Little Jeanne of France Part 10

CHAPTER XIV

A DRIVE THROUGH PARIS

Through Paris in a fine motor car! How often Jeanne had seen these same sights! But now how splendid it all seemed to the little girl, as she sat beside Margot, with Pierrot firmly clasped in her hand! For Pierrot had been invited, too. I doubt whether Margot would have welcomed Jeanne as heartily without Pierrot. Pierrot was half of the performance.

They rode through Paris. They pa.s.sed the Place de la Concorde (plas de la kon-kord'), that most beautiful of city squares, where a sight not so beautiful once stood. It was here that the guillotine had stood.

It is the terrible instrument which beheaded so many people in those frightful, stormy days of old.

[Ill.u.s.tration: THEY Pa.s.sED THE PLACE DE LA CONCORDE]

The square was then called Place de la Revolution (plas de la rev-o-lu'-syon). But now the name, "Place de la Concorde,"

means "Place of Peace."

They crossed bridges. There are thirty-two bridges in Paris. Some of these are very beautiful. Curiously, the oldest of these, a bridge begun in 1578, is called Pont Neuf (pon nf), which means "New Bridge."

They pa.s.sed the Louvre (loo'-vr'), once a palace. It is now the largest museum in the world. Here such famous works of art as the Venus de Milo (ve'-nus de me'-lo) and the Mona Lisa (mo'-na le'-za) are to be seen.

[Ill.u.s.tration: THE LOUVRE--THE LARGEST MUSEUM IN THE WORLD]

The Arc de Triomphe (ark de tre'-onf') stands as a memorial to the great victories of the French general, Napoleon I. It is an arch of splendor set in the center of branching wide avenues.

[Ill.u.s.tration: THE ARC DE TRIOMPHE]

For Paris is a city noted for beauty. It was planned and built and dreamed, while most other cities, like Topsy, the colored girl, "just growed."

Paris, with its avenues lined with trees, its wide streets and s.p.a.cious parks, did not "just grow." It was a dream before it was built, and now it is that dream realized.

The little girls pa.s.sed the spot where the Bastille once stood. This was the famous prison into which people were thrown by the French kings, usually without fair trial. But one day the Parisians marched against the Bastille and burned it to the ground.

[Ill.u.s.tration: THE SPOT WHERE ONCE STOOD THE BASTILLE]

The little girls pa.s.sed the Tuileries (twel-re'), which are fairy-like gardens. They are a children's paradise, and part of the dream that Paris is.

[Ill.u.s.tration: THE TUILERIES--FAIRY-LIKE GARDENS AND CHILDREN'S PARADISE]

Margot and Jeanne watched the people sitting outside of cafes on the streets. They watched the fas.h.i.+onable strollers along the boulevards.

For Paris is well dressed, both inside and out. French cooking is an art, as is everything that these art-loving people attempt.

At the end of their happy day the little girls drove to the park. They sat upon a bench beneath shady trees and they watched a Guignol play.

They had chatted and laughed and now were the very best of friends.

Margot was a happy little girl that day. She had learned from Jeanne how to play.

"Sit still, Pierrot," scolded Jeanne softly so that only Margot might hear.

"Pierrot, you shall never come again if you do not behave!" continued Jeanne.

Margot was laughing, for she could see Pierrot bouncing up and down on the bench. Of course the other children couldn't see it, but Jeanne told Margot about it. So she could see plainly what this naughty puppet was doing.

"Oh, dear!" whispered Jeanne to Margot. "He will do something dreadful when Guignol comes on the stage. You know he cannot bear Guignol!"

There now was an ugly, red-nosed clown in the play. He had taken Pierrot's place after that day when poor Pierrot had been abandoned.

"Here comes Guignol!" exclaimed Margot.

Guignol slid upon the stage and fell flop!--on his nose. Guignol began to dance. But again he tripped over his big feet and landed puff!--on his stomach.

He stood up, grunting and groaning and puffing, and again he danced.

Margot and Jeanne watched Pierrot bouncing up and down. Jeanne had to catch Pierrot's hat each time it flew off, as it did whenever Guignol fell down on the stage.

Pierrot's hair stood up like wire, and the cap went up in the air. At least, that is what Jeanne said it did!

When the fight came, they could not hold Pierrot. He kicked and squirmed and waved his arms.

Jeanne was so shocked when his cap flew off and hit a gentleman in the eye! Margot was embarra.s.sed, too. They scolded and spanked Pierrot, but it did no good.

"He wants to be in the play," whispered Jeanne. "I have spoiled him by making him the hero, and now he cannot watch Guignol!"

The children were relieved when at last the play was over. They were then able to take the unruly puppet away and bundle him into the car.

"My child always disgraces me! But we cannot blame him," said Jeanne, shaking her head like a fond but troubled mother. "He was so abused before, and now he has discovered what a great actor he is, and what a hero!"

"Oh, but Pierrot is splendid!" answered Margot.

And pop!--went a b.u.t.ton on Pierrot's suit. His chest puffed out, and his hat flew off. The children laughed.

[Ill.u.s.tration: JEANNE AND MARGOT PLAYED IN THE CHAMPS ELYSeES]

When Margot left Jeanne at the door of Auntie Sue's Shop, she wanted to know when they should be together again. She asked when they should play more of Jeanne's stories with Pierrot.

Jeanne did not tell Margot that she would not be able to play again for many days. Work would interfere. Work was always there to stop play.

But Jeanne did not say this to Margot. Margot would not have understood.

Jeanne only told her that she hoped they would meet soon again.

So with her puppet in her arms, she stepped out of the car. She stepped out of the car and out of a different world from her own.

And Margot planned all the way home to repeat to-day's pleasures to-morrow and to-morrow and to-morrow. Little, spoiled Margot!