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that they have an industry； and that they must earn their living； and they offer to sell you an old woollen stocking filled with cockchafers； or a bunch of lilacs。 These encounters with strange children are one of the charming and at the same time poignant graces of the environs of Paris。
Sometimes there are little girls among the throng of boys； are they their sisters？who are almost young maidens； thin； feverish； with sunburnt hands； covered with freckles； crowned with poppies and ears of rye； gay； haggard； barefooted。
They can be seen devouring cherries among the wheat。
In the evening they can be heard laughing。 These groups； warmly illuminated by the full glow of midday； or indistinctly seen in the twilight； occupy the thoughtful man for a very long time； and these visions mingle with his dreams。
Paris； centre； banlieue； circumference； this constitutes all the earth to those children。
They never venture beyond this。 They can no more escape from the Parisian atmosphere than fish can escape from the water。
For them； nothing exists two leagues beyond the barriers：
Ivry； Gentilly； Arcueil； Belleville； Aubervilliers； Menilmontant； Choisy…le…Roi； Billancourt； Mendon； Issy； Vanvre； Sevres； Puteaux； Neuilly； Gennevilliers； Colombes； Romainville； Chatou； Asnieres； Bougival； Nanterre； Enghien； Noisy…le…Sec； Nogent； Gournay； Drancy； Gonesse； the universe ends there。
BOOK FIRST。PARIS STUDIED IN ITS ATOM
CHAPTER VI
A BIT OF HISTORY
At the epoch； nearly contemporary by the way； when the action of this book takes place； there was not； as there is to…day； a policeman at the corner of every street （a benefit which there is no time to discuss here）； stray children abounded in Paris。 The statistics give an average of two hundred and sixty homeless children picked up annually at that period； by the police patrols； in unenclosed lands； in houses in process of construction； and under the arches of the bridges。
One of these nests； which has bee famous； produced 〃the swallows of the bridge of Arcola。〃 This is； moreover； the most disastrous of social symptoms。 All crimes of the man begin in the vagabondage of the child。
Let us make an exception in favor of Paris； nevertheless。
In a relative measure； and in spite of the souvenir which we have just recalled； the exception is just。
While in any other great city the vagabond child is a lost man； while nearly everywhere the child left to itself is； in some sort； sacrificed and abandoned to a kind of fatal immersion in the public vices which devour in him honesty and conscience； the street boy of Paris； we insist on this point； however defaced and injured on the surface； is almost intact on the interior。
It is a magnificent thing to put on record； and one which shines forth in the splendid probity of our popular revolutions； that a certain incorruptibility results from the idea which exists in the air of Paris； as salt exists in the water of the ocean。 To breathe Paris preserves the soul。
What we have just said takes away nothing of the anguish of heart which one experiences every time that one meets one of these children around whom one fancies that he beholds floating the threads of a broken family。
In the civilization of the present day； inplete as it still is； it is not a very abnormal thing to behold these fractured families pouring themselves out into the darkness； not knowing clearly what has bee of their children； and allowing their own entrails to fall on the public highway。 Hence these obscure destinies。
This is called； for this sad thing has given rise to an expression； 〃to be cast on the pavements of Paris。〃
Let it be said by the way； that this abandonment of children was not discouraged by the ancient monarchy。
A little of Egypt and Bohemia in the lower regions suited the upper spheres； and passed the aims of the powerful。
The hatred of instruction for the children of the people was a dogma。
What is the use of 〃half…lights〃？ Such was the countersign。
Now； the erring child is the corollary of the ignorant child。
Besides this； the monarchy sometimes was in need of children； and in that case it skimmed the streets。
Under Louis XIV。； not to go any further back； the king rightly desired to create a fleet。
The idea was a good one。
But let us consider the means。
There can be no fleet； if； beside the sailing ship； that plaything of the winds； and for the purpose of towing it； in case of necessity； there is not the vessel which goes where it pleases； either by means of oars or of steam； the galleys were then to the marine what steamers are to…day。 Therefore； galleys were necessary； but the galley is moved only by the galley…slave； hence； galley…slaves were required。
Colbert had the missioners of provinces and the parliaments make as many convicts as possible。 The magistracy showed a great deal of plaisance in the matter。 A man kept his hat on in the presence of a processionit was a Huguenot attitude； he was sent to the galleys。
A child was encountered in the streets； provided that he was fifteen years of age and did not know where he was to sleep； he was sent to the galleys。 Grand reign； grand century。
Under Louis XV。
children disappeared in Paris； the police carried them off； for what mysterious purpose no one knew。 People whispered with terror monstrous conjectures as to the king's baths of purple。
Barbier speaks ingenuously of these things。 It sometimes happened that the exempts of the guard； when they ran short of children； took those who had fathers。
The fathers； in despair； attacked the exempts。
In that case； the parliament intervened and had some one hung。
Who？
The exempts？
No； the fathers。
BOOK FIRST。PARIS STUDIED IN ITS ATOM
CHAPTER VII
THE GAMIN SHOULD HAVE HIS PLACE IN THE CLASSIFICATIONS OF INDIA
The body of street Arabs in Paris almost constitutes a caste。 One might almost say：
Not every one who wishes to belong to it can do so。
This word gamin was printed for the first time； and reached popular speech through the literary tongue； in 1834。
It is in a little work entitled Claude Gueux that this word made its appearance。 The horror was lively。
The word passed into circulation。
The elements which constitute the consideration of the gamins for each other are very various。
We have known and associated with one who was greatly respected and vastly admired because he had seen a man fall from the top of the tower of Notre…Dame； another； because he had succeeded in making his way into the rear courtyard where the statues of the dome of the Invalides had been temporarily deposited； and had 〃prigged〃 some lead from them； a third； because he had seen a diligence tip over； still another； because he 〃knew〃 a soldier who came near putting out the eye of a citizen。
This explains that famous exclamation of a Parisian gamin； a profound epiphonema； which the vulgar herd laughs at without prehending；Dieu de Dieu！
What ill…luck I do have！ to think that I have never yet seen anybody tumble from a fifth…story window！ （I have pronounced I'ave and fifth pronounced fift