three times in France: the first lasted from 1792 until Napoleon I
became Emperor in 1804; the second extended from the fall of King Louis
Philippe in 1848 until the _coup d'etat_ of 1851; the third and present
Republic was proclaimed on September 4, 1870 (the allusion in the text
is to the last).

186.--14. au chateau. That is, _au chateau du Louvre_, the
former residence of the French kings.

23. Port' siou p'ait. (_Ouvrez la_) _porte s'il vous plait_.

187.--12. sur les fortifications. The reference is to the
walls around Paris, formerly used as fortifications; the type of the
quarter is described in the text.

191.--19. ayez pas peur. The popular omission of _ne_ has
already been noted (note to p. 64, l. 19), as well as the other popular
phrases which follow.

192.--14. j'ai ete faire. The use of _etre_ for _aller_
when followed by an infinitive is inelegant, though the construction is
sometimes used by good writers.

195.--24. medaille. The reference is to the military
medal, conferred for meritorious military service (instituted in 1852).

THEOPHILE GAUTIER Tarbes, 1811--Paris, 1872

Born in Gascony, Gautier was educated, partly in his native town, partly
at the Lycee Charlemagne in Paris. Here he became a friend of Gerard de
Nerval, who was of such influence on the later decadent school. He was
a friend of the Romanticist, Victor Hugo, and the typical red waistcoat
which he wore at the first presentation of Hernani has become almost
historic. In 1830 he published a volume of verse, and two years later
_Albertus_ in the extreme Romantic style. A novelist and poet, he
traveled extensively and embodied his experiences and impressions in
many works on travel and art criticism. His work is characterized by a
remarkable esthetic appreciation, an almost flawless, ornate style, and
a strong tendency toward the fantastic. Faguet says of him: "Hldquo;He knew all
the resources of the French language and style." He stands above all for
form (cf. his poem, _L'Art_).

Important works: _Poesies_ (1830), _Albertus_ (1832), _Mademoiselle de
Maupin_ (1835), _Fortunio_ (1838), _Les Grotesques_ (1844), _Avatar and
Jettatura_ (1857), _Emaux et Camees_ (1858), _Le Roman de la Momie_
(1858), _Le Capitaine Fracasse_ (1863), besides descriptions of his
travels.

Edition: Charpentier, in 34 vols.

LA MILLE ET DEUXIEME NUIT

The title is borrowed from the _Mille et Une Nuits_, translated into
French by Galland (1704)