Le père Lancret: old Lancret

3, 1. Bismarck: the Prince of Bismarck (1815-1898), an unscrupulous Prussian statesman who was prime minister of King Frederick-William IV of Prussia, and of King William 1 of Prussia, later Emperor of Germany (1797-1888).

5-6. Sedan, Reichshoffen, Wissembourg: see note to page 2, line 23.

8. Saint-Privat : a village near Metz, where the French distinguished themselves (August 18, 1870). Champigny is a town on the river Marne, near Paris, where the French and the Germans fought violently (November 30 and December 2, 1870).

9. francs-tireurs: volunteers not belonging to the regular army and waging a guérilla war against the Germans.

10. l’armée de la Loire: After the defeat at Sedan and the investment of Paris by the Germans, the Government of the National Defense formed a new army on the Loire. This river flows westerly through the most beautiful part of central France for a distance of more than 625 miles, and is especially renowned for the numerous historical castles built along its banks.

4, 15. On eût dit = On aurait cru entendre.