The Appeal. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. ;) 1889-19??, 1903-02-14
The Old Tailor:
ATale Of France at the Beginning
of the Last Century. Is e e, &
Translated from the French Erckmann-
Chatrian by B. Wilberforce Smith. =

used to stop art his window to see
him work. He was a bald-headed
old fellow, with light gray eyes; and
as he sat cross-legged on his table
he reminded one of a frog, he had such
a wide mouth and dreamy gaze.
The little room where the OLD 1elioW
worked was very gloomy. On the wall
hung few ragged coats patched trousers
and old greasy waistcoats; at the fur-
Their end was a little staircase An old
woman sometimes made her appearance;
she was so old that she looked like one
of those plucked crows that the peasants
nail to their barn doors to frighten away
birds of prey by fear OF similar fate
This was old Jacqueline, Mauday's moth
er, whom he supported by his work
She used to sit down at the bottom
of the staircase, mumbling and noddlng
her head, her white hair hanging over
her shoulders. Then Mauday would look
at her lovingly and say:
Come, mother, and warm yourself IN
the sun. Just here, in front of me.
And, pushing the old armenian TO inc
end of the table, he would help the o1o
woman into it and say softly:
Does that make you cOm1OrtaDIe!
Would you like cushion for your back:
mo, thank you, Baptiste, I'm quite
comfortable
Then he would reseat himself on his ia"
BILE. perfectly contented, while his OLD
mother sat and basked in the sunshine.
Sometimes he would whistle old tunes
softly to himself, but as soon as the old
woman began to tell her beads, he would
stop whistling, lest he should interrupt
her.
People used to call him the Vendean
and say he had committed all sorts OF
atrocities in the Vendee and killed women
and children; but I could never believe
rJS1-- hot ION
been a volunteer in 1892, had been through
the campaigns Of Mayence, Vendee, Italy
and EgyLt, and after the establishment
of the empire, was offered a post in the
consular guard, but had preferred to be
a tailor rather than serve Napoleon.
Thus the years rolled on, and in 1924,
the year that Charles X. was crowned, my
father retired from his hardware busl-
ness. took his place. I married Mile.
Josephine, daughter Of Monsieur Leblgre:
Then the old tailor's mother died, and l,
remembering how many times IN my
childhood had looked in at his little shop
window, thought it only right to go to the
burial Mauday followed the coffin IN
silence, his red handkerchief up to his
eyes and his mustache wet with tears.
Then the coffin was lowered into the
grave, the De Profundis was rapidly read'
and Mauday, taking the spade, threw
some earth on the coffin, and, passing 1t
to me, said:
Here, Monsieur Antoine, you knew her
long ago and have come here to-day.
Thank you.' .s-
That was all; we came away in Silence.
Henceforward the old tailor had no one
to keep him company at home, so on Sum
days he went to take his pint Of wine at
NTco1as Bfbffs tavern and sometimes he
would cross over and shake hands With
me at the shop. He gave this mark OF
friendship to no one else in Saint Suzanne.
Then he would Took around the shop and
examine the scissors, knives and otner
cutlery. One day, seeing some fencing
foils, be asked me to show them to him.
His eyes snarsled with pleasure. He ex-
amined one after another, bending them
under the sole OF his foot.
THAT'S a good one" said he, 1t bends
well. The handle is somewhat too curved
but it could be easily Strengthened. 1t
would suit me first rate"
"Would You like a pair?' said I.
mo, no. It's long since I amused my
self with such toys. The needle is my
weapon. What could poor old tailor do
with a pair of foils? My knees have no
more spring to then.''
Nevertheless he put himself on guard,
bent his knees and parted imaginary
thrusts. Then he went to take his pint.
I paid no attention to this at the time,
but I remembered it later on.
To continue my story. Old Mother
Jaqueline had been in her grave four
months. and the hedges were all green,
when a crack regiment OF dragons came
into garrison at ST. Suzanne. They were
mostly Bretons. all of them picked
svordsmen, whose fathers had fought
against the republic in the Vendee Some
how or other we suddenly learnt that old
tailor Mauday was once known under the
name of La Pointe, and had been one
of the best swordsmen in the republican
army. He had belonged to the old Thirty
second brigade and was dangerous per
son to quarrel with. Previous command
ants had kept the secret, merely warning
Mauday that if he touched a foil he
would be expelled from the town. Mauday
had always replied that he was there to
support his old mother, that no one knew
of his old reputation, and that ne wanted
nothing so much as to live at peace with
all men and cam his daily bread. Wei
had he kept his word. His mother We
now dead: he was old and feeble ano
doubtless laid no great value on his owr
sad life. 49,:
Every day the new regiment performed
it's drill, every day the taverns were filled
with soldiers. But no soldier entered
Nicolas Bibi's tavern, for that was thu
tradesmen's. meeting place, and that wa:
where Mauday went on Sundays.
One Sunday however, about 2 O'Clock
in the afternoon, I saw half a dozen Of
fcers in full uniform coming up tn.
street. They halted in front of the tav
ern, and I heard their leader, a tall
well-built man, with dark complexion
broad shoulders and resoiute bearing
say to the others: e
Come on, ft.s.afl settled. That Is wher'
the old rascal is. -
They went up the steps, blinking thef
swords, and entered the tavern. l mad n
idea when they meant. but eVfdenti!
there, was q duel on hand I steppe<
window The room was full OF mel
smoking, drinking and playing cards. rh!
arrival of the dragons made stir.
"Hullo there, make roomt' shouted tn
dragons. Whats all this rit-raf doinl
here? Come, come; hurry up!
Several pushed along the bench, bu
that didn't give the dragons enough
room. .E.4 49,
1--WE must have this table to ourselves.
shouted the dark-faced man, rapping tn
table where Mauday and others wer
sitting. There will just be room for u
six, SO make a novel II =
was indignant and Bib was gettini
ansly. But Mauday taking up his glass
( turned to Finland said: $50 $50 .3ss3st2s z.
Gene, Bib, they're young felioWs: IL
us make way for them" And he quietl
seated himself at the other end of TIA
room. &
..Ha. ha,'' cried an officer with a sneel
..the dancing master Is a prudent fellow
he gives up his place with good grace
Follow the advice Of the wise and YOU
get DID,
Mauday now saw that It was with hi,
that they wisn.- to quarrel. The snicl
same of dancing master had infuriate
the old veteran, vet he made no reply. q
merely gu1ped down his wine. placed
Few sous on the table and rose to go gu
f.,.t fl,ats xliil not suit his tormentors WI