Le dédingandagë : the loose way of speaking

3. Les prudhommes : namby-pamby gentlemen. Prudhommes is generally taken in a bad sensé to denominate people of an exaggerated or affected honesty and wisdom.

Page 141. — x. Hervé. A composer and dramatic author. Don Quichotte, an opéra-bouffe, was the first essay in France of this kind of light music whose suprême merit is to reach the last limits of the most inept insanity. Hervé used to call himself compositeur toqui (crazy composer). His works are wanting, not in imagination and originality, but in tact.

2. Offenbach, Meilhac, Halévy. Offenbach is with Hervé the creator of the opéra-bouffe, which had great success for a time. His best compositions are : La Belle Hélène, Orphée aux Enfers, Chanson de Fortunio. Meilhac, a dramatic author. He wrote La Belle Hélène, Barbe-Bleue, and several opéras-bouffes, the music of which was composed by Offenbach. Halévy, professor of vocal music to the Conservatoire : Manon Lescaut, a great ballet, La Juive, his masterpiece, which was played at the Grand Opéra.'