The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1881-02-25
Les Incomprehensibles.
BOOK SIX. CHAPTER ONE.
Victor Hugo in Brooklyn Eagle. !

Victor Hugo in Brooklyn Eagle.l
Jacques was an organ grinder. He had
square box filled with cast off gas pipes.
When he twisted the crank the air rushed into
the pipes and the music came out at the other
end.
Fifine liked to hear Jacques play and he
liked to play for her. Jacques loved Fiine,
and treasured all the sous she gave him.
f1fne did not love Jacques, and they both knew
it.
Bon jour, Jacques" said Fifne.
Bon jour-" Fifne," said Jacques.
This conversation took place Just after the
18th of July.
CHAPTER TWO.
Fifne's father was bourgeois, Jacaue,'s was
long primer. Jacques dare not tell of his
noble birth, lest the hatred entertained for the
Bourbons should result in his death For this
reason he played the hand organ. Playing the
organ brought him near Fifne.
What are you doing, Fifne2" asked
Jacques one morning, as he was twisting
Nancy Lee" out of his hand organ.
washing windows" /" said Fifine. 81 wish
had the North Pole to reach that top one"
jacques picked up a rock and smashed his
hand organ.
"What have you done, Jacques?" asked FL
fine.
Nothing" said Jacques
Then he walked on.
THREE.
Jacques walked to the North Cane and
jumped into the Arctic Ocean four hours
ne swan to the pack ice around Spitzbergen.
He climbed up on the ice and walked to the
eighty-seventh degree of north latitude. A
polar bear attacked him. When the bear
opened his mouth Jacques erept in.
This is warm" said Jacques.
THAT is cool" said the bear.
The bear started north and plunged into the
open sea around the pole. 1t is claimed by
some scientists that there no open sea there
The bear knew better.
Jacques looked out of the bears mouth and
saw he was in whirlpool. He glanced at his
compass and saw that the needle pointed to the
center OF the pool.
''The North Pole is there" said Jacques.
CHAPTER FOUR.
Gervais was map peddlar. He loved FL
fine, and often presented her with maps Of
Australia Gervais loved Fihne, but she did
not care for him. She used his maps to stop
up rat holes.
"Bon soir, Fifne," said Gervais
"Boa soir, Gervais," said Fifhe.
This was while the Bourbons were plotting
to overthrow the revolution. Danton was
dead. Rohespierre had unclenched his bloody
hand from the throat of the people, and the
coming carnage of March already sent its
throbs through the arteries of Paris.
What are you doing, Fiine?" asked Ger
yais.
washing windows" said Fifine. ST wish
Gervais threw his maps into the sewer and
left. In six hours he had reached the
Antarctic Continent.
CHAPTER FIVE
A seal attacked Gervais He sprang into
the seal and settled himself comfortably.
This ia fun," said Gervais.
"That's business" said the seal.
The seal waddled over the ice and in an
hour had reached the open polar sea. Gervais
looked through the seals eye and saw he was
in whirlpool, toward the center of which
the needle of his compass always pointed
The pole is in there, said Gervais; II shall
marry Fifine." o.
CHAPTER SIX.
The rings of the whirlpool brought Jacques
and Gervais to the center at the same mo
ment. jacques was at the North pole and
Gervais at the South. Both pulled at the
same time. Neither pole would stir. 1t was
continuous stick, and neither could soc eed
until the other let go. Thev stopped pulling
aud spit on their hands, and hen pulled again
The excitement was terrific. They were
twenty-five thousand miles apart, and neither
knew of the other Each was brave and de-
termined, but it was no use.
Come out" said Jacques, tugging away.
Come up" said Gervais.
Both poles stuck ,st.
CHAPTER SEVEN.
"How goes y Fitne?'' said Francois.
"First rate" said Fiine, II don't wash win
dows any more. We keep girl.''
Fitine loved Francois. He had been a car
dinal, but had retired from business.
"Let US get married, Fifne," said Francois.
"Good enough" said Fifne. "Wait till
get my hat"
She came out and saw Gervais and Jacques
| Standing at the gate. Each had long pole on
| his shoulder, broken in the middle.
"Here is the North Pole, Fifine," said
| Jacques.
This is the South Pole, Fifine," said Ger
| vais.
"Come Fifine," said Francois
"You can take the poles back, Messeurs. L
don't wash windows since we got girl. Ex-
cuse me. am going to marry Francois"
CHAPTER EIGHT.
Francois and Fifne came back married. In
front of the house they saw two poles stand
ing upright. Jacques was at the top of one
and Gervais on top of the other
Goodbye, Fitine," said Gervais.
"Dieu uous garde, Fifine," said Jacbues.
Then they fell off the poles on top Of Fran
co.'s and smashed him like a walnut
"Great Scott!'' said Fifine 81 don't believe
any of them are good for much now, but the
poles may be worth something"
Fifine laughed and went into the house.