occupation for the purpose of teaching poor little girls that it is good to be virtuous, honest, and grateful, and that Heaven rewards those who do rightly.  That was their occupation, poor simple souls, and you have sent them to Saint Lazare for that.  You should have chosen another prison, for their presence must be disagreeable to the usual female denizens of the place.  But there, or elsewhere, they do not complain; they only ask for a prayer-book and a wooden crucifix.  Come, Citizen Delegate of the ex-Prefecture, one little concession, and unless the future of the Republic is likely to be compromised by so doing, give them a cross.  A cross is only two pieces of wood placed one on the other.  I promise you there will be wood enough in the forest the day honest men make up their minds to exercise their muscles on your backs, you bullying slave-drivers!

LXXVIII.

After Bergeret came Cluseret; after Cluseret, Rossel.  But Rossel has just sent in his resignation.  My idea is, that we take back Cluseret, that we may have Bergeret, and so on, unless we prefer to throw ourselves into the open arms of General Lullier.  The choice of another general for the defence of Paris is however no business of mine; and the Commune, a sultan without a favourite, may throw his handkerchief if he pleases, to the tender Delescluze, as some say he has the intention—­I have not the least objection.  Why should not Delescluze[81] be an excellent general?  He is a journalist, and what journalist does not know more about military matters than Napoleon I., or Von Moltke himself?  In the meantime we are in mourning for our third War Delegate, and we shall no longer see Rossel on his dark bay, galloping between the Place Vendome and the Fort Montrouge.  He has just written the following letter to the members of the Commune:—­

[Illustration:  QUELLE GOURMANDE!  Paris at Table

—­Waiter—­Two or three more stuffed generals!

—­We are out of them.

—­Very well, then a dozen colonels in caper sauce.

—­A Dozen?—­Yes!  Directly!!]

“CITIZENS, MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNE,—­Having been charged by you with the War Department, I feel myself no longer capable of bearing the responsibility of a command wherein every one deliberates, and no one obeys.

“When it was necessary to organise the artillery, the Central Committee of Artillery deliberated, but nothing was done.  After a month’s revolution, that service is only carried on, thanks to the energy of a very small number of volunteers.

    “On my nomination to the Ministry, I wanted to further the search
    for arms, the requisition of horses, and the pursuit of refractory
    citizens; I asked help of the Commune.

    “The Commune deliberated, but passed no resolutions.