Collége Charlemagne [pp. 278-283]

282 COlle'~~ Ckariemagne. LSept.
Professor Hamel's idea of education better spring, grab the seductive dangling sausage,
than that put into practice in any other and make off, followed by showers of
school I ever attended. "sacres" and stones, or a prowling gamin
There was a certain Emile, who was the would surreptitiously break off a quarter of
Professor's b?te noir. He watched him a yard of the delicious bread, as the unsusthrough a key-hole caught him at diaboli- pecting proprietor stooped down to particical tricks - then swooped down upon him, pate in a rapid wayside game of marbles;
shook him, pounded him, kicked him, and and perhaps a holder imp would softly
sometimes ending with the wonderful feat extract the flask of red wine from his
- (which set the boys to applauding vo- jacket pocket.
ciferously) of grasping him by the coat lap- The loveliest of French chapels is that of
pel and the seat of his trowsers and pitching Notre Dame des Victoires on Bush Street.
him out of the mom by way of a low win- Napoleon's fete day, August 15th, was always
dow. But as this ten-year-old tough handsomely observed here. The French
customer was a persistent truant, and in military, the Lafayette Fire Company, the
the regular habit of thrashing his feeble French Benevolent Associations, and other
mother (who was a poor laundress), brooked organizations of that nation paraded and reno gentle treatment, and was proof against paired to the church, where mass was said
incarceration in any building less secure and music of the highest order was renthan a jail, he received small sympathy. dered. The display and the toilets of the
He often roamed hatless and barefooted, ladies were of true French elegance. Four
and was liable to be seized with gypsy beautiful young ladies passed the silver
fever froni time to time -- on which occa- plates and many were the gold coins gathsions he had brilliant and diverting ways of ered in for the chapel.
making his conge'. One of them was to The College Charlemagne was at such
wait till there was an unwonted calm, and times fully represented. Several of the urthen to yell down the chimney, "Au revoir, chins officiated as altar boys, in scarlet
mes amis!" and take to his heels, skipping jackets trimmed with white lace. Their
cat4ike over the neighboring roofs, singing teacher often irreverently referred to them
Partant pour la Syrie," till he reached a in class as his pious young Christian lobsters.
place of safety. Professor Hamel was, in fact, totally irrev This unconscionable little scapegrace was erent; but Madame was firmly religious,
undoubtedly a genius by nature, and I had and insisted upon attendance at early
an ardent admiration for him, and employed Sunday mass.
much strategy to save him from many a cruel On one of the solemn occasions when his
whipping. I hoped for him an important people were in attendance at a service in
place in history; but I believe that thus far this chapel, a little incident occurred, which
he has only attained the position of sausage- was suppressed at the time, but which the
maker in the French colony. Professor afterward let out, evidently re This profession was then as now, how- garding it as too good to be kept. The
ever, a most serviceable one in the colony. children had been supplied with new prayer
Many a boy wended his way to Professor books; and as, in the course of the service,
Hamel's school with his books under one they came to a certain line in these, there
arm and under the other, for luncheon, a was suddenly an uproarious laugh, and every
long string of garlicky Bologna sausage and eye was eagerly fastened on the officiant.
a thin loaf of French bread a yard long. The priest's consternation may be imagined
Sometimes a hungry dog would make a when upon investigation he found the note;