ENGLISH BOYS' PATRIOTISM PUT TO A SEVERE TEST.--THEIR OPINION OF
FRENCH VICTORIES.--KING LOUIS VI. OF FRANCE AND THE ENGLISH SOLDIER AT
THE BATTLE OF BRENNEVILLE.--AN ENGLISH BOY ON FRENCH WRESTLING.--YOUNG
TORY DEMOCRATS.--'IMPERIUM ET LIBERTAS.'--A PATRIOTIC ANSWER.--DUCK AND
DRAKE.
I am afraid I often put the patriotism of English boys to a severe
test.
I generally liked to place in their hands such books as would relate to
them the glorious past of France, and teach them to respect her. Let
those who do not love their country throw the first stone at me.
Bossuet's "Funeral Orations," Voltaire's "Siecle de Louis XIV.,"
D'Aubigne's "History of Bayard," Bonnechose's "Lazare Hoche," were
among my favorite text-books.
I need not say that I always avoided recommending historical books
which, like Bonnechose's "Bertrand du Guesclin," for instance, referred
to struggles between France and England. For obvious reasons, I have
always preferred reading the accounts of the battles of Cressy,
Poictiers, and Agincourt in French histories to reading them in English
ones;[12] and I imagined that Bertrand du Guesclin would not inspire in
my pupils the same admiration as he did in us French boys.
[12] _I have always been doubtful whether these battles are
properly related in histories published in England._
* * * * *
But what fiery patriots these British lads are! Why, they would like to
monopolize all the victories mentioned in history.
Bossuet's panegyric of Louis XIV. drove them frantic, half mad. Dear
little fellows! they were wriggling with pain on their seats as we were
reading: "This king, the terror of his enemies, who holds the destinies
of Europe in the hollow of his hand and strikes with awe the whole
astonished world."
"The whole world struck with awe!" that could not be. Surely Bossuet
ought to have said "with the exception of England"--a sad omission on
his part.
"Who is it Bossuet is speaking of?" once remarked a good little
patriot, on hearing this sentence.
"Louis XIV."
"Louis XIV.?"
"Yes; never heard of him?"