French word for catacombs + photos of French locks

In case you ever wondered just who gets stuck cleaning the catacombs of Paris… (Photograph taken by Michael Reeve) Very sorry for the hasty letter today (the sound file and "word of the day" will return–along with the regular edition–on Wednesday). I'm in a hurry as I need to be in Paris by 9 a.m. for three days of community service. The local authorities contacted … Continue reading French word for catacombs + photos of French locks

corvée

The drawing reads: "In the war of 1870 he drove a team instead of a camion. French 'corvée' laborers. Too old to serve in the active army and so assigned to the more unromantic uninteresting but vital work of loading camions, tending horses, or building and repairing roads back of the lines. It has been said that the first battle of Verdun was won by … Continue reading corvée