'It ought without murmuring to pay the taxes voted by the Chambers, and to fulfil its military duties. 'It ought to respect the authority of all the agents of the Government, from the lowest to the highest, from the _garde champetre_ to the Ministers and the President of the Republic, for the agents of authority are the servants of the law, and all are chosen directly or indirectly, by the deputies of the people. '_The greater the rights of citizens, the greater their duties._ 'It used to be said, _Noblesse oblige_. This meant: a nobleman ought to behave himself better than another, to be worthy of his nobility. 'It should now be said, _Liberte oblige_. This means that a free citizen ought to behave himself better than another, in order to be worthy of liberty. 'You have the duty of putting your name upon the electoral roll at the Mairie of the Commune in which you reside. 'You have the duty of voting, and you must vote according to your conscience. 'You have not the right of being indifferent to public affairs, and of saying that they do not concern you. 'You have an interest in securing to your Commune good Municipal Councillors, who will look well after the finances, will take care of the schools, and of the roads, and attend to all wants. 'You have an interest in securing to your Department good General Councillors, who will do for the Department what the Municipal Councillors do for the Commune. 'You have an interest in nominating good Deputies and good Senators, who may make useful and just laws, choose a President of the Republic worthy of that supreme honour, and keep the Government in good ways. 'You ought to make a good choice, not merely for your own interest, but for the love of your country. '_Love those republican institutions which France has provided for herself._ 'Endeavour to make them loved, respecting the while your neighbour's opinions, and restraining yourself from all hatred and from all violence. 'The future of the Republic depends upon each of you. If each of you does his duty, it will be strong: strong enough to make our lives happy, and to restore to us one day the brothers whom we have lost--the BROTHERS OF ALSACE AND LORRAINE.' This is the conclusion of the manual. All works up to ALSACE AND LORRAINE. (The capital letters are in the original.) Is it not delightful? Is it not most truly French? We should be sorry to see a parody or parallel to this French manual introduced into our schools. At the same time we think there is something to be learnt from studying it. Our neighbours seem to have in some respect learnt better than ourselves the maxim of Horace:-- 'pueris dant crustula blandi Doctores, elementa velint ut discere prima.'