The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1904-08-06
FLoURIsHED THEIR FRENCH.
Two College Men Make a Small Glass
ical splurge and Get Caught
Upon 1t.

Two members of the senior class &.
the College of the City Of New York
were on their way home the other night
from a meeting Of one Of the student
societies. On the way they got into a
discussion regarding French literature,
and both Of them aired their knowledge
Of the language rather freely. relates
the New York Sun.
They stood some time on the corner
Of Columbus avenue and one of the
Eighty streets, their point of separa-
ton, TO finish the debate. They were
quite excited over the comparative mer
its Of Victor Hugo's poetry and that
Of Alfred de Musset, when a middle aged
man Of genial appearance and eminent
responsibility suddenly thrust in be-
tween them, and taking off his hat with
an air of urbane apology addressed them
with astonishing rapidly. Said he.
"Ah-Messieus-s'i H. vous-plait-pardon
herchez-la-femm : qu'est-ce -qu'il-y-a-
CONGRATULATIONS s-bien-au-re-
yolr-a-paris,"
He's talking French said Smith.
Yes, odd coincidence, isn't it?" an
swered Jones.
The stranger, again taking off his hat
and bowling, dashed into another rushing
torrent Of French words, while the two
c~ollegians strained their ears to catch
the sense. After a half a minute or so
he stopped.
DO you catch what he's talking
about?" asked Smith.
Not exactly" answered Jones. ~
recognize the words OF course, but he
goes so ~confoundedly fast that | can't
get the connection"
Tell him to slow up said Smith.
Your accent is better than mine. Ex-
plain that the professor at college never
talks such 4 lightning streak as that
and that he enunciates more distinctly"
'Mais, Monsieur, sill vous plait," be-
gan Jones; but before he could get in an
other word the polite stranger, again
with a sweeping bow, started on a new
verbal go-as-you-please race.
This time it lasted nearly a minute,
and the lads, noticing the odd recurrence
certain phrases, began to wonder If
were dealing with a Partisan luna
tic.
Il can't make it out" said Smith.
He too swift for me. Can you under
stand him?"
Not a BANKED thing he says" said
tones despairingly.
"Of course you can't" shouted the
nan, grabbing their arms in an ecstasy
delight. "Of course you can't. No
BODY could. It's nonsense. don't
inow a word Of French except the stock
that everybody knows. Don't
know what was saying? Sill vous
'lalt, If you please; 'Cherchez Ia femme.
eek the woman; and such stuff. | Just
attled EN- off good and fast to puzzle
'Ou.
4 overheard you talking about French
nd using French words, so thoughtful
ave a joke or you. No offence, Ihope,
nd trust you young gentlemen are not
eetotallers and will allow me the pleas
re.
nat not the first time I've tried
hat joke" said the genial man a few
minutes later, "The first time was rath.
r an amusing experience.
One day a friend Of mine mentioned
nat he had been tackled on Broadway ,
ear Twentieth street late at night by ,
poor devil of a Frenchman, who could
peak no English, but who shed tears T.,
hen he was given a dime. Two or three 6
lights after, the poor devil OF a French ,
ian tackled me. ,
l was going to give him a dime and '
.e him weep, when it occurred to me he G
really saying nothing, only maxi r
e uncouth sounds, with the word s
'ancais' stuck in here and there. t
I'd an inspiration. turned confident I,
and shot off a lot of French words at h
m, just as did at you" "
What did he say?" asked the college h
'ys. I,
He said in choice English, You a
anxiety blank, blank. blank. you're too
can 10 give a poor foreigner a penny. Is
yhow,' Then he ran, for he saw a is
liceman coming" d