The record-union., 1893-01-25
Extracts From the Partisan Alma
macs Just Published.
The Selections Were Necessarily Made
With Care, and the Real Gems of
the French Publications Cannot be
Reproduced - Some Characteristic
Fun-.sFfn de Siecle'' Has Seven
More Years TO be Worn Thread
Mothers-in-Law.

A collection of very light literature is
provided by the Partisan almanacs for
1898. They contain very limited amount
of information about the calendar, but
much humor and some animated sketches
of Partisan life.
In France the new year brings to the
average citizen those troubles which the
merry Yuletide brings to the American,
says the New York World. Those who
have borne the pecuniary Affections of
the late joyful season will enter thor
oughly into the spirit of one of the jokes
in the 'Almanach ComIque'' which ac-
companies the table of the days in Jan
uary.
"a New Years gift says the unhappy
householder. How tiresome this is get
ting to be. I've heard the same thing for
fitty-two years.
We'll, SIR" replies the expectant me-
NAL, ''if you look at it in that way l hope
it will be the last"
Turning to the very end of the calendar
IN the same almanac one finds another
equally pleasing effort. 1t is a Jest for
December, 1898. An elderly gentleman
eylng calendar for 1894 calculates. ''Still
seven years in which to be fin de steele.
W Shoi4 nave uOllS Will LudL SOCL Oh
thing any too soon"
He echoes a very general sentiment.
The idea that the human race is in pc.
cullar stage of development during the
closing years OF a century which has
been declared to be semi-humorous has
ceased to be so at all. The prospect of
the continued abuse Of the expression
lin de steele for another seven years is
not agreeable. Something should be
done to stop it.
one must, unfortunately, pass over
many OF the things on which the French
almanac maker prides himself most. be-
cause they are too local in their applica-
tlon or not suitable for family reading.
For the month of April there is the
picture OF an artist, who is painting with
his hands and feet to get ready for the
salon, and for June, during which the
grand prix is run, there is sketch OF
an attractive young woman with race
track in the background. She says:
Betting isn't at all foolish. l shall wait
for man who has Won" This is quite
French and rather witty if you think
about it.
The playful design across which the
word 'Parisienneries" is written intro
duces one to a series of little stories of
French life.
The first of these tells about a lady who
made an astonishing use of a Newtound-
ldllu uOS AT d ldSulOnaDle watering place.
She was not beautiful, but had attractions
of person which, if properly exposed,
would secure her many admirers. She
went bathing day when it was so rough
that most OF the frequenters of the beach
ala not go into the water, but stood and
watched it. The waves bufteted her in
menacing manner, and her faithful dog,
seeing her peril, swan swiftly to her res
cue, which he accomplished, but with
considerable difficulty owing to the tlimsy
character of her garments. The result
was that his mistress bathing suit was
damaged In such manner as to leave no
doubt of the kindly manner in which
nature had dealt with her. This story is
strikingly illustrated. 1t is probably un-
necessary to mention any more.
The "Almanach des Parisiennes'' is for
the most part the work of Grevin, an
artist recently deceased, whose sketches
Of women were much admired in Paris
He usually represents a woman by a
number of generously curved lines. His
almanac deals to an extent that is really
painful with marital infelicities. OBJ
serve, as a specimen, the sketch of a
young man and his wife, of whom the
latter says:
Paul, surely you do not doubt what 1
tell your"
No" he replies, 81 doubt what you do
not tell me-"
The "Almanach Pour Rire" is illus
trated by Mars and Draner, of whom the
latter is remarkable, like many humor-