FRANCE: Language

Premier Poincaré journeyed last week to Alsace-Lorraine, the "lost provinces" which his militant patriotism did so much to regain for France. Entering many a schoolroom he sat down quietly beside the teacher, listened while children cradled in German struggled to recite in French. M. Poincaré then requested the children to recite in German and noted carefully the difference in their proficiency. Said he, at Metz: "The children grow each year more proficient in our beautiful tongue. The difference since my last visit two years ago is most marked."

Frenchmen were vexed last week...

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