The central record. (Lancaster, Ky.) 18??-current, 1919-01-09
When French Was Dis
placed By German in
Alsace-Loraine.


Alsace and Lorraine, we see frequent
reference to the famous little story
by Daudet, ia Derniere Classe".
This little closeup" gives a very
humorous picture Of one reception Of
the order from Berlin.
THAT morning | was very late in
going to school, and was afraid of
being scolded, all the more that Mr..
Hamel had told US that he would ques-
ton us on the participates, and j
knew not the least word about them.
One moment the idea came to me to
miss school and strike out across the
fields. The weather was so warm, so
clear!
One heard the blackbirds whistle
on the edge Of the wood, and in Rip
pert field behind the mill the Prus-
slams were exercising. All this at
tracted me more than the rule Of the
participle, but ! resisted and RAJ.
quickly toward the school.
In passing the town hall saw n
crowd before the bulletin board. For
two years there we had seen all the
bad news, the battles lost, the requis-
itions, the orders from headquarters:
and | thought without stopping,
"What is it this time? Then as |
ran across the place saw Wachter,
the blacksmith, with his apprentice
following, reading the bill. He cried
to me. "You needn't hurry, sonny.
you'll always get to your school soon
enough now.
thought he Knocked me, and ! ran
into the little yard of Mr. Hamel all
out of breath. Ordinarily during the
commencement of school there was a
great racket heard as far as the
street, the opening and closing Of
desks, the lessons being repeated
aloud, the pupils stopping their ears
the better to study, and the great
ruler Of the master tapping on the
desks, "a little more quiet.
I counted on all this noise to gain
my seat without being seen; but on
precisely this day all was 'as quiet as
Sunday morning.
By the open window | saw my
school-mates already in their places
and Mr.. Hamel passed and repassed
with the terrible iron ruler under his
arm. had to open the door and en-
ter in the midst of a great calm.
Imagine how red and frightened ]
was. Mr.. Hamel regarded me with
out anger and said very sweetly,
Go quickly to your place, my little
Frantz; we have commenced without
you. ! strobe to my desk and seat
ed myself Immediately. Then a lit
tie recovered from my fear | noticed
that our master wore his beautiful
green frock coat, his finely pleated
jabot and his black silk skull cap that
he wore only on inspection days or at
the distributions of the prizes. All
A. .akool ,oar.a1 ,n,s,aI anl
- WI, s,,rnr;s.d mo VOC,
A.. hr..L. =, A.. 81
~ III, ,as, -. IA
= - ~ ,';,,.ro ...,oa - .;,onoo
,r,,. - "a 49, ,,,;,h III ,u;oorna
A.. Ia r,auor ,ha IA noe, won and
-. no.sons rhau all looLad
u,aIanohoIv. ola uaussr haa hrouoh,
aaId ApC hooL al rano.a a, ,ho
-. ,,,h;.h Iav n,;da onan rnor HE
- ,,,;,L ~. 80, sna.,.oIas r.s,
inc ooross ,he naoes More aston
isbing than all this was Mr. Hamel
,,,ho ,,,as n,oun,od in bis soot and
- a. us :, ,ho saua sof, GRAVE
uo;o. ~ nh;oh ha had roooived mo
"Mu oh;,dran y Il Tho last t;ma !
shat, hold tbe school The order has
.on,. fron, parI;r, ,hat no,h;na hu,
carn,.r sha,l ha ,.roh, in The schools
90 AIsaoa ana Iorrain. The new
- or.;,os % uorrow Toaav l.
80. ,.., ,osson - Eronoh hoo
you % no a,,ert;vov These words
overwheImed mo An, tbe miserable