“‘Oh! well! instead of disputing any more,’ said she [it is the weasel who disputes; she talks in a high key and very fast] ’let us have the matter settled by Raminagrobis Grippeminaud.’”

The latter was a cat who lived as a devout hermit; a cat whose ways and words were smooth; a pious cat [assert the fact], warmly clothed and fat and comfortable [said with the gesture expressive of plenitude made with both arms [Illustration]; see Lesson VII.]; an umpire, expert in all cases.  Bunny Rabbit accepted him as judge, and—­they both went before his furred Majesty.

“Said Grippeminaud [the concentric state; take the attitude of one who is wrapped up in himself, head bent, shoulders warped, hands holding each other; hardly unclasp to make the sign of beckoning] to them:  ’Come nearer, my children, come nearer; [point to the ears] I am deaf; it is the result of old age.’

“They both drew nearer, suspecting nothing.  As soon as he saw the contestants within reach, [prepare the claws] Grippeminaud, the sly fellow [act the following] throwing out his paws on both sides at once, caused the two suitors to be of one mind by eating them both up.”

Delsarte’s Daughter In America.

By Adele M. Woodward.

Mme. Geraldy being asked, during her recent visit to this country, what she thought of the system of gymnastics called “Delsarte,” said (to translate literally the expressive French):  “It makes me jump!  And yet you have my father’s method,” she continued, showing two of the principal works on the subject published in this country.[9] “All that is correct (pointing to some of the charts); what more do you want?”

The trouble lies here:  Americans wanted more.  They added, they devised, they evolved from the few gestures given by the French master a whole system of movements which they called by his name, and which has become very popular in young ladies’ seminaries and young ladies’ clubs.  The name of Delsarte has been so strongly associated with this system, that to most people the word “Delsarte” without the word “gymnastics” would not mean anything.

Mme. Geraldy came to our country to tell us what the name of Delsarte means.  Delsarte never taught gymnastics.  His whole life was devoted to the study of the laws that govern expression.  His pupils were men of all professions, ministerial and legal orators, actors, singers, etc.  “The first half of his lesson,” said she, “was always devoted to theory, the second to practice.”

Mme. Geraldy is a tall, dark-haired, middle-aged woman, with an interesting face and a charming French manner.  She wears mourning for her mother, who died in 1891.

“My mother,” she said, “was a remarkable woman; she ought to be as well known as my father is.  I would rather my father were not known at all,” she continued, “than to be known as he is in your country, that is, as a professor of gymnastics.”