The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-03-04
Never Slept IN a House.

france 10 another, stopping Wherever
country fair, or fete of any kind. was
taking place. She was born in 1873. Mad
emoiselle Bonnefois. belongs TO a family
unknown outside Of France and Italy;
not gypsies, nor circus people, nor drum
mers, nor tramps, but honest ferains who
have peddled diversion and knick-knacks.
ever since the beginning OF open-air ba-
zaars, where the populace could fly trim
kets and be amused There Is no specu-
lation in the life and occupation Of
these Vagabonds; they follow the tradi-
tions and abide by the beliefs and sa-
perstitions OF their remote ancestors,
whose surroundings and requirements
were the same as theirs. young
French woman, disturbed by the lack
of opportunity for spiritual development
among the forains, whose lives necessi-
tate a great amount of tinsel and pink
tights, and late hours night and morning,
visited one of the roulettes. as the apart
ments on wheels are called, with the
hope of offering an important lesson. In
the squallid parlor, which served as bed
room and kitchen, she found a child Ill
in he'd with fever. A small statue Of the
Virgin stood in one corner of the room,
and near it burned a candle and lamp.
Receiving her kindly. the forain pointed
to the shrine. The candle burns for my
sick boy" he said; 1.-The lamp has been
hundred years, and during that time the
Virgins statue has travelled with our
people At night we are too tired 10
pray to her. but we have never missed
morning greeting. and my sons and their
sons will CO as their ancestors have
done"
Education other than this development
of religious sentiment had, however,
never existed among the forains until Eu-
A 81 eh
taught herself 10 read and write. In the
midst of music-boxes, merry-go-rounds,
mechanical ducks and donkeys, she made
her first effort towards the great work,
which was finally to be crowned by the
French Academy and recognized by the
nation When she had mastered a certain
knowledge of spelling she began at once
TO teach those who knew less than she
qIG. Being a lorraine myself" che says
Il krew exactly what the children need
ed She taught them their catechism
and prepared them for confirmation,
keeping them occupied and leaving their
mothers free for a part OF every day.
This work was soon interrupted by the
death of her parents, who bequeathed her
the mechanical museum, her only source
of support She drove It all over France
until the war broke out in 1870, when she
left everything and went as nurse TO the
and a limited knowledge of conduct
among the sick were the only require
pJents needed for joining the force Of
rurses who were allowed to go upon tho
field of battle. 1t was there that chances
for sacrifice and activity in the service
of others brought out the heroic qualities
in Mile. Bonefoins' nature. which emit.
tied her to the highest recompense the
government could give. This she wears,
a small red cross on a ground OF white.
and next to it are two other rewards of
inertia green and red ribbon given with
a prize of money for the encouragement
of good works, and a purple ribbon given
by the French Academy, with the prix
de vertu, in recognition of the forain
school she founded seven years ago.
Il had thought of every possible way"
she says "of helping the children, de-
prived of all instruction by the exigen-
cies of their nOmadic life; / decided n
nally upon what seemed best. the founda-
ton of a school One winter | happened
TO be at Rouen with the mechanical
museum), and 1 followed some lectures
that were given there. NJ Paul Ler0lle
was the speaker on a certain occasion,
and when l saw him, l said to myself,
Here is the man / need to help me- 1
told the Archbishop of this, and also eX-
planned the necessity for starting the
school at once in Paris, adding that
money, alas! was lacking. Let that
make no difference he added, Offering
me 400 francs.
With the 400 francs Eugene Bonnefois
iourneyed to Paris, and there presented
herself at the Hotel de Vile to NJ. Le-
role. then a city councillor. whose in
terest she gained at once. i rented
shanty," she relates, twelve feet square
1 bought four planks and made two ia
bles and two benches with them; = en-
gagged a teacher, and as the forans were
only waiting my signal, my little school
was speedily filed. The teacher did not
have much trouble, as there was only
one class. and that had to begin with the
alphabet
For seven years Nile. Bonnefois has
continued the ecole lorraine. following
about in her roulette the perennial fair
of Paris which goes on now al The In
valides, now at Montrouge, now at the
Place de la Republique, the COLLINS,
Meuilmontant, in one after another Of
the great quarters of Paris, each like
village in itself
The fairs last for two weeks, during
which time the children come daily from
nine until eleven, and from one until four
o'clock Then the general order to move
on brings the brilliant bazaar TO the
ground in a single night, and the follow
ing day Paris is sprinkled over with long
green wagons, guided by dusky drivers, a
blue line Of smoke training upward from
the travelling hearth; and within. the
mother lorraine. taking advantage of tn s
momentary retirement from the public
eve 10 mend the family's theatrical and
domestic wardrobe: and the little foraius
preparing their lessons for Mile Bon
nefois as they journey The following
day sees the long green wagons again
converted into museums. snooting-galler
les music boxes. and candy-shops. and
the children again assembled. the boys
on one side and the girls on the other
under the school motto Here one learns
TO know God. to respect ones parents.
and 10 love ones country"
They follow the public school pro-
grammes. and receive a diploma ter GER
tihcat d'etude. at fourteen. which enables
them then 70 take up any career for
which they may be fitted The school
costs about 500 a year. and is entirely
supported by private charity. II don't I
want anything from the government, /
sas Nile. BOnuefois; they would not a. /
low ne 70 teach the Children the cate 4
chism I consider the republic the reign I
Of satan"
At Christmas the children are gwen a
tree. cfetaing and toys, and 81 Easter
trose. who have been prepared are con !
hrrned- They are healthy chil3rea. for !
although they were up 2 night. taey I've /
IN The open air and are seldom Ill
Msdem0.selis Ronnefo4s IS small and
bent over with rheumatism. Hes face -
szrsakled. but every 8ne recalls s-niie
or q kindly expressio5. ard IN her eyes .
there is I1ok II inspired gocaaess.
Have you never been discouraged .
asked hex.
'-Seyer.' she answered vita conviction I
III one IS 70 hec1 r1e dis-7uraEef ~ a 1
undertaking. II were better not 70 be-