New-York tribune., 1910-08-31
HAD TO COMPARE NOTES
That's What Disturbed the Rest
Hour in French kindergarten.
FRESH AIR CHILDREN RETURN
Eight Large Parties Scatter to
Homes, While 439 Boys and
Girls Depart for Country.
PieTrine

jeanne
ff&Ias mechanics
The direful words. spoken in an ominous
voice, proceeded from by no means omi-
nous appearing young woman seated De-
hind desk at the Ecoie MaternelIe, in
West 18th street.
The cuIprits-if one judged by the tone
OF the Iady's voice and didn't notice the
twinkle in her eye-were seated at long,
low abIes before her. There were not just
two of then-there were twenty little
Piarrines and Jeannes with liberal sprink-
ling OF Narcotics and Georgettes. TO say
nothing of dozen or more P1erres, Hec-
tors and Gervaises, who occupied places al
the tables
All, they were the enfants terribles, TINS
was the kindergarteu-rather a Teutonic
word for French school-rest hour. and
Pierre and Pierrine were supposed to hide
their little faces in their little checkered
gingham sleeves and go to sleep, with heads
resting on the tables in approved kinder
garten fashion. But some disturbing in
fuence was at work.
Hector. Gervaise baissez les tetes," said
the teacher and tried hard TO pucker an
unwilling brow into frown as she said IL
Discipline Not Easy.
From Hector and his side partner she
went the rounds, with the same command; ;
but it was no use. the curly little ''tetes'
simply could not stay lowered Though
they dropped obediently into the crooks Of
little arms at the warning, in the twinkling
of an eye they We're up again.
A stranger might have thought that the
youngsters wanted TO get out 10 play, for
the summer sun was filling the room be
hind the children with it's radiance and
through the windows the leaves of the
trees in the back yard could De seen stir
ring in the breeze. All this glory. however.
was lost on them. Their eyes were all
focused on the gloomy front han and the
entrance door at its end.
All at once there was faint sound Of
pattering feet outside that increased rap
idly in volume as the feet neaTed the top
OF the high front stoop- Every pat of a
foot brought head UP from the table with
a jerk Then the door burst open and in
rushed ten more diminutive Pierrines. as
like the others peas in pod, except
that they didn't wear Chechered aprons and
did carry bundles
There was not even pretence of sleep
after that. NOBODY ought to be asked to
sleep when his best friend and playmate is
momentariIy expected home from a two
And certainly he has 10 get up from the
kindergarten table to greet the friend
even if it is the rest hour-when that per
very classroom.
Hearty WeIcome Home.
These facts were all appreciated by the
entire group of restless resters, and there
was a basty scramble for the door and d
chorus of shouts.
Hello
Got any apples7
Did YOU get weighed
Did you have nice time?T
Of course these are only the English
equivalents for what actually dubbed out
in French. Then the ten had to explain ali
about their Tribune Fresh Air trip.
The others had almost all enjoyed Fresh
Air outing. too. but notes had to be COM
pared. you know As the comparison was
all made in the mother tongue it will have
to be omitted here.
Suffice it To say that there was such a
babbIe of eager voices that thirty much
timer Pierrinettes and Gervaisettes who
had really been sleeping upstairs, had 10
be released to extend their greeting TO the
/ homecomers, and came pattering down
stairs with q noise something like an Octo-
ber shower on the dry leaves that cover
the ground.
These were not the only Tribune Fresh
Airs that came home yesterday There
were. in fact. 5fT others. who came in eight
different parties There vas, too a more
important event which must be recorded IN
Fresh Air chronicles:
There were 459 children who set out for
country homes wherein to pass the last
days OF their school vacations