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of the fourth century； that of the seignories is Gothic and of the
ninth century； one structure dates from the Capetians； another from
the Valois； and each bears the character of its date。 Because each has
been built for itself and with no regard to the others； adapted to an
urgent service according to the exigencies or requirements of time；
place； and circumstance ； afterward； when circumstances changed； it
had to adapt itself to other services； and this constantly from
century to century； under Philippe le Bel； under Louis XI。； under
Francis I。； under Richelieu； under Louis XIV。； through constant
revision which never consists of entire destruction； through a series
of partial demolitions and of partial reconstructions； in such a way
as to maintain itself； during the transformation； in conciliating；
well or ill； new demands and rooted habits； in reconciling the work of
the passing generation with the works of generations gone before。 …
The central seignory itself is merely a donjon of the tenth century； a
military tower of which the enclosure has extended so as to embrace
the entire territory； and of which the other buildings； more or less
incorporated with it； have become prolongations。 … A similar medley of
constructions … disfigured by such mutilations； adjuncts； and patches；
a pell…mell so complicated with such incongruous bits and fragments …
can be comprehended only by antiquaries and historians； ordinary
spectators… … the public … pronounce it absurd； it finds no favor with
that class of reasoners who； in social architecture as in physical
architecture； repudiate disorder； posit theories； deduce consequences；
and require that every work shall proceed from the application of a
simple idea。
And worse still； not only is good taste offended but； again； good
sense often murmurs。 Practically； the edifice fails in its object；
for； erected for men to dwell in； it is in many places scarcely
habitable。 Because it endures it is found superannuated； ill…adapted
to prevailing customs ； it formerly suited； and still suits； the
feudal； scattered； and militant way of living； hence it no longer
suits the unity and repose of modern life。 New…born rights obtain no
place in it alongside of established rights； it is either not
sufficiently transformed or it has been transformed in an opposite
sense； in such a way as to be inconvenient or unhealthy； badly
accommodating people who are useful and giving good accommodations to
useless people； costing too much to keep up and causing discomfort and
discontent to nearly all its occupants。 … In France； in particular；
the best apartments； especially that of the King； are for a century
past too high and too large； too sumptuous and too expensive。 Since
Louis XIV。 these have imperceptibly ceased to be government and
business bureaus； they have become in their disposition； decoration；
and furnishing； saloons for pomp and conversation； the occupants of
which； for lack of other employment； delight in discussing
architecture and in tracing plans on paper for an imaginary edifice in
which everybody will find himself comfortable。 Now； underneath these；
everybody finds himself uncomfortable； the bourgeoisie in its small
scanty lodgings on the ground…floor and the people in their holes in
the cellar； which are low and damp； wherein light and air never
penetrate。 Innumerable vagabonds and vagrants are still worse off；
for； with no shelter or fireside； they sleep under the stars； and as
they are without anything to care for； they are disposed to pull
everything down。 … Under the double pressure of insurrection and
theory the demolition begins； while the fury of destruction goes on
increasing until nothing is left of the razed edifice but the soil it
stood on。
The new one rises on this cleared ground and； historically as well as
structurally； it differs from all the others。 … In less than ten years
it springs up and is finished according to a plan which； from the
first day； is definite and complete。 It forms one unique； vast；
monumental block； in which all branches of the service are lodged
under one roof； in addition to the national and general services
belonging to the public power； we find here others also； local and
special； which do not belong to it； such as worship； education；
charity； fine arts； literature； departmental and communal interests；
each installed in a distinct compartment。 All the compartments are
ordered and arranged alike； forming a circle around the magnificent
central apartment； with which each is in communication by a bell； as
soon as the bell rings and the sound spreads from division to sub…
division； the entire service； from the chief clerk down to the lowest
employee； is instantly in motion； in this respect the arrangement； as
regards despatch； co…ordination； exactitude； and working facilities；
is admirable。＇28＇
On the other hand； its advantages and attractions for employees and
aspirants of every kind and degree are not mediocre。 There is no
separation between the stories； no insurmountable barrier or enclosure
between large and small apartments； all； from the least to the finest；
from the outside as well as from the inside； have free access。
Spacious entrances around the exterior terminate in broad； well…
lighted staircases open to the public； everybody can clamber up that
pleases； and to mount these one must clamber； from top to bottom there
is no other communication than that which they present。 There is no
concealed and privileged passage； no private stairway or false door；
glancing along the whole rectilinear； uniform flight； we behold the
innumerable body of clerks； functionaries； supernumeraries； and
postulants； an entire multitude； ranged tier beyond tier and
attentive； nobody advances except at the word and in his turn。 …
Nowhere in Europe are human lives so well regulated； within lines of
demarcation so universal； so simple； and so satisfactory to the eye
and to logic： the edifice in which Frenchmen are henceforth to move
and act is regular from top to bottom； in its entirety as well as in
its details； outside as well as inside； its stories； one above the
other； are adjusted with exact symmetry； its juxtaposed masses form
pendants and counterpoise； all its lines and forms； every dimension
and proportion； all its props and buttresses combine； through their
mutual dependencies； to compose a harmony and to maintain an
equilibrium。 In this respect the structure is classic； belonging to
the same family of productions which the same spirit； guided by the
same method； had produced in Europe for the previous one hundred and
fifty years。＇29＇ Its analogues； in the physical order of things； are
the architectural productions of Mansard； Le Notre； and their
successors； from the structures and gardens of Versailles down to and
embracing the Madeleine and the Rue de Rivoli。 In the intellectual
order； its analogues consist of the literary forms of the seventeenth
and eighteenth centuries； the superb oratorical prose and correct；
eloquent poetry； especially epics and tragedies； including those still
manufactured according to rule about the year 1810。 It corresponds to
these and forms their pendant in the political and social order of
things； because it emanates from the same deliberate purpose。 Four
constitutions； in the same style； preceded it； but these were good
only on paper； while this one stands firm on the ground。 For the first
time in modern history we see a society due to ratiocination and； at
the same time； substantial； the new France； under these two heads； is
the masterpiece of the classic spirit。
V。 Modeled after Rome。
Its analogue in the antique world。 … The Roman State from Diocletian
to Constantine。 … Causes and bearing of this analogy。 … Survival of
the Roman idea in Napoleon's mind。 … The new Empire of the West。
Nevertheless； if we go back in time； beyond modern times； beyond the
Middle Ages； as far as the antique world； we encounter during the
Roman emperors Diocletian's and Constantine's era another monument
whose architecture； equally regular； is developed on a still grander
scale： back then we are in the natal atmosphere and stand on the natal
soil of the classic spirit。 … At this time； the human material； more
reduced and better prepared than in France； existed similarly in the
requisite condition。 At this date； we likewise see at work the
prearranging reasoning…faculty
* which simplifies in order to deduce；
* which leaves out historic customs and local diversities；
* which considers the basic human being；
* which treats individuals as units and the people as totals；
* which forcibly applies its general outlines to all special lives；
and
* which glories in constituting； legislating； and administering by
rule according to the measurements of square and compass。
At this date； in effect； the turn of mind； the talent； the ways of the
Roman archite