Nadar Elevating Photography to Art

Mr. Viennet at the rostrum. What do I say! (Mr. Laboissière, you do say the nicest things!)…. Let us be greedy... let us give the ministers the funds that they require and let's vote for repressive laws. The present legality is killing us etc. etc. The speaker has carried on in this tone for three hours and 35 minutes and no one has bothered answering him.

Un Guichet de théatre.

Mr. Viennet at the rostrum. What do I say! (Mr. Laboissière, you do say the nicest things!)…. Let us be greedy... let us give the ministers the funds that they require and let's vote for repressive laws. The present legality is killing us etc. etc. The speaker has carried on in this tone for three hours and 35 minutes and no one has bothered answering him.

Croquade Divers

Trouvé-Chauvel. Strict guardian of the Republic's finances, citizen Trouvé-Chauvel never separates himself from the treasure, even when he goes to the National Assembly. It is true that it is very easy for him to carry it over his shoulder. This minister has an obsession, which is making him quite unhappy; he wants to balance revenue with expenditure, but he cannot find the means to this end.... also, he doesn't like people saying to him: - have you found it, Chauvel?....

The Grand Stairway of the Palais de Justice

The other day, I pulled off another smart trick... I had set up a firm with a capital of ten million francs to exploit top boots in cardboard ... I had placed only eight shares worth a petty 1200 francs... I called together my eight shareholders and held forth in something like the following manner: "Ah! Good-day ye strolling gentlemen, how handsome you are, how fine you seem!" I promised them more cheese than bread, I gave them a 50% dividend, I warmed them up a bit and let them simmer... The following day they couldn't get hold of my shares fast enough, I placed all of them and at the next meeting I said: "The last time I did the books I made a mistake. I forgot to take into account the price of the cardboard and its fabrication. You must return the dividend I gave you, I'm going to hold it back... I put down nothing and kept back the r

The Grand Stairway of the Palais de Justice

Robert Macaire, sollicitor. - We've won, my dear fellow, won on every count! - And about time too. A case which has lasted ten years and has ruined me! - Better late than never! - How much did I get back in the end? - Here you are: The court awarded you 12'000 Fr, we totalled 13'500 Fr in expenses, you only owe me 1'500 Fr. - But that means I lose 1'500 Fr . - Yes, but you've won your case.

The Grand Stairway of the Palais de Justice

The Ladies' Bath. Yes, my dear, it is just the way I have the honour of telling you. I was pregnant with him for eleven months and people thought I was dropsical. Would you believe that this is already six years ago? He takes after his father, drum-major of the 6th legion. Sings the Marseillaise (national anthem) by heart and has a drink in the morning like a real fire-fighter. Oh, my little darling, come here and give your mother a kiss!