THE LAST KISS.

Taranaki Daily News, 7 September 1918, Page 6

THE LAST KISS.

AMAZING CYNICISM. Mali Hari, the Dutch dancer, who was shot as a spy at Vincenncs, France, recently—one of the tools of the infamous Nexie Rtorch—displayed the same cynical indifference before the firing squad which she had displayed before her judges. She walked out of her carnage into the yard of the execution place in°a long blue cloak draped picturesquely over her black dress. A. large felt hat, rakishl.v on one side of her head, making ft background for her massed black hair "As she walked towards the place, where the officer directed," says 'lan Vu.' the well-known Paris paper,'"she allowed her cloak to slip from her shoulders to the ground with the same sensuous movement with which she used to cast her draperies from'lier in the last passionate invocation to Siva in the 'Dance 01 tne /Seven Veils.' 'I will not cry, I will not cry,' she repeated, in a determined way to the Sister of Mercy by her side, 'but 1 feel something in the corner of my eye, Sister, will you lend me your handkerchief.' The Sister handed her a handkerchief of rough linen, and Mati Hari, accustomed as she had been to handkerchiefs of the most delicate texture, glanced at it contemptuously; then, .-nore sweetly, she said, 'No thank you, it is too coarse; besides, have I not said I will not cry? She crossed the courtyard, Inclining her head graciously to left and right in acknowledgement of the troops who stood around, and when she was placed before the post of execution she refused to allow lier eyes to be bandaged. She threw out her chest towards the soldiers now in line before her, and, raising her right hand blew them a coquettish kiss just before the word to lire."