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g to his calculations； a man did not reach his perfect development until after completing his first century； and； in order to do this； he took the most minute care of himself。 He studied the Chinese people； celebrated for their longevity； and he sought for the best methods of maintaining what he called the equilibrium of vital forces。 When any event contradicted his theories； he found no trouble in turning it to his own advantage。
〃He was never；〃 related his daughter； Mme。 Laure Surville； in her article upon Balzac； 〃under any circumstances at a loss for a retort。 One day； when a newspaper article relating to a centenarian was being read aloud （an article not likely to escape notice in our family； as may well be imagined） he interrupted the reader； contrary to his habit； in order to say enthusiastically； 'There is a man who has lived wisely and has never squandered his strength in all sorts of excesses； as so many imprudent young people do！' It turned out； on the contrary； that this wise old man frequently became drunk； and that he took a late supper every evening； which； according to my father； was one of the greatest enormities that one could perpetrate against one's health。 'Well；' resumed my father imperturbably； 'the man has shortened his life； no doubt about it。'〃
Francois Balzac was not to be shaken in his opinions。 Furthermore； he was not satisfied with asserting them in the course of conversation； but in spite of his lack of confidence in the influence of books upon prejudiced readers （for he considered that the sole exception was the reaction against chivalry brought about by Cervantes's Don Quixote）； he wrote a number of pamphlets in which the vigour and originality of his mind are revealed。 He published successively： An Essay regarding Two Great Obligations to be fulfilled by the French （1804）； An Essay on the Methods of preventing Thefts and Assassinations （1807）； A Pamphlet regarding the Equestrian Statue which the French People ought to raise to perpetuate the Memory of Henry IV （1815）； The History of Hydrophobia （1819）； etc。 In the first of these works Francois Balzac proposed that a monument should be raised to commemorate the glory of Napoleon and the French army。 Might that not be almost called the origin of the Arc…de…Triomphe？
The singularities of Francois Balzac in no wise hurt him in the estimation of the inhabitants of Touraine。 He served as administrator of the General Hospice from 1804 to 1812； and introduced there a practical reform in providing remunerative work for the old men。 As an attache of the Mayor's office； he had the mayoralty offered him in 1808； but he refused it in order to consecrate himself entirely to the sick and convalescent。
At Tours the Balzac household led the life of prosperous bourgeois folk。 The father had acquired a house with grounds and farm lands。 The Balzacs entertained and were received in society。 People enjoyed perhaps with some secret smilesthe unexpected outbursts of the husband； and they liked him for his kindly ironies which had no touch of malice。 As for the subtle and witty Madame Laure Balzac； who had preserved all the graces of the eighteenth century； she was found delightful by all those whom she admitted to the honour of entering her circle of acquaintances。
She was a young woman of distinguished manner； with a somewhat oval face and small； delicate features； overcast at times with a shade of melancholy。 She had a somewhat distant manner which she redeemed by a gesture of charming welcome； or a gracious phrase。 She was pious； but without bigotry； a mystic whose religion was that of St。 John； all gentleness and impulse。 She read Swedenborg； St。 Martin； and Jacob Boehm。 She had an ardent and untrammelled imagination； but her character was firm。 Her decisions were promptly taken and she knew how to enforce their execution。 She was a woman of principle； she respected social rules and customs and demanded that the members of her family should observe them。
Four more children were born to this marriage； two sons and two daughters： Honore； Laure； Laurence； and Henri； all of whom had widely different destinies。 Laure became the wife of an engineer of bridges and highways； M。 Midy de la Greneraye Surville； and was intimately associated with the life of her older brother； whom she survived down to 1854； Laurence died a few years after her marriage in 1821 to M。 de Montzaigle； Henri； the youngest； went through divers ups and downs； but finding himself unable to achieve a position of independence； he finally went into exile in the Colonies。
Madame de Balzac's first son having died； as was thought； in consequence of the mother's attempt to nurse him herself； Honore was placed with a nurse in the country district outside of Tours。 He remained there until four years of age； together with his sister Laure； and it is there； no doubt； that they formed that tender and trusting friendship which never wavered。 When he returned to the paternal roof； Honore was a plump； chubby…cheeked little boy with brown hair falling in masses of curls； a contented disposition and laughing eyes。 People noticed him when out walking in his short vest of brown silk and blue belt； and mothers would turn around to say； 〃What a pretty child！〃
Honore was impulsive； with a heart overflowing with affection； but the training he received at home was rigorous and severe。 Entrusted to the hands of servants； under the high and mighty surveillance of his governess； Mlle。 Delahaye； he received from his father； who was already an old man； nothing more than an indulgent and often absent…minded affection； while； as for his mother； she carried out with great firmness her theories regarding the relation between children and parents。 She received hers each evening in her large drawing room with cold dignity。 Before kissing them she recapitulated all the faults they had committed during the day； which she had learned from the governess； and her reproofs were reinforced with punishments。 Honore never approached her without fear； repressing all his feelings and his need of affection。 He suffered in secret。 Then he would take refuge with his sister Laure； his only friend and comforter。
Before he was five years old he was sent to a day…school in Tours known as the Leguay Institution。 He had a taste for reading； indeed it was more than a taste； it was a sort of mental starvation which made him throw himself hungrily upon every book he encountered。 Otherwise； Honore was frankly a mediocre and negligent。 But concentrated in himself and deprived of the caresses which would have meant so much to him； he created a whole world out of his readings and sometimes gave glimpses of it to Laure by acting out before her dramas and comedies of his own manufacture and of which he was the hero。 His exuberance made him a good comrade； yet he also loved solitude。 When alone； he could give himself up to the fantasies born of his own imagination； and he invented his own games and used to play upon a cheap toy violin made of red wood airs which he enjoyed to the point of ecstasy and of which no one else could bear the sound。
At the age of eight years and some months； on the 22d of June； 1807； Honore entered a college school at Vendome。 It was an institution celebrated throughout the districts of central France and directed by the Oratorian Fathers。 Prior to the Revolution； cadets used to be trained there for the army； and it had preserved the military severity of its discipline。 After their admission； the pupils were never allowed outside vacations and never left its walls until their course of study was terminated。 Honore lived there until April 22； 1813；and in Louis Lambert he has described his sufferings； his hopes and the tumultuous and confused awakening of his genius； throughout those long years of convent…like imprisonment。 He had passed from the cold discipline of the family circle； which had nevertheless been tempered by an atmosphere of kindliness； to the hard and impersonal discipline of the college school。 The warm…hearted and melancholy child must needs undergo this second severe test； and he was destined to come out from it in a state of self…intoxication； a bewilderment of dreams and ideas。
The college buildings； surrounded by walls； contained everything that would seem calculated to render existence laborious and gloomy for the students。 The latter were divided into four sections； the Minions； the Smalls； the Mediums； and the Greats； to which they were assigned according to the grade of their studies。 For diversion； they had a narrow garden which they could cultivate and a cabin； they had permission to raise pigeons and to eat them； in addition to the ordinary fare。 The classrooms were dirty； being either muddy or covered with dust； according to the season； and evil…smelling as a result of crowding together within narrow spaces too many young folks who were none too clean and to whom the laws of hygiene were unknown。 The masters were either overbearing or neglectful； incapable of distinguishing the individual from the crowd and concerned only with seeing that the rules were obeyed and discipline maintained。 The pupils themselves were often cruel to each other。
It was here that Honore de Balzac formed his