First comes a public schoolboy, quite proud of incidentally showing that he knows his classics: "_Sire_,-- "When you first set foot on French soil, you were pleased to take notice, at Maubeuge railway-station, of a young public schoolboy, who, not knowing your quality, was only able to give you a very respectful greeting. That young schoolboy was myself. "I realised the extent of the signal honour which Your Majesty did me when I learnt that I had received it from the sovereign of Persia, the country of Xerxes and Darius, the land whose children have filled the world with the fame of their exploits. And, descending the course of the ages, reverting to the lessons of my masters, I hailed in you 'the wise and enlightened monarch whose reign opens out so many hopes.' "Sire, I shall never forget that moment, which will probably be the only one of its kind in my life; but, if I were permitted to express a desire, I would humbly confess to Your Majesty that my greatest happiness would be to possess a collection of Persian postage-stamps, as an official token of the honour which you condescended to do me. "Deign, Sire, etc. "R. W. "_Pupil at The Lycée Faidherbe, Lille_ "(on my holidays)." The next has not yet learnt the beauties of literary style; he has less notions of form; but his ambition is more far-reaching: "_Your Majesty_,-- "I begin by begging your pardon for my presumption; but I have heard everybody say and I read in the paper that Your Majesty is greatly interested in motor-cars. I therefore thought that you must also have ridden the bicycle, which you now, no doubt, care less for; and it occurred to me that, if you happened to have an old one put by, Your Majesty might do me the honour to give it to me. "Papa and my big brother Jean go out riding on their bicycles and I am left at home with mamma, because I have not a machine and they cannot afford to buy me one. "I should be so proud to have a bicycle, given me by Your Majesty. "I shall not tell papa that I am writing to Your Majesty, because he would laugh at me, and I shall take three sous from my purse for the stamp on this letter. "I pray God not to let those wicked anarchists attack Your Majesty, to whom I offer my profound respect. "MAURICE LELANDAIS, "_aged 9½ years_, "living with his family, _Faubourg Bizienne_, "GUÉRANDE (_Loire-Inférieure_)." Another schoolboy: "VERVIERS, 3 September. "_Great King of Persia in France, Sir_,-- "I have read in the paper that you are very rich and have lots of gold. "My father promised to give me a gold watch for my first communion next year, if I worked hard at school.