Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-08-09
WORLD FAMOUS STORIES
BY ALPHONSE DAUDET.
THE LAST LESSON

Aiphonse Daudet. ls4o-iss7 was a French
for his Tartarian stories, his Monday
Tales" etc.
started for school that morning
very late. / was then. you must know,
a little boy In Alsace-part of that AL
SAGE and Lorraine the PruSSians took
from France in the war. I was very
much afraid I would get good scold-
ing from the master. because l knew
we were to have a lesson in particlples
and l did not know the first thing
about them.
Indeed even thought of playing
truant. It was an especially fine day
for being out of doorS-warm, bright,
with birds singing merrily and In big
field back of the saWmill / could see
some Prussian soldiers going through
interesting than any old participates,
I thought, but I resisted the tempta-
ton and went on to school.
There was a big crowd in front OF
the town hall SIS / passed: They were
reading something on the bulletin
board. 1t must be bad news: 1t always
was bad news 1t seemed. that was
posted there. I wondered what could
have happened now. But hurried on,
getting somewhat out Of breath.
As a rule. school opened with quite
a lot of confusion. and | was counting
on that to slip into my seat without
its being observed that l was a little
tardy 1 was amazed to find that the
schoolroom was quite still this partic-
ular morning, ] could see my class
mates through the window, all IN their
places and there was the master, walk
.ssf NIg
iron ruler tucked under his N-m.
l had to go right in before every
one. I'm sure l must have blu>s->>t
fiery red. You are so conspicuous at
such a time, and I felt guilt besides.
But all the master said TO me was:
Hello, little Franz. Take your place
quietly We were about to begin with
out you"
l got to my desk quickly, I assure
YOU. Everything was SO solemn. And
the master was all dressed up IN ms
best green coat. his shirt with the frills
and a little black silk cap-attire he
never wore except on prize day or
day of inspection.
But what was most surprising was
that in the back benches, usually emp
ty, some of the townspeople. long since
through school, had taken places as
though they also came to learn.
The master spoke, gravely and gently
saying:
Children, this is to be your last les
son under my instruction. An ordef
has come from Berlin that after TINS
only German can be taught IN the
schools of Alsace and Lorraine To-
morrow a new master will be here TO
teach you Today you will have your
y.
close attention"
The words fell on my ears like
thunderclap Such monsters, those
Prussiansl That must have been what
the people were reading on the bulle-
tin-board before the town hail.
My last French lesson-the words
stunned me. / hardly knew how TO
write as yet--and this was TO be the
last I'd ever learn. l was keeniy re-
gretful for not having been more con-
Scientious with the daily assignments
for not having tried more diligently
to learn TO speak and write my moth
er tongue correctly. | had been TOO
interested In a good time, and now |
should have no further opportunity.
Ii was terrible.
MY text books--the grammar that had
always been so hated by me-now SEEM
ed like old friends that ] must take
leave of forever Even the master.
who had often been cross and whom
/ had always disliked, seemed like
kindly old grandfather, and 1t was hard
to lose him. too.
Now / knew why the master bad on
his Sunday clothes, Now / knew why
the townspeople had come TO sit in the
rear benches. 1t was in honor OF THIS
last lesson in the language OF what
they regarded as their native speech
And they had come. too, no doubt,
to express their appreciation Of the
40 years teaching the master had Civ
en- to his work of instructing the young.
l was called on to reeite. But / did
not know my partieiples. Before l had
been afraid OF scoidlng. Now was
afraid. as though had been guilty OF
treason or diShonor,
I'm not going to scold you. Franz,
the master was saying. You probably
feel bad enough anyway We've all
thought that We had plenty Of time
I've been as guilty as any OF my
pupils. for I've not made you work so
hard as I should. For we see now that
the time was always too little, and the
chance viii have passed for you to
learn French.
Even your parents children, have
not been any too anxious 10 have you
learn. They have let you miss school
TO do chores. They have thought that
there were years ahead in which to
learn. But none of us can ever fore
see how quickly our chance to learn
may be taken away from us"
Then, in the fervor OF patriotic en-
thusiasn, the master went on TO tell
us about the French language. He told
us that 1t was the most beautiful and
mclodious tongue in the world, He as
slired US that 1t was also the most log
ical and the cleafest. He urges us
TO guard its words among us, TO speak
IL In secret, never to forget 1t. For even
though people may come under for