The Sun.
London, England, 1864-07-11 00:00:00

EDUCATION OF TIIE FRENCH PEASANTRY.

We had not talked long before she (the peasant girl)
informed me that the day on which we bad entered was
the anniversary of the death of Henry IV., of France,
Oa my expressing astonishment at her being aware of
this, she replied,
" Ah, par exemple I Does Monsieur think I know no-
thing ? Henry the Fourth was a great king."
"Yes," I replied; "but ho lived two hundred years
ago, or more."
" What does that matter ?" she rejoined ; " would it not
be a shame to have no idea of the history of this beau pays,
not to knew what it was formerly, and how our nation has
at lived at the state in which it now is ? We French adore
the history of cur country, Since the French name is be-
come celebrated all over Europe, when foreigners even like
to study our history, it is not allowable for any French
person to be ignorant of it.
When I heard these remarks, I felt completely taken
aback, and did not dare to say anything more for fear of

showing my ignorance.
Such is not, I am certain, an exceptional case of know-
ledge. You cannot fled a French peasant unable to talk
to you about the crusades, about the battle of Brenneville,
the troubles of Franco during the reigns of Philippe de
Valois and Jean le Bon; the glories of Du Guesclin, the
heroism of Joan of Arc, the battles of Marignan, Ivry,
Fleurus, Steinkerque; the great men who flourished in the
reign of Louis the Fourteenth—such as Conde, Luxem-
bourg, Corneille, Racine, Moliere, succeeded by Voltaire
and Rousseau; whilst with all the later events of import-
ance, from the reign of Louis the Sixteenth to their own
time, French peasants are wonderfully conversant.
How very different, too, is the style of music and song
which they love, compared to that which suits the tastes and
comprehension of Englishmen in their position of life. The
latter_ knows and is contented with something like " The
days we went a-gypssing," an old hunting song or two,
and " God save the Queen," whilst the former possesses an
almost inexhaustless collection of pretty songs ever present
to his memory—the theme of his lively airs being love and
spring flowers, love and shady arbours, and laughing val-
leys, and fair scenery df all sorts that can be associated with
" l'amour ;" and the gems of l3eranger sound just as
pretty when adapted to the " wild-notes wild" of French
peasant girls, u when sung in the most exquisite way by
finished artists, or when warbled forth by the cultivated
voices of rank and fashion.
Where will you find a village girl in any department
who cannot valse and dance the polka unimpeded by bad
music and thick shoes ? Whereas an English villager of
either sex, whe can perform well upon " the light fantastic
toe," is a rarity seldom to be found.
Here is a sketch of the Bois de Boulogne some 30
years back :--

-&9,0
6:2lMibt

EBB, MAJESTY,

WINDSOR CASTLE, July 9.
Their Royal Highnesses the Count and Countess

of Paris, attended by the Marchioness de Cela and
Captain Mohain, arrived at the Castle yesterday.
The Count and Countess of Paris dined with her
Majesty end the Royal family.
The Belgian Minister and Madame van deWenr
also had the, honour of dining with the Queen and
Royal family on Friday.
The Queen, accompanied by their RoTe„I

nesses the Princess Louis of Hesse, Princess Louise,
and the Countess of Paris, drove cut in a carriage
and four this morning, attended by Colonel the Hon,
A, Hardinge,
His Roy al Highness Prince Louis of Hesse, acs

companied by the Count of Paris, went out riding,
The Queen had a Council to-day at one o'clock,
Present—the Earl Granville, Lord Stanley of
Alderley, and the Right Hon, Sir George Grey,
Mr, Helps was the Clerk of the Council.
Earl Granville had an audience of the Queen.

JULY 10.

Her Majesty the Queen, their Royal Highnesses
Prince and Princess Louis of Hesse, Princess
Helena, Princess Louise, Princess Beatrice, and
Prince Leopold, with the ladies and gentlemen in
waiting, attended Divine service this morning in
the private Chapel.
The Rev. W. H. Brookfield, chaplain in ordinary
to the Queen, officiated. _ _

Their Royal Highnesses Prince and Princess Louis
of Hesse, attended by Madlle. de Grancy and Capt.
von Westerweller, honoured the Belgian Minister
and Madame van de Weyer with their company at
dinner at New Lodge, on Saturday.
Their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess
of Wales, attended by the Marchioness of Carmar-
then and Captain Grey, arrived at the Castle this
afternoon on a visit to the Qaeen.