LES PETITS PATES

Mr. Daudet wrote a number of clever sketches dealing with real or fancied incidents of the war of 1870-71, and of the subséquent Communistic insurrection; but whereas most of the stories thus produced were of necessity painful and gloomy, this happy little comedy of bourgeois life, the Petits Pâtés, is one of the author's " biightest " achievements in more than one sensé of the term.

Mr. Bonnicar, too, is an instructive character, exactly typical of the French established bourgeois class, a set of homely, thrifty, law-abiding citizens, unmoved by ail the political commotions in the vvorld, provided only les rentes remain unaffected thereby.

The island of St. Louis, peaceful even to drovvsiness, and smacking delectably of quaintness in the name of its church St. Louis-en-l'Ile, is a favorite quarter of résidence for people of the Bonnicar sort. The Marais, so named from its low situation along the right bank of the Seine, lies directly opposite the two islands of the Cité and St. Louis.

^ mitron : " baker's boy," so called from his customary head-dress, a white paper cap, or mitre.

2 les Versaillais : the national troops. Versailles became the seat of the central government after the departure of the Germans (March 12, 1871), and so continued until 1879.

3 silhouette blanche : referring to the vtitron's white cap and his white blouse and apron.

* chaussée, in a city, is used to niean the middle of the street. " Prenez la chaussée, Messieurs," is the l'Vench policeman's formula for clearing the pavement in times of undue cruwding or of anticipated mobs.

^ train : " bustle."

52 CONTES DE DAUDEI'.

''dimanche gras: the Sunday before Ash Wednesday, oi"(^)uinquagesinia Sunday." In gênerai, /es Jours gras are those when flesh méat may be eaten; /es Jours maigres, fasting days.

" pupilles de la Republique : "Wardsof the Republic'; strongly suggestive of the " Pupils of Mars " (/es é/èves de Mars) of the French Révolution.

■" chassepot : a kind of rifle, so named from the Frenchman who invented it,

^ marelle : " hopscotch."

l'J Hôtel de Ville : " City Hall.''

Ji froufrou d'endimanchement : " rustling of Sunday clothes."

12 expansion : " enthusiasm."

1^ jamais de la vie : " never in the world."

'^ à fleur d'eau : " along the water." Neuilly being situated on the right bank of the Seine, just beyond the western fortifications of Paris.

^° baba : a small currant-cake, usually moistened with r/ium or brandy.

" fédérés : soldiers of the Communistic league.

1" redingote: " frock coat."

•^ réactionnaire : poor Mr. Bonnicar is first mistaken for an imperialist by the Communists, and next for a Communist by the national troops.

1^ Rigault and other chiefs of the Commune are graphically portrayed in the late Mr. Washburne's réminiscences pf the siège of Paris.

^ la ligne : the troops of the " line," or the regular national troops, as distinguished from /es fédérés.

-' pétrole : referring to the women's part in setting fire to public buildings.

-2 narguer : " to tantalize."

23 Orangerie : the one in the gardens at Versailles.

24 s'était fait pincer : had " got caught,"

' paperasses : " old papers."

- la flâne: "the crowd of loungers." Parisian slang, hom flatter . " to lounge," to hang about."