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PREFACE

THE following collection of short stories contains material which is absolutely new; the stories are from the pens of the most popular writers of the day, and it is hoped that a favorable reception will be given them by all who are interested in French.

The collection, as a whole, gives an excellent example of the French language as it is spoken and written to-day. The stories are all fairly easy, adapted to second-year reading, and even to third-year classes in preparatory schools and to first-year students in the higher institutions. The notes are intended to elucidate the more unusual grammatical difficulties and to explain the historical references.

At the end of the volume are to be found free adaptations in English of the French text; the idea of these paraphrases is to give an ease and freedom of expression to the pupil, by leaving the grammatical drill as such aside, and to cultivate his confidence in himself and his ability to turn his English thoughts into French. According to the editor's experience nothing equals such translations, based upon known texts, and often repeated until they are learned; nor has any better way been found, it seems, to enlarge the student's diction, and to bring him, by easy stages, to a realization of the beauty, conciseness, and elegance of the French language.

H. A. P.