I do not know of one French grammar that tells students that neuter verbs, which express a state as well as an action, or rather that neuter verbs which express that a _state_ is enjoyed as soon as the _action_ is over, are conjugated with _être_. A boy will understand you, and remember what you say, if you tell him: "As soon as you _have_ died, you _are_ dead. This is why the verb _mourir_, expressing the _state of being_ dead, as soon as the _action_ of dying is over, has to be conjugated with _être_." "As soon as you _have_ arrived, you _are_ arrived." "As soon as you _have been_ born, you _are_ born." "Therefore all these verbs _arriver_, _naître_, _venir_, _sortir_, _partir_, etc., are conjugated with _être_." "By this reasoning, with _courir_ (to run) you get an absurdity. 'As soon as you _have_ run you _are_ run' is an absurdity. Therefore _courir_, expressing only an action, not a state, takes _avoir_." Yes, boys will understand all that, and nothing gives them more pleasure than having their minds satisfied with a little explanatory food. I have seen rays of happy satisfaction flashing over scores of young faces as they got hold of these facts. For the same reason, reflexive verbs are conjugated with _être_, because they also express that a state is enjoyed as soon as the action is over. "As soon as you _have_ washed yourself you _are_ washed--if you have done it properly, of course." Tell the boys so, and they will laugh, and they will understand you, and they will be grateful to you. * * * * * I could give hundreds of instances in which a few explanatory words would settle grammatical facts in boys' minds; but, although I am tempted at almost every page to turn this book into a class--book, I must bear in mind that my aim is not to instruct, and pass on. IX. HOW TO BE HAPPY THOUGH A SCHOOL-MASTER.--SUGGESTIONS AND HINTS FOR THE CLASS-ROOM.--BOYS ON HISTORY AND GEOGRAPHY.--"MAXIMS" AND "WISE THOUGHTS."--ADVICE TO THOSE ABOUT TO TEACH.--"SIR," AND NOT "MOSSOO." --"FRAULEINS" AND "MADEMOISELLES."--"CHECK" YOUR LOVE FOR BOYS.--NO CREDIT.--WE ARE ALL LIABLE TO MAKE MISTAKES.--I GET AN INSIGHT INTO "STOCKS." I know masters who spend their time looking at their books with their heads downwards, and who only occasionally lift them up to say to a boisterous class: "Now then, now then!" They might as well tell the boys: "Just take a minute's rest, my dears, will you? In a moment I shall be looking at my desk again, then you will be able to go on." * * * * * Face the boys, or you will be nowhere. * * * * * Always be lively. If you once let the boys go to sleep, you will never wake them up again. Always look the same in face and person. Your moustache curtailed, your whiskers shaved, or the usual shape of your coat altered, will cause a revolution in your class.