Volume I Part 30 (1/2)

Soain the worthy man would be seized with a furious hatred for everyone as decorated; he felt like a Socialist towards the sosome dainty provision shop--he used to ask in a loud voice:

”When shall we get rid of this wretched Government?” And his ould be surprised, and ask:

”What is the nant,” he replied, ”at the injustice I see going on around us Oh! the Coo out again and look at the shops where all the decorations were sold, and he examined all the emblems of various shapes and colors He would have liked to possess theravely at the head of a procession with his crush-hat under his arm and his breast covered with decorations, radiant as a star, a whispers and a huht to wear any decoration whatever

He used to say to himself: ”It is really too difficult for any ion of Honor unless he is soet appointed an officer of the Academy!”

But he did not kno to set about it, and spoke to his wife on the subject, as stupefied

”Officer of the Acadery ”I knohat I a about; I only want to kno to set about it You are quite stupid at tiht; I don't understand anything about it”

An idea struck him: ”Suppose you were to speak to M Rosselin, the Deputy, he ht be able to advise me You understand I cannot broach the subject to hi froht seem quite natural”

Mme Caillard did what he asked her, and M Rosselin proan to worry him, till the Deputy told him he must make a formal application and put forward his claims

”What were his claims?” he said ”He was not even a Bachelor of Arts”

However, he set to work and produced a paht to Instruction,” but he could not finish it for want of ideas

He sought for easier subjects, and began several in succession The first was, ”The Instruction of Children by ratuitous theaters to be established in every poor quarter of Paris for little children Their parents were to take theic-lantern, all the notions of hue were to be iular courses

The sight would educate the mind, while the pictures would remain impressed on the brain, and thus science would, so to say, be made visible What could be more siraphy, botany, zoology, anatomy, &c, &c, thus?

He had his ideas printed in tract form, and sent a copy to each Deputy, ten to each Minister, fifty to the President of the Republic, ten to each Parisian and five to each provincial newspaper

Then he wrote on ”Street Lending-Libraries” His idea was to have little carts full of books drawn about the streets, like orange-carts are Every householder or lodger would have a right to ten volumes a month by means of a halfpenny subscription

”The people,” M Caillard said, ”will only disturb itself for the sake of its pleasures, and since it will not go to instruction, instruction must come to it,” &c, &c

His essays attracted no attention, but he sent in his application, and he got the usual forht hi came of it

Then he ed for an intervieith the Minister of Public Instruction, and he was received by a young subordinate, who already was very grave and i the knobs of electric-bells to summon ushers, and footmen, and officials inferior to hi on quite favorably, and advised him to continue his reain

M Rosselin, the Deputy, seeave him a lot of excellent, practical advice He was decorated, although nobody knew exactly what he had done to deserve such a distinction

He told Caillard what new studies he ought to undertake; he introduced him to learned Societies which took up particularly obscure points of science, in the hope of gaining credit and honors thereby; and he even took hi at the Ministry

One day, when he came to lunch with his friend (for several months past he had constantly taken his meals there), he said to hireat favor for you The Co to intrust you with a commission

There are some researches to be made in various libraries in France”