The Gamin Should Have His Place in the Classifications of India — Les Misérables

The body of street Arabs in Paris almost constitutes a caste. One might almost say: Not every one who wishes to belong to it can do so. This word gamin was printed for the first time, and reached popular speech through the literary tongue, in 1834. It is in a little work entitled Claude Gueux that this word made its appearance. The horror was lively. The word passed into circulation.

The elements which constitute the consideration of the gamins for each other are very various. One was greatly respected because he had seen a man fall from the top of the tower of Notre-Dame. Another, because he had prigged some lead from the statues of the Invalides. A third, because he had seen a diligence tip over. This explains that famous exclamation: What ill-luck I do have! to think that I have never yet seen anybody tumble from a fifth-story window! A peasant says of a dead wife: we poor folks die of ourselves. The brat of the faubourgs has another saying. A man condemned to death is listening to his confessor in the tumbrel. The child of Paris exclaims: He is talking to his black cap! Oh, the sneak!

A certain audacity on matters of religion sets off the gamin. To be present at executions constitutes a duty. He shows himself at the guillotine, and he laughs. He calls it by pet names. He scales walls, hoists himself to balconies, clings to chimneys. There is no festival which comes up to an execution on the Place de Greve. They hoot at the victim in order to encourage him. They sometimes admire him. Another, too small in the crowd, climbed the lantern on the quay. A gendarme frowned. Let me climb up, m'sieu le gendarme. I will not fall. I don't care if you do, retorted the gendarme. In the brotherhood, a memorable accident counts for a great deal. One reaches the height of consideration if one chances to cut one's self very deeply, to the very bone. The fist is no mediocre element of respect. One of the things the gamin is fondest of saying is: I am fine and strong, come now! To be left-handed renders you very enviable. A squint is highly esteemed.