Le Petomane 1857 1945

I bought this book for my brother for Christmas, and he was delighted to get it. He said he had always wanted a book about Le Petomane, he admires him so--not only for the plenitude of his gaseous emissions, but also for his musical ability with said aeriform. He didn't put it in exactly those words, but that was his intent. He said it wasn't everybody who could do what Le Petomane did, and I agree with him. My brother rates him among the top five musical entertainers of all time, a couple of places behind Ludwig van Beethoven and about 3423 spots ahead of Barbara Streisand. Le Petomane, my brother says, is proof positive that we must look east across the sea to France, France, always to France! for guidance in matters of art, cuisine, and haute couture. Furthermore, with tears in his eyes, my brother exclaimed, "Le Petomane! Oh, Monsieur!" He gets kind of emotional sometimes thinking about the French, like when he's eating French fries, or walking through French doors, or playing his French horn. Myself, I feel the same way about Lithuanians, particularly Violeta Urmana, who's no Le Petomane, I grant you, but let's give her credit for trying.

It made me laugh, it made me cry, it made me open the window.