PARDON?

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 2534, 25 January 1923, Page 2

PARDON?

Wearing the white and blue tunic of' the French Navy, and the little white cap tipped with the patriotic red tassel to give the blue, white and red effect, two French sailors of the cruiser Victor Hugo, wandered along Swanson street last night sc rung fho sights of Melbourne, >..,S the ‘-Age." At the Collins -.tract corner they were suddenly espied hv a “dagger,” who being a typical “Aussie,” could not allow to slip by the opportunity to brush up his French and see whether he would again be able to woo Mademoiselle from Armentieres should he ever meet her. So with an air or camaraderie he slopped the sailors and started whal proved to be a very earnest if not very intelligible conversation. Speaking French is ease enough to one who has confidence in his capabilities as a linguist as the digger had, lmt, judging from the perplexed expression on the faces of the sailors, understanding the French ■■ spoken is an entrely different mailer. However, with many interrogative exclamations of “Pardon?” from both shies the conversation was pressed forward, and the further it was pressed the deeper grew the perplexity of all parties. Noticing this, a waggish person who was passing by intervened. “Bong swore,” lie cried cheerily. - don?” politely queried one of the Frenchmen. “Bong swore,” repeated the wag, coming to a standstill. A gleam of understanding flashed across the Frenchman’s face. “Oh, cheerio clioom,” he answered plensantiv. Immediately the little knot became parties to a new pact of sworn friendship and they gnily walked off arm in arm towards a doorway that stood invitingly open.