mutual
criticism. That is one reason why personally I have never sought to
ignore Madame Coutant's opinion.

It goes without saying that the good soul has attributed the
participation of the United States in this war entirely to my efforts.
And the nature of the advice that I am supposed to have given President
Wilson would make an everlasting fortune for a humourist. But in spite
of it all, I am proud to belong to them; proud of being an old resident
in their quarter.

"Strictly serious people," was the opinion passed upon us by the
sacristan's wife for the edification of my new housemaid.

It is a most interesting population to examine in detail, made up of
honest, skilful Parisian artisans, _frondeurs_ at heart, jesting with
everything, but terribly ticklish on the point of honour.

"They ask us to 'hold out'," exclaims the laundress of the rue de Jouy;
"as if we'd ever done anything else all our lives!"

These people were capable of the prodigious. They have achieved the
miraculous!

With the father gone to the front, his pay-roll evaporated, it was a
case of stop and think. Of course, there was the "Separation fee,"
about twenty-five cents a day for the mother, ten cents for each child.
The French private received but thirty cents _a month_ at the beginning
of the war. The outlook was anything but cheerful, the possibility of
making ends meet more than doubtful. So work it was--or rather, extra
work. Eyes were turned towards the army as a means of livelihood.
With so many millions mobilised, the necessity for shirts, underwear,
uniforms, etc., became evident.

Three or four mothers grouped together and made application for three
or four hundred shirts. The mornings were consecrated to house work,
which must be done in spite of all, the children kept clean and the
food well prepared. But from one o'clock until midnight much might be
accomplished; and much was.

The ordinary budget for a woman of the working class consists in
earning sufficient to feed, clothe, light and heat the family, besides
supplying the soldier husband with tobacco and a monthly parcel of
goodies. Even the children have felt the call, and after school, which
lasts from eight until four, little girls whose legs must ache from
dangling, sit patiently on chairs removing bastings, or sewing on
buttons, while their equally tiny brothers run errands, or watch to see
that the soup does not boil over.

Then when all is done, when