New-York tribune., 1906-07-23
Parls, JulY %.


At the Neuilly fair just now in full swing. which
extends over a mile and a half Of the nne avenue
stretching from the Paris gate to the Sene' visit
or Il he is not too engrossed in the roVndaoouts'
shooting galleries. gingerbread booths roaring "Ois
and the thousand and sights and SOUNDS
that salute eyes and in the fascinating
fair viii observe a peculiarly long. plain van NY
sng a little pennon. which may be reao the
words: '''school for Fair Children" In the inter-
walls between the various little side shows ana per-
formances which go TO make up tair' lnls Cart
which IS the chidren's schooroOm, contains the
youth and the best part OF the fun OF the fair Al
a certain hour yesterday morning the schoorooH
contained twenty-five scholars Of all ages ana
particularly Of all sizes and class was just over
prOfting by the instants confusion the changing
OF places and books blackboard, etc, one engaging
youth balanced himself suddenly on the out
stretched hands of a cbum and with his feet high
in the air and every indication of an imminent
apopleetic fit his reversed countenance, turned
an inQuiring eye the iDtruder,
What a quaint looking band Of scholars! Here
was the fattest girl IN the world daughter OF the
biggest woman within the same limits, terribly
anxious TO learn read, and terribly uncertain as
yet Notwithstanding her eleven years. OF the differ
ence between and D Here is young Emile Beau
fort Mneal descendant OF the dukes of that illus
frious family. who helps his father in the neighbor
ing booth manipulate the lottery wheel which
turns few blanks and many prizes
Eniles greatest pal is the young RoI=anus, nephew
Romanus shows visitors rounc the lion and tiger
house and describes the ferOcious character and
deeds OF the different beasts with the thTiIing hair
breadth escapes his uncle has had. He tells his
little tale. or "boniment," as the French call a
yarn OF the sort, with much spirit, and mikes
up his dates. Lettering with a lonely look IN a
corner OF the van is tall negro, who labors dill
gently TO master the intricacies Of the French
alphabet aud spelling book. In the fair he poses
In the tableauX vivans waxWorks; his best
part is Othello. and by that name his fellow schol-
ars call him. There is a little sensation going on
In part OF the classroom around six boys rang
9ng from six 10 fifteen and bearing strong family
likeness. They telling deeply interesting tale
TO the OF the class about some incident which
had apparently happened the day before IN the law
courts And then my father said TO the Judge.
Look at their muscles. Monsieur le Juge, and see
II they look II Ill treated them. They have to
get their living just have do and am train
ing them; but they well fed as I am myself
and you for yourself what muscles they have
And all the six put out their arms and showed their
muscles, TO the great admiration of the rest Of the
class And so the judge said. You must pay Is
francs hne and you can take your children home.
and then We came back in the omnibus"
This little school is the only one Of its kind
probably in the world certainly in France. It owes
Its origin TO the inspiration OF one old woman now
seventy years OF age. who has slept out OF
a van in all her life. The daughter of school
master who lost his berth the revolution Of 1880
and earned precarious living thereafter showing
naTionettes in travelling show. Mile. Bonnefois
IN her turn became showwoman and has tray-
elea with panorama all through France Her
education was entirely neglected. for there is no
provision in France for dealing with gypsies and
travelling companies Until she reached the age OF
twenty she could neither read nor write, and she
1eit the lack OF such rudimentary learning so Sc
Verey that in her advancing years she determined
10 try to supply the place of the schools to the
children Of the show, in order TO them the
ike humiliation. Bit by bit she has managed to
get her large cart built under her own eyes at a
cost OF $500 She opened il first few months ago.
with the babies. making her cart kind Of creche.
Then she got the older children and taught them
their letters The school grew in popularity, and
attracted the notice Of the authorities and inspect
ors. who soon procured small subvention OF
$50 toward the expenses, purchase Of books, ETC.