Democratic Sentinel, Volume 22, Number 47, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 December 1898 — Not So Strange. [ARTICLE]

Not So Strange.

The amiable quality, in a parent, of such devotion to a child is believed to be worthy of all possible rewards and prizes is not peculiar to America. A story illustrating this quality is told of the Paris Conservatory—where, in addition to other accomplishments, French boys and girls are taught to “speak pieces” admirably. Somehow, at a certain graduation, the authorities of this famous school had omitted to give the first prize—at the very least—to a girl who was recognized by all her relatives as a future tragedienne of prodigious-genius. The consternation of the family at this omission was something terrible. The devoted mother began- by expressing her wrath to her intimate friends; then, finding her emotion not assuaged by this sort of complaint, she resolved to go straight to the chairman of the committee of awards at the Conservatory. She found him at home. “Sir,” she said, “I wish to have two words with you.” . > “Proceed, “I am, sir, the mother of Mademoiselle X., of the class in elocution.” “I remember the name, madam.” “Yes. Well, sir, Leonle did not receive even an honorable mention!” “She shared this misfortune with a great many others.” “That’s possible, but perhaps the others deserved it. As for Leonie, she was unjustly treated.” “Unjustly, madam?” “Yes, sir. As for you, sir, you did not listen to my daughter, for I saw you fall asleep!” “I beg your pardon, madam; if I fell asleep, it was precisely because I did listen!”—Youth’s Companion.