Writer 1879: Solitary Journey in France

Chapter 119 Everyone deserves an education!
As May drew to a close, the weather in Paris began to get hot, which meant that university exams were just around the corner.

Lionel had missed nearly three weeks of classes, so he has been paying extra attention in class lately, especially to the dry Latin, which he dares not slack off on.

Being able to defeat Le Figaro single-handedly does not equate to being able to defeat the Sorbonne's final exam.

He wasn't particularly interested in this stuff to begin with, and if it weren't for the foundation he'd built up over the past two years of hard work, he would have surrendered by now.

In addition, the professors' impressions are also particularly important, because the final exams for the academic year include not only written tests but also oral tests.

This is a tradition of "academic debate" and "rebuttal" originating from the Middle Ages, which is not only a test but also a public academic performance.

Students must answer the examiners' questions on the spot, demonstrating their immediate thinking and debating skills.

Higher education in this era emphasizes memorizing classics and precise citations, and oral examinations can directly verify whether students can accurately repeat and explain without textbooks.

Graduates from elite universities like the Sorbonne often go on to work in law, politics, academia, or the clergy, all of which require the ability to speak in public.

Oral exams are often held in semi-public settings, with other candidates, teaching assistants, and students in attendance, and even well-known figures observing.

If you don't perform well, it's no different from being executed on the spot.

Although Lionel is considered "the conscience of the Sorbonne," the professor generally won't make things difficult for him. However, if he goes too far, the tabloids might write big headlines like, "Doesn't the Sorbonne's conscience hurt?"

That noon, as usual, Lionel took out a lunchbox from his bag. Today, Petty had prepared a baguette for him filled with duck floss and fig jam.
The meat was thinly sliced ​​cold roasted lamb leg, served with mustard seed sauce; the vegetables were a salad with tender lettuce leaves, sliced ​​white mushrooms, and walnuts.
The dessert was plum pie, along with a small bottle of mint-flavored syrup.

The students were used to it, but they could only drool as they ate at public restaurants or went home.

Albert moved closer to him, also holding a food box, but larger and more exquisite than Lionel's, with a porcelain image of a Greek mythological figure inlaid on the lid.

Albert opened the food box, inside were golden brioche rolls, accompanied by slices of duck breast, smoked salmon, roasted quail, and artichoke heart salad.

In addition, there was chocolate as dessert, and a small bottle of champagne.

Lionel glanced at it and laughed: "Which restaurant did you order this from?"

Albert blushed and protested, "This was prepared for me by our family cook! You're just jealous! Jealous that my dishes are more sophisticated!"

Lionel's smile remained unchanged: "I guess... this is 'Ledoyan'? Or maybe 'Rish Café'?"

Both of these are well-known mid-to-high-end restaurants near the Sorbonne, and are also the restaurants Albert likes to go to when he entertains guests.

In particular, "Ledoyan" is famous for its roasted quail, and this dish is found in Albert's lunchbox.

Albert's face turned red, but he didn't get angry in the end. Seeing that no one else was around, he muttered under his breath, "Ledoyan".

Lionel still smiled: "Not cheap, is it? I'd guess at least 4 francs?"

Restaurants in Paris don't usually serve boxed meals, so Albert would certainly pay a hefty price if he asked for a separate serving.

Albert turned his head away, not wanting to pay attention to Lionel.

Lionel ate a piece of bread, took a sip of mint syrup, and then said to Albert, "I will attend Count Rohan's ball!"

Albert turned around in surprise: "Really? It's been so many days, I thought you would refuse..." Lionel explained: "Count Rohan is assisting Minister Ferry in promoting the policy of free primary education - I think it's great! Everyone should receive an education, regardless of their family background, whether they are boys or girls."

Even children from poor families shouldn't have to become apprentices at the age of eight, only to be exploited by workshop owners, with one in five dying or becoming disabled before the age of eighteen.

Lionel's face flushed slightly as he said these words, after all, he had a 10-year-old child laborer in his family.

In this era, girls' education mostly relied on convent schools, charitable schools, or private family tutors; public schools implemented separate classes for boys and girls, but very few places were reserved for girls.

Getting Petit to attend school wasn't something he could do on his own; she had parents, and the school registration had to be done by relatives, and only taxpayers registered in Paris could do it.

So now Lionel can only have Alice teach Petty some words every day in addition to copying, and supervise her reading.

Albert wasn't really concerned about whether poor children could go to school; what he cared about was that his father had returned to the center of power in Paris. So he loudly echoed, "Everyone deserves an education! My father thinks so too!"

The Roon family are the strongest supporters of free primary education! May those bastards who discriminate against ordinary people and the poor go to hell!

Lionel: "..."

Albert extended his hand to Lionel: "Welcome to the Rohan family ball, on the first Saturday of June, at 10 p.m., at 77 Champs-Élysées!"
This will be the last grand ball in Paris before the height of summer! Leon, believe me, you'll love it!

Balls in Paris are mostly held in the cold winter and spring, usually starting at 10 pm and ending before 2 am. If you want to extend the time, you need to report to the police.

Lionel nodded, indicating that he understood.

Albert gave a knowing smile: "Remember to bring your dance partner!"

Lionel was taken aback: "Is it necessary to bring a dance partner?"

Albert was taken aback: "How can you dance without a partner? Four-part dances, polkas, waltzes all require a partner."

Lionel was even more perplexed: "Do I really have to dance?"

The only ball he had ever attended before was a masquerade ball hosted by Baroness Alexievna, but that was more like a large cosplay party, with no mandatory requirements for dance partners.

He thought that this time he could get away with just drinking some champagne and red wine in the shadows and exchanging a few words with people.

Albert looked enlightened – due to his family background, Lionel had never attended such high society balls and was completely unaware of these rules.

However, he wouldn't laugh at Lionel now, since he was the guest he had invited, and if Lionel embarrassed himself at the ball, he would also lose face.

Albert touched his forehead, looking quite embarrassed: "Attending a ball and not dancing is a very impolite thing to do."

Lionel shrugged: "I only know the simplest dance steps, the kind you dance in public squares during festivals..."

Albert patted his chest and said, "Leave it to me! There are still two weeks! I can have Miss Odette de Villere, the etiquette teacher from the Roon family, teach you the basic dance steps and the ball's flow."

She's the most elegant and patient etiquette teacher I've ever met. In just two lessons, you can learn a polka or a galop. As for dance partners…

Albert's eyes gleamed, and he gave a mischievous smile: "Then you'll have to solve it yourself, Leon..."

(End of this chapter)