treated to such ovations as might have honored a victorious general.
It would be a mistake to suppose that all ushers are liable to receive such treatment, or to imagine that French boys lack sentiments of courtesy and kindness. The fault is with the system and not with the boys, for often they delight to honor a respected teacher. Costly presents in the way of books are sometimes given to a favorite instructor at Christmas or New Year's, and presented with very pretty ceremony, offered by a spokesman in the presence of the roomful of students.
The professors are feared for the ex- aminations which they give once a week, the result of which is announced every Monday morning in the presence of the president and vice-president; they are also respected for their great learning and for their impartiality towards the students. Most of the men who have taught in the French lycees belong to the learned aristocracy of the country, and some of them have been leaders of French thought in their day. The great Guizot, historian; Taine, author of "The History of English Literature;" Bdmond About, novelist; Jules Simon, scholar and statesman; Gaston Boissier, the Latinist; Victor Duruy, historian; Lavisse, of the French Academy; Francisque Sarcey, great journalist and critic, of Paris; M. Hanotaux, late minister of foreign affairs — these have all been lycee professors. Such eminent edu- cators have turned out eminent pupils in all the walks and avocations of life. Poets such as Cassimir Delavinne and Alfred de Musset; playwrights, such as Augier and Sardou; great engineers, like Ferdinand de Lesseps; academicians and journalists, physicists and scientists, and scores of eminent men, in art, science and literature.
French college boys lack neither patriotism nor honor. They were as ready to quit the halls of learning and fly to their country's aid in 1870 as were the American college students in 1861 and 1898, and those who were too young for the field nobly did their duty in a way not less acceptable. For, after the great and bloody struggle with Prussia, France was left in a dilemma — two provinces gone and five billions of francs to be paid before the German troops would withdraw from her territory. At this juncture Thiers ap- pealed to France for a loan, and Franc* responded nobly. The youth were not asked— they volunteered their aid.
We college boys refused to accept the prizes which are annually distributed before vacation-time, and begged that the amount to be given be turned over to the government. We did more; out of our little monthly allowances we pledged a certain amount until the war indem- nity should be fully satisfied. About hall the pocket-money we secured from home for self-gratification we turned over monthly to our appointed treasurer — we pledged to him our honor to be prompt in remitting; and I do not recall a single instance where the pledge-money was not promptly paid in. It was an impressive sight when the treasurer went his monthly round in the classroom, collecting the dues of professors and students. The si- lence was deep — all were intently think- ing of our misfortunes and how we might retrieve what was lost. Self-abnegation rose to a high pitch. We were being schooled in self-mastery. May I not say- it has borne its fruits and that they are visible to the eye of any student of con temporary France? A joyous day it was when we read in the papers that the last penny had been paid and the last German soldier had gone home. The share of the debt that the college boys assumed was voluntary — no forced collection of it could have been made — it was a debt of honor.
French college boys have their failings, but whatever their faults may be, they are not lacking in sense of honor.
(To be continued.)
DEMOCRACY.
Come, I will make the continent indissoluble,
I will make the most splendid race thy sun ever shone upon,
I will make divine magnetic lands,
With the love of comrades,
With the life-long love of comrades.
