les accommoder, to prépare or dress them

1. 26. la teiTi'hle réquisition de Van il. The Convention (1792-95) had completely changed the Calendar. The years were to be counted from September 21, 1792 (date of proclamation of the Republic), the year from this date to Sept. 21, 1793, being therefore Van i. The months, also starting from Sept. 21, were henceforth called vendémiaire (from vetidange), brumaire (from brume, fog, i. e. November), frimaire (from frimas, cold), nivôse (from neige), pluviôse (from ^j?«ng), ventôse (from vent), germinal (from germer, to sprout), ^o;v«^ {irom. fleur), prairial (from prairie), messidor (from moisson, harvest), thermidor (from Gr. ôîpixr], beat), fructidor (from fruit). The weeks, or décades, consisted of ten days, each tenth day, or décadi, being a day of rest.

L'an II (1793-4) witnessed a period of extraordinary military activity. No less than fourteen armies were placed in the field, to quell the revolt in La Vendée, and to meet foreign enemies in Flanders, Holland, Germany, Italy, and Spain. Every available young man was obliged to join the army, and this naturally drained ail other professions of workers.

fit maison nette, made an empty house, i. e. a house bereft of clerks. Q^. faire table rase, to make an empty table, to do away with something completely.

1. 34. Les jours de décadi, on holidays. See above, note to 1.26.