Daily Yellowstone journal., 1890-03-04
FRENCH GAS.

1t was on the seventh landing. half
way up the fourth flight, that | met
faithful Sally, with her expression at
half mast, and a dangerous looking
document in her hand. Our Sally was
the tyrant Of the coy little apartment
in the Faubourg ST. German, and
played in addition the dual role of
nursemaid chef.
81 cannot think what it is" said
she, rolling her eyes mysteriously. 1T
was a kind of soldier that brought it,
and he was pretty stiff about it, too.
And So" she continued, I've just
busted myself packing up a Bit"
Packing up,"l groaned, 'and w
paid our three months rent in adj
vance'but yesterday! Why, what are
you thinking of
I'm thinkin :" said she, turning
red at the ideI Of being questioned,
''that it wasn't Tor nothin' thin Frinch
frogs was sin lin and jumpin' Bou-
langerin the streets all last night" BY
this time we were in the parlor and
she had closed the door. I'm think
in" she went on, solemnly holding
up the document, that thin Germans
have declared a war, and we've a right
to 90 home. God knows | want no
foreigner givin' me the last sacramint
in frinch..'
Sally's lip ~quivered; she fell into
the best chair, tanning herself with
her apron. She realized that there
was no time for etiqutte in the hour Of
death.
1t was a long document From the
beginning TO the argument proper was
about twenty-five centimeters-a little
more than a yard Of whereas. where
fore, in the name of the French Re
public liberty, equality and
fraternity the august mum.
cipal government of Paris
the government officers of the eight
ward the sacred provisions
OF French law" etc. In short, if |
wanted gas in the house, | would
please comply with the formalities
prescribed by law.
Sally went out TO broil the beef
steak. while | made an unsuccessful
attempt to drown my excitement in a
French newspaper without any news
in il.
In France there is much that is con-
trolled by law. Among other things
the government is gas, and gas is the
government A month before our war
excitement a slippery, smiling land
lord had called TO say that the apart.
nIent house in which we lived had
changed hands, and he had become
the owner. a noble old gray stone
structure was the house. with solid
oak stairs that were the pride Of my
heart.
True. the building is over a hun
dred years old" said the new landlord;
''but as it stands il will oullast TWO
new ones. We no longer build good
houses; we modern Frenchmen are
too hurried. above all in Paris, where
everything is done with a rush"
looked at him with interest.
Il shouldn't say a word. | am an
enterprising young chap myself" he
continued, soothing down his embon-
point, the result Of over half a CEN
fury Of French cooking. Now, al
though mamma considers it a danger
Gus risk, for once ! am going against
her advice. | want TO do something
for my tenants. and / am going to put
gas into the house"
When he left | gave him a good
American handshake. Sally and /
were delighted. No more spots Of
glimmer in oceans of gloom. No more
Rembrandt dishwashing-one-half the
plate in light, the other in blacklist
shade. No more candle grease on the
furniture. No more struggles with
those wound up French lamps that
are useless unless you can afford to
keep a clock maker. No more sitting
down 10 read or write like an Irish
corpse,
With a dozcl o. candles around his head.
by next week at the latest" said /
TO Sally, I'VE shall have gas"
During the next week our anxious
lookout discovered no signs of the
promised luxury. The week follow
ing we saw two workmen talking in
an airy French way with two others.
Toward the end of the following week
il resulted in an amicable breakfast on
our sidewalk. After that il went on
acknowledgements 10 the French
standard. In less than a month there
were brea',s in the sidewalk; at the
end Of six weeks we entered the court
by means Of a plank that bridged q
chasm four feet deep. As time rolled
on. and We had by force OF habit al
most become attached to candle light,
We had a message; rich centenarian
smells. born of the garlic Of dead en-
rres, rose up from the cellar TO tell
NJ that something wal going 10 hap
psn soon. II happened.
Again the faithful Sally met me on
the stairs, this time all in smiles and
her best embroidered apron. ITS
Gen. Boulanger," said she. Hes
been waiting half an hour; but it's all
right; he seems interested in the pic-
tures and things."
"You're mad" I0sped. What ere
WIN falling ahoute"