按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
le will renounce their errors of their own accord。 Are not losses the result of economical errors of every kind？ And is it not； therefore； to every one's interest to rectify them in the long run？
〃Luckily I found a tabula rasa in this district。 They have followed my advice； and the land is well cultivated； but there had been no previous errors in agriculture； and the soil was good to begin with； so that it has been easy to introduce the five…ply shift； artificial grasses； and potatoes。 My methods did not clash with people's prejudices。 The faultily constructed plowshares in use in some parts of France were unknown here； the hoe sufficed for the little field work that they did。 Our wheelwright extolled my wheeled plows because he wished to increase his own business； so I secured an ally in him； but in this matter； as in all others； I sought to make the good of one conduce to the good of all。
〃Then I turned my attention to another kind of production； that should increase the welfare rather than the wealth of these poor folk。 I have brought nothing from without into this district； I have simply encouraged the people to seek beyond its limits for a market for their produce； a measure that could not but increase their prosperity in a way that they felt immediately。 They had no idea of the fact； but they themselves were my apostles； and their works preached my doctrines。 Something else must also be borne in mind。 We are barely five leagues from Grenoble。 There is plenty of demand in a large city for produce of all kinds； but not every commune is situated at the gates of a city。 In every similar undertaking the nature； situation； and resources of the country must be taken into consideration； and a careful study must be made of the soil； of the people themselves； and of many other things； and no one should expect to have vines grow in Normandy。 So no tasks can be more various than those of government； and its general principles must be few in number。 The law is uniform； but not so the land and the minds and customs of those who dwell in it； and the administration of the law is the art of carrying it out in such a manner that no injury is done to people's interests。 Every place must be considered separately。
〃On the other side of the mountain at the foot of which our deserted village lies； they find it impossible to use wheeled plows； because the soil is not deep enough。 Now if the mayor of the commune were to take it into his head to follow in our footsteps； he would be the ruin of his neighborhood。 I advised him to plant vineyards； they had a capital vintage last year in the little district； and their wine is exchanged for our corn。
〃Then； lastly； it must be remembered that my words carried a certain weight with the people to whom I preached； and that we were continually brought into close contact。 I cured my peasants' complaints； an easy task； for a nourishing diet is； as a rule； all that is needed to restore them to health and strength。 Either through thrift； or through sheer poverty； the country people starve themselves； any illness among them is caused in this way； and as a rule they enjoy very fair health。
〃When I first decided to devote myself to this life of obscure renunciation； I was in doubt for a long while whether to become a cure； a country doctor； or a justice of the peace。 It is not without reason that people speak collectively of the priest； the lawyer； and the doctor as 'men of the black robe'so the saying goes。 They represent the three principal elements necessary to the existence of societyconscience； property； and health。 At one time the first； and at a later period the second； was all…important in the State。 Our predecessors on this earth thought； perhaps not without reason； that the priest； who prescribed what men should think； ought to be paramount； so the priest was king； pontiff； and judge in one； for in those days belief and faith were everything。 All this has been changed in our day； and we must even take our epoch as we find it。 But I； for one； believe that the progress of civilization and the welfare of the people depend on these three men。 They are the three powers who bring home to the people's minds the ways in which facts； interests； and principles affect them。 They themselves are three great results produced in the midst of the nation by the operation of events； by the ownership of property； and by the growth of ideas。 Time goes on and brings changes to pass； property increases or diminishes in men's hands； all the various readjustments have to be duly regulated； and in this way principles of social order are established。 If civilization is to spread itself； and production is to be increased； the people must be made to understand the way in which the interests of the individual harmonize with national interests which resolve themselves into facts； interests； and principles。 As these three professions are bound to deal with these issues of human life； it seemed to me that they must be the most powerful civilizing agencies of our time。 They alone afford to a man of wealth the opportunity of mitigating the fate of the poor； with whom they daily bring him in contact。
〃The peasant is always more willing to listen to the man who lays down rules for saving him from bodily ills than to the priest who exhorts him to save his soul。 The first speaker can talk of this earth； the scene of the peasant's labors； while the priest is bound to talk to him of heaven； with which； unfortunately； the peasant nowadays concerns himself very little indeed； I say unfortunately； because the doctrine of a future life is not only a consolation； but a means by which men may be governed。 Is not religion the one power that sanctions social laws？ We have but lately vindicated the existence of God。 In the absence of a religion； the Government was driven to invent the Terror； in order to carry its laws into effect； but the terror was the fear of man； and it has passed away。
〃When a peasant is ill； when he is forced to lie on his pallet； and while he is recovering； he cannot help himself； he is forced to listen to logical reasoning； which he can understand quite well if it is put clearly before him。 This thought made a doctor of me。 My calculations for the peasants were made along with them。 I never gave advice unless I was quite sure of the results； and in this way compelled them to admit the wisdom of my views。 The people require infallibility。 Infallibility was the making of Napoleon； he would have been a god if he had not filled the world with the sound of his fall at Waterloo。 If Mahomet founded a permanent religion after conquering the third part of the globe； it was by dint of concealing his deathbed from the crowd。 The same rules hold good for the great conqueror and for the provincial mayor； and a nation or a commune is much the same sort of crowd； indeed； the great multitude of mankind is the same everywhere。
〃I have been exceedingly firm with those whom I have helped with money； if I had not been inflexible on this point； they all would have laughed at me。 Peasants； no less than worldlings； end by despising the man that they can deceive。 He has been cheated？ Clearly； then； he must have been weak； and it is might alone that governs the world。 I have never charged a penny for my professional advice； except to those who were evidently rich people； but I have not allowed the value of my services to be overlooked at all； and I always make them pay for medicine unless the patient is exceedingly poor。 If my peasants do not pay me in money； they are quite aware that they are in my debt； sometimes they satisfy their consciences by bringing oats for my horses； or corn； when it is cheap。 But if the miller were to send me some eels as a return for my advice； I should tell him that he is too generous for such a small matter。 My politeness bears fruit。 In the winter I shall have some sacks of flour for the poor。 Ah！ sir； they have kind hearts； these people； if one does not slight them； and to… day I think more good and less evil of them than I did formerly。〃
〃What a deal of trouble you have taken！〃 said Genestas。
〃Not at all；〃 answered Benassis。 〃It was no more trouble to say something useful than to chatter about trifles； and whether I chatted or joked； the talk always turned on them and their concerns wherever I went。 They would not listen to me at first。 I had to overcome their dislikes； I belonged to the middle classesthat is to say； I was a natural enemy。 I found the struggle amusing。 An easy or an uneasy consciencethat is all the difference that lies between doing well or ill； the trouble is the same in either case。 If scoundrels would but behave themselves properly； they might be millionaires instead of being hanged。 That is all。〃
〃The dinner is growing cold； sir！〃 cried Jacquotte； in the doorway。
Genestas caught the doctor's arm。
〃I have only one comment to offer on what I have just heard；〃 he remarked。 〃I am not acquainted with any account of the wars of Mahomet； so that I can form no opinions as to his military talents； but if you had only watched the Emperor's tactics during the campaign in France； you might well have taken him for a god； and if he was beaten on the field of Waterloo； it was because h