Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-07-06
How the Old System of Bringing
Up" Has Its Good Effect In France.

thought q horror, simply. In good families
children who are adored, loaded with gifts.
who In their gentle way in truth command
the family movement, are sui rather seen
than heard.
know little heiress to the greatest
stockbroker's fortune of the second empire;
granddaughter to the great lady who loads
down, perhaps. the greatest quantity OF dia-
monds on gala nights at the Paris opera.
Now and then / have dined en- famille and
watched the little heiress.
Never does she speak at table, except
when addressed. Then she answers An
swers prettiy, intellisently fearlessly, like
young lady. Takes her time. Talks sense
without trace OF affectaion or pre;ensicn.
But she never butts In Among other
things she is trained never to ask for food
at table. Food will be served to you"
Regularly, yes, 1t Is. She Is as plump as
little grub. Also. she likes her dinner.
Wei, one evening, as nearly always. when
guests were present, by some oversight Ger
maine was not served the first meat-plat
Concern sat uneasy on her pretty face
She suffered. She sat silent. Suffered more
Sat silent more. Then, at last, in low
voice. in a lull of conversation quietly self
possessed, respectful, natural, she sad:
Papa, please pass me the salt"
The father gazed astonished at her empty
plate.
Salt? Why do you want salt?''
To put on my meat, papa" answered
Germaine.
Oh, the Homeric laughter that broke round
that gladstone table. Even the old butler
held his face with effort, as he FASTENED to
heap up the witty childs plate.
Say 'toucher" clamored the guests to
the father. C'rouche" is the short syllable
exclaimed by fencers IN bout when touch
ed by their adversarys button)
Il say touched" the father laughed, de-
lighted.
The Kids Of Versailles.
Children must not, even. be too good In
France. Hear what happened to the Kids
of Versailles.
Versailles is still a palace, though belong
ing to a republic and uninhabited. Its
magnificent gardens are still kept up. And
the palace and outbuildings unnhabited?
1t has whole population of librarians,
custodians, antiquaries, caretakers. There
is a sublime republican head gardener.
Well, the Kids of Versailles are the three
little fairies of that head gardener. They
are often very, very much alone. All the
serious old population pets them-when 1t
has the time; but they are trained to flee
tourists.
Ali right. There are tramps in France
An old tradition-dating from the kingly
days-has 1t that these Commercial travel
ers" may sleep in a certain low, long
building, very comfortable and clean. There
are never less than five and often twenty
of a night
The Kids Of Versailles have the right to
bring the soup" to the Commercial travel
ers." Understand. all they do is to ac-
company three men who carry the soup pot
and utensils; and they graciously hand out
the steaming bowls when ladled. They are
little fairies, l assure you.
To all this charity there is one CON
signe." No tramp may be received without
his papers" showing who he is where
from what done all his past military
together Without papers" you are a lost,
hunted thing in France.
Last month the Kids Of Versailles had a
temptation to do too much good A poor
woman arrived, walking. with q baby in
her arms. She had no papers.
The Kids received her. They made her
of old state carriages and harness. in an
annex to the show stables every tourist Wis
its at Versailles.
They sneaked her soup. bread, wine and
cheese.
The Denouement.
Two days elapsed. The woman fell sick
The Kids Of Versailles nursed her, actual
ly. through a day Of fever. Then. with the
nerve and sense of grown persons they de-
cided for a doctor. a practitioner Of Yer
sailles well known to them.
Doctors in Francois all overthrow no
law but the curing Of their patients. This
one came thrice daily. All was going well
when, for the visit Of the Queen Of Nor
way. they began to Turkish up a lot of neg
lected harness. The state carriage annex
was invaded by the hurrying servants-and
the rose pot" as they say in French, was
There was tremendous row. woman
without papers? What? Sick with a fever
possibly contagious? Was such a thing
ever heard Of? Sheltering tramp without
papers? Outrageous infants! Anarchists
Without sense of law! Disobedient! De-
cetful! Scheming! Systematic!
1 will not tell you the punishment they
melted to the Versailles Kids. 1t would but
anger you.
In excuse. however. an old subgardener
with q face that might be on the front OF
dukes head and manners Of the old
regime-a gentleman. you understand-ex-
planned to US that "all the unhappinesses
that have come on France in these late
years may be traced to the foolish weak
ness Of parents toward their children"
STERLING HELLO.