This statue by Mercié represents an Alsatian woman seizing the gun of a dying soldier, and symbolizes the defense of Belfort in the FrancoGerman war of 1870. The statue has additional interest in the light of the events of the Great War. PREFACE For many years Chardenal's Complete French Course has been the most popular and the most successful of the many textbooks for elementary instruction in French. Its success is owing largely to its simplicity and its thoroughness. In revising the book for a new edition the editor has endeavored to retain both of these excellent qualities, and to make the book still more acceptable by the following changes. The order of presentation has been altered so as to secure from the outset greater variety in the exercises. Among many other changes may be mentioned the early introduction of verbs and their presentation by tenses instead of by conju gations; the treatment of verbs in -oir as regular verbs of the third conjugation and those in re as regular verbs of the fourth; the early introduction of personal pronouns, together with the rule for the agreement of the past participle used with the verb avoir. The practical value of the vocabulary has been increased by the insertion of many words and phrases of frequent occur rence in ordinary conversation. The sentences for translation have been made lively and colloquial. To many of the lessons there have been added whole exercises consisting of questions only. These questions are intended as a basis for conversational work in the classroom, and may all be answered from the material furnished by the preceding lessons. To stimulate conversation still further, a list of expressions for classroom use has been prepared. While as a rule one topic at a time has been presented, every subject will be found completely summarized in a single lesson. The editor's thanks are due to Professor Charles H. Grandgent, of Harvard University, and to many others, for valuable criticisms and suggestions. DECEMBER, 1907. PREFACE TO THE 1920 EDITION SINCE the admirable revision by Mr. Brooks, Chardenal's Complete French Course has won many new friends and has attained an ever increasing popularity and success. It has now passed through two revisions. In the first, called the New Chardenal, the method and scope of the book remained unchanged. The exercises for translation were somewhat altered to furnish additional material for conversational work. A number of amusing stories and several full-page illustrations were added. This 1920 Edition is the latest revision. The body of the book is identical with the previous revision and the two books can be used side by side in the same class. The 1920 Edition differs from previous versions by the addition of new material. There is more connected reading and there are new illustrations. Both have to do with subjects connected with the Great War, and with changes which have taken place in France since the appearance of the previ ous edition. The new reading exercises contain a lively and spirited description of points of interest in Alsace and Lor raine and of other scenes which have derived fresh interest From their association with well-known events of recent history. MARCH, 1920. |