rose majestically into the air, and was soon lost to view amongst the clouds. His adventures, which became known the next day, were curious. Thanks to a strong and favourable gale, which impelled him on his course, the little balloon man arrived the same afternoon in sight of a fine country house somewhere in the neighbourhood of Bievro. It was near the hour of dinner, and the lady of the mansion, who naturally thought herself perfectly safe, was occupied in the mysteries of her toilet. It was a warm day, and she had opened one of the windows which looked out upon the Park, and was safe from any prying eyes. While tranquilly engaged, by the assistance of corset lacing, in reducing her waist to a size and shape that would reflect credit on her husband's taste, she was suddenly startled by a blast of wind, followed by a strange noise ; and immediately the casement was thrown open, and our little balloon man entered the chamber unannounced. The lady uttered a cry of terror, and threw a shawl over her shoulders. The little man, driven by the wind, throws himself upon the unhappy woman, who, screaming louder than ever, pushed him off, and he therefore conceals himself under the bed, Just as the wife, in a supplicating voice, says to this novel Bon Juan, "Ah, monsieur, go away or you will ruin me ! " the husband furiously rushed in, crying, "Ah, the wretch, I have him now ! " and goes in search of his sword to run him through the body. The wife, more dead than alive, reiterates, in the midst of sobs, "Fly, fly, monsieur! and save me the sight of a dreadful tragedy." The husband, infuriated, arrives, armed to the teeth, followed by the whole house hold, who seek to mollify his anger, While two of his friends hold the husband, a third, stooping down, perceives our little friend, Mho, for good cause, utters not a word, and, catching him by the leg, draws him forth from his concealment, when lo ! Monsieur Balloon, no longer held down by the bedstead, raises himself erect, swells out and rises majestically to the ceiling, to the in> mense amusement of the spectator*,