Read Ebook: John Bull Junior; or French as She is Traduced by O Rell Max Eggleston George Cary Author Of Introduction Etc

Font size: 10 px 15 px 20 px 25 px 30 px 35 px

Background color: BlackWhiteGrayLight GrayDark GrayDim Gray

Text color: BlackWhiteGrayLight GrayDark GrayDim Gray

Apply/Save settings

Ebook has 931 lines and 65508 words, and 19 pages

John Bull, Junior

MAX O'RELL

John Bull, Junior

FRENCH AS SHE IS TRADUCED

WITH A PREFACE BY GEORGE C. EGGLESTON

CASSELL & COMPANY, LIMITED 104 & 106 FOURTH AVENUE, NEW YORK

PREFACE

It must be that a too free association with American men of letters has moved the author of this book to add to his fine Gallic wit a touch of that preposterousness which is supposed to be characteristic of American humor.

For proof of this, I cite the fact that he has asked me to introduce him upon this occasion. Surely there could be no more grotesque idea than that any word of mine can serve to make Max O'Rell better known than he is to the great company of American readers.

Have not the pirate publishers already introduced him to all Americans who care for literature? Have not their translators done their best, not only to bring his writings to the attention of readers, but also to add to the sparkle and vivacity of his books by translating into them many things not to be found in the French originals? These generous folk, who have thus liberally supplemented his wit with flashes of their own stupidity, have treated his text after the manner of a celebrated Kentuckian of whom it was written that his love of truth was so great that he gave his entire time and attention to the task of ornamenting and adding to it.

But with all their eagerness to render interested service to a distinguished man of letters who was not then here to look after his own affairs, the pirates missed this, the best of his books; and finding that no surreptitious edition of it has appeared in this country, the author has felt himself privileged to re-write it and make such changes in it and additions to it as his own judgment has suggested without the prompting of voluntary assistants, and even to negotiate with a publisher for the issue of an edition on his own account.

With a tremor of apprehension, we reflect that Max O'Rell's period of observation among ourselves will presently end, and that when he comes to record the result in his peculiar fashion, we are likely to echo that school-boy's plaint. But at any rate we shall know our own features better after we have contemplated them in his mirror; and, meantime, those of us who have enjoyed his acquaintance are disposed earnestly to hope that a guest whom we have learned to esteem so warmly may not think quite so ill of the American character as the barbaric condition of our laws respecting literary property would warrant.

GEORGE CARY EGGLESTON.

NEW YORK, February, 1888.

INTRODUCTION.

To write a book in a foreign tongue is risky, and I had better at once ask for indulgence.

The many scenes and reminiscences belong to England, and, if translated into French, the anecdotes and conversations would lose much of whatever flavour and interest there may be in them.

This is my reason for not having written this book in French. Let my reason be also my apology.

If any of my readers should feel inclined to think my review of British school-boys somewhat critical, let them take it for granted that when I was a boy I was everything that was good.

Now, gentle American Critic, whose magnanimity is proverbial, before thou abusest this little book, reflect how thou wouldst feel if thy Editor were to bid thee write thy criticism in French.

MAX O'RELL.

PAGE

Preface,

Introduction,

I am Born.--I am Deeply in Love.--I wish to be an Artist, but my Father uses strong Argument against it.--I produce a dramatic Chef-d'oeuvre.--Parisian Managers fail to appreciate it.--I put on a beautiful Uniform.--The Consequence of it.--Two Episodes of the Franco-Prussian War.--The Commune explained by a Communist.--A "glorious" Career cut short.--I take a Resolution and a Ticket for London, 1

EXTRACTS FROM THE DIARY OF A FRENCHMAN IN SEARCH OF A SOCIAL POSITION IN ENGLAND.

Arrival at Charing Cross.--I have Nothing to declare to the Exciseman but Low Spirits.--Difficulty in finding a comfortable Residence.--Board and Lodging.--A House with Creepers.--Things look Bad.--Things look Worse.--Things look cheerful, 15

I make the acquaintance of Public School Boys.--"When I was a little Boy."--An Awful Moment.--A Simple Theory.--I score a Success, 34

Schoolboys I have met.--Promising Britons.--Sly Boots.--Too Good for this World.--"No, thanks, we makes it."--French Dictionaries.--A Naughty Boy.--Mothers' Pets.--Dirty, but Beautiful.--John Bully.--High Collars and Brains.--Dictation and its Trials.--Not to be taken in.-- Unlucky Boys.--The Use of Two Ears.--A Boy with One Idea.--Master Whirligig.--The Influence of Athletics.--A Good Situation.--A Shrewd Boy of Business.--Master Algernon Cadwaladr Smyth and other Typical Schoolboys, 40

French as she is Traduced.--More Grumblings.--"La Critique" is not the Critic's Wife.--Bossuet's Prose, and how it reads in English.--Nothing improves by Translation except a Bishop.--A Few French "Howlers."-- Valuable Hints on translating Unseen Passages, 72

English Boys on French Etymologies.--Why "Silence" is the only French Noun ending in "ence" that is of the Masculine Gender.--A Valuable Service rendered by the Author to his Land of Adoption.--Learned Etymologies.--Return to old Philological Methods.--Remarkable Questions.--Written and Oral Examinations.--A Kind Examiner.--How long would it take the Moon to Fall to the Earth?--How many Yards of Cloth it takes to cover an Ass, 80

English Boys on French Composition.--"Go ahead" is not in French "Allez une T?te."--How Boys set about French Composition.--A Written Proof of their Guilt.--How Large Advertisements can help them.--A Stumbling-Block cleared away, 90

Suggestions and Hints for the Class Room.--Boys on History and Geography.--"Maxims" and "Wise Thoughts."--Advice to those about to Teach.--"Sir," and not "Mossoo."--"Frauleins" and "Mademoiselles."-- Check your Love for Boys.--No Credit.--We are all liable to make Mistakes.--I get an insight into "Stocks," 95

Old Pupils.--Acquaintances renewed.--Lively Recollections revived.--It is easier to Teach French than to Learn it.--A Testimonial refused to a French Master.--"How de do?"--"That's What-d'ye-call-him, the French Master," 121

Debating Societies.--A Discussion on the Pernicious Use of Tobacco.-- School Magazines in France and England.--A Business-like Little Briton.--An Important Resolution passed unanimously.--I perform an Englishman's Duty, 125

Home, sweet Home!--Boys' Opinion of the Seaside.--French and English Beaches.--Who is he at Home? What was his Grandfather?--Remarks on Swaggering.--"I thought he was a Gentleman," 128

He can not speak French, but he can read it, you know.--He has a try at it in Paris.--Nasal Sounds and accented Syllables.--How I reduced English Words to single Syllables, and was successful in the Object I had in View.--A Remark on the Connection of Words, 133

Public School Scholarships and Exhibitions.--Grateful Parents.-- Inquiring Mothers.--A Dear Little Candidate.--Ladies' Testimonials. --A Science Master well recommended, 138

The Origin of Anglomania and Anglophobia in England.--A Typical Frenchman.--Too much of an Englishman.--A remarkable French Master. --John Bull made to go to Church by a Frenchman.--A Noble and Thankless Career.--A Place of Learning.--Mons. and Esquire.--All Ladies and Gentlemen.--One Exception.--Wonderful Addresses, 148

The Way to Learn Modern Languages, 158

English and French Schoolboys.--Their Characteristics.--The Qualities of the English Schoolboy.--What is required of a Master to Win, 165

Appendix, 169

I AM BORN.--I AM DEEPLY IN LOVE.--I WISH TO BE AN ARTISTE, BUT MY FATHER USES STRONG ARGUMENT AGAINST IT.--I PRODUCE A DRAMATIC CHEF-D'OEUVRE.--PARISIAN MANAGERS FAIL TO APPRECIATE IT.--I PUT ON A BEAUTIFUL UNIFORM.--THE CONSEQUENCE OF IT.--TWO EPISODES OF THE FRANCO-PRUSSIAN WAR.--THE COMMUNE EXPLAINED BY A COMMUNIST.--A "GLORIOUS" CAREER CUT SHORT.--I TAKE A RESOLUTION, AND A TICKET TO LONDON.

But this is scarcely a "recollection" of mine.

At twelve I was deeply in love with a little girl of my own age. Our servants were friends, and it was in occasional meetings of these girls in the public gardens of my little native town that my chief chance of making love to Marie lay. Looking back on this little episode in my life, I am inclined to think that it afforded much amusement to our attendants. My love was too deep for words; I never declared my flame aloud. But, oh, what a fluttering went on under my small waistcoat every time I had the ineffable pleasure of a nod from her, and what volumes of love I put into my bow as I lifted my cap and returned her salute! We made our first communion on the same day. I was a pupil of the organist, and it was arranged that I should play a short piece during the Offertory on that occasion. I had readily acquiesced in the proposal. Here was my chance of declaring myself; through the medium of the music I could tell her all my lips refused to utter. She must be moved, she surely would understand.

Whether she did or not, I never had the bliss of knowing. Shortly after that memorable day, my parents removed from the country to Paris. The thought of seeing her no more nearly broke my heart, and when the stage-coach reached the top of the last hill from which the town could be seen, my pent-up feelings gave way and a flood of tears came to my relief.

The last time I visited those haunts of my childhood, I heard that "little Marie" was the mamma of eight children. God bless that mamma and her dear little brood!

At fifteen I was passionately fond of music, and declared to my father that I had made up my mind to be an artiste.

My father was a man of great common sense and few words: he administered to me a sound thrashing, which had the desired effect of restoring my attentions to Cicero and Thucydides.

It did not, however, altogether cure me of a certain yearning after literary glory.

Share on: WhatsApp @Hash Facebook Tweet