Les Rues de Paris, tome troisième / Biographies, portraits, récits et légendes

The narrative traces the life of a devout cleric who, after assuming family responsibilities, completes theological studies and ordination while supporting local charitable communities. He becomes deeply involved in founding elementary schools for disadvantaged children, organizing instructors and imposing a common discipline to improve pedagogy. The account details practical and moral difficulties: mistrust from relatives, unstable collaborators, and initial disorder among teachers and pupils. It highlights the subject's conscious sacrifices, including renouncing benefices and personal wealth to model commitment and secure the schools' survival. The portrait closes on the formation of a dedicated brotherhood and the institutional reforms that professionalized elementary Christian education.