Chapter 11 Chapter Eleven A Supper at Dr. Sarrazan's

On September 13th, there were still a few hours before the moment when Mr. Shourza was determined to destroy the city of France, but neither the leaders nor the residents realized that the dire danger was imminent. It was seven o'clock at night. Under the shade of dense oleander and ebony, the city of France stretches gracefully at the foot of the Cascade Mountains, and the marble pier meets the gentle waves of the Pacific Ocean.The streets are carefully sprinkled and swept, and the cool breeze is blowing, a scene full of vitality and pleasing to the eye.On the lawn, the grass is lush.In the flower bed, hundreds of flowers are in full bloom, and the fragrance is in full bloom.The white house is quiet, elegant and charming, kind and lovely.The air was mild and the sky was as blue as the sea that shone at the end of the long street.

If anyone talks about this city, he will be impressed by the healthy look of the residents and the vitality in the streets.The School of Calligraphy and Painting, the School of Music, the School of Sculpture, and the library are all concentrated in the same block, offering some high-quality courses for the public, and the number of students in each class is not large, which allows each student to practice individually Opportunity.During the class break, the students walked out of the classroom, and the courtyard seemed crowded, but no one felt impatient and shouted indiscriminately.The whole scene is one of peace and happiness.

Dr. Sarrazan's house was not built in the city center, but on the shore of the Pacific Ocean.From the very beginning, the doctor took his wife and daughter Jeanne to settle down there.Their house was among the first to be built. Octave, a young man who had become rich overnight, wanted to stay in Paris, but he was alone.Because Marcel is no longer his little teacher. The two friends had hardly seen each other since they lived together in Via del Rey, Sicily.When the doctor moved with his wife and daughter to the Oregon coast, Octave was in his own right.His father wanted him to continue his studies, but he quickly forgot about them.Even, the last exam failed, while his friend Marcel was ranked first in that exam.

Before this, Marcel was like a compass to poor Octave, who was powerless to restrain himself.Since the departure of the young Alsatian, his childhood companion had at last gradually led a life of extravagant luxury in Paris.This is quite apt, for he spent his days in a four-horse buggy wandering around the Boulevard de Marigny where he lived and the racetracks on the outskirts of the town.Three months ago, Octave Sarazan did not know how to ride the few training horses he was renting, but now, in a blink of an eye, he became one of the most equestrians in France. one.He got his knowledge of this subject from a young English groom whom he employed, whose knowledge of the subject was so profound that Octave admired him.

His mornings were occupied by tailors, saddlers, and bootmakers.The evenings were spent in the little theater and in the parlor of a brand new club.The club had just opened, on the corner of the Rue Tronchet, and Octave had chosen it because his money earned him the respect of others, whereas in other places it was his virtue alone. This kind of respect cannot be earned.He felt that this environment was the ideal place for him to succeed.The strange thing is that there are all foreign names in the carefully framed list hanging in the lounge.Titles of nobility abound and you'd at least think you're in the corridors of a school of arms if you look at each one.However, if you go inside, you will think that you have entered a living ethnographic exhibition hall.All the big-nosed and yellow-skinned people of old and new lands come to party here.However, although these people of all colors dress noblely and obviously like white fabrics, they all reveal the eternal longing for the white people of the yellow race or the black race.

Octave Sarazan seemed like a young god among these "monkeys".Everyone quoted him, imitated his tie, and enshrined his judgment of things as a golden rule.And he himself was so ecstatic that he spent all his money on cards and horse races.Perhaps some members of the club, being oriental, imagined that they also had a share in the inheritance of Indian ladies.Anyway, they're good at pocketing it slowly and steadily. Because of this new life, the bond that held Octave and Marcel Brickmann was soon loosened.There was a long time between the two partners, and occasionally they exchanged a letter.One is a tireless laborer, bent on developing his intelligence to the pinnacle of perfection, while the other is a playboy, eating, drinking, and full of horse and club history. What can they have in common? where?

Everyone knows why Marcel left Paris.First, to understand Mr. Schultz's every move, because the latter has just founded Stahlstad, which is comparable to the French city, on the same independent land in the United States, and then he wants to work under the Iron King. For two years Octave lived this senseless, wanton life.Finally, he was tired of this empty life, so one day, after squandering millions of dollars, he returned to his father, which finally saved him from a more dangerous fall in spirit than in body. .Currently, he lives at his father's house in the city of France. His younger sister, Jeanne, was now a tall and graceful girl, nineteen years old.Her four years in the new country had added to her the air of an American girl to all the air of a French girl.Her mother sometimes said that she had never tasted the joys of intimacy until she had her daughter with her all the time.

As for Mrs. Sarazan, since the return of the swinger, her precious son, and her hope, she has become the happiest person in the world, because she participated in what her husband was able to do and was doing because of his great wealth. All the good deeds done. Dr. Sarrazan invited two of his best friends to dinner that evening.One was Colonel Hendon, a veteran of the Civil War who had lost an arm at Pittsburg and an ear at Sewin Oakes, and still played chess without flinching; One is Mr. Lenz, the education director of Newtown. They were talking about municipal planning, about the achievements of education, health care, mutual aid, and all kinds of related public works.

Mr. Lenz has built several elementary schools according to Dr. Sarrazan's plan, which also includes religious education.In these schools, teachers teach students in accordance with their aptitude, so that children's intelligence can be gradually developed and improved.Teachers teach children to learn to like a science first and then work hard at it, avoiding what is called "surface" knowledge, which is swallowed alive, not deeply understood, and does not enhance the human being. wisdom.And after good education, children will choose their own path in the future and walk along this path.

In such an excellent educational system, physical health is given the first place.This is because a person should be equally healthy both physically and mentally. The two complement each other and are indispensable. If the body is not good, the intelligence will also be low. Now, the city of France has reached the highest level not only in the material aspect, but also in the spiritual aspect.In some conferences, the most eminent scholars of both continents are brought together.Artists, painters, sculptors, and musicians all came to the city of France.Under the tutelage of such masters, the young men of the City of France learn that they will one day enrich this corner of American soil.

Therefore, it is conceivable that the new Athens created by this Frenchman will soon be the first of all cities. At the same time, it must be pointed out that the military education of students in middle schools is carried out at the same time as their cultural education.When young people leave school, they learn to use weapons and understand the basics of strategy and tactics. Colonel Hendon, therefore, when this was spoken of, declared that he was very pleased with all the recruits. "They are accustomed to hasty marches, to hard work, and physical exercise of all kinds," he said. "Our army is composed of all citizens, and when the time comes, they will all be well-trained, obedient and obedient. Soldiers in command." The City of France is on good terms with the neighboring states, for it helps them at every opportunity.But as soon as interests are involved, there are so many ingratitudes that Dr. Sarazan and his two friends always say: "Depend on yourself, and God will help you!" Therefore, they always hope to rely on themselves first. . Supper was over, the dessert plate had just been removed, and the ladies had just left the table, in an irrevocable Anglo-Saxon custom. Dr. Sarrazan, Octave, Colonel Hendon, and Mr. Lenz were continuing their conversation. While they were discussing the most important questions of political economy, a servant entered and handed Sarrazan the newspaper. doctor. This is the New York Herald.This venerable newspaper has always been extremely supportive of the establishment and development of the City of France, and the dignitaries of the City of France are used to looking for changes in Americans' opinions of them in this newspaper.The happy, free, and independent group of people living in this small piece of neutral land has attracted the envy of many people. If the people of France City have some supporters in America to defend them, they also have some enemies. attacking them.The New York Herald, after all, has their backs, and it continues to pay them admiration and respect. While chatting, Dr. Sarrazan tore the seal of the newspaper, and instinctively set his eyes on the first article. When he read the following passage, he couldn't help but turn pale with shock.He read it first in a low voice, then aloud, to the shock and outrage of his friends. NEW YORK, Sept. 8 -- A serious violation of human rights is about to happen.There are reliable reports that some dreadful weapons are being made in Stalstadt, with which to attack and destroy the city of France, of French origin.We do not know whether the United States can and should intervene in the strife that has led the Latin and Saxon nations to war, but we will expose this shameful indiscriminate use of force to the righteous.The city of France should hurry up and prepare for defense...

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