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on a review； says to the soldiers on presenting the princess to them；
〃My boys； here is my wife。〃 There is a disposition to make people
happy and to take great delight in their gratitude。 To be kind； to be
loved is the object of the head of a government； of a man in place。
This goes so far that God is prefigured according to this model。 The
〃harmonies of nature〃 are construed into the delicate attentions of
Providence； on instituting filial affection the Creator 〃deigned to
choose for our best virtue our sweetest pleasure。〃＇18＇ … The idyll
which is imagined to take place in heaven corresponds with the idyll
practiced on earth。 From the public up to the princes； and from the
princes down to the public； in prose； in verse； in compliments at
festivities； in official replies； in the style of royal edicts down to
the songs of the market…women； there is a constant interchange of
graces and of sympathies。 Applause bursts out in the theater at any
verse containing an allusion to princes； and； a moment after； at the
speech which exalts the merits of the people； the princes return the
compliment by applauding in their turn。＇19＇ … On all sides； just as
this society is vanishing； a mutual deference； a spirit of kindliness
arises； like a soft and balmy autumnal breeze； to dissipate whatever
harshness remains of its aridity and to mingle with the radiance of
its last hours the perfume of dying roses。 We now encounter acts and
words of infinite grace； unique of their kind； like a lovely；
exquisite little figure on old Sèvres porcelain。 One day； on the
Comtesse Amélie de Boufflers speaking somewhat flippantly of her
husband； her mother…in…law interposes； 〃You forget that you are
speaking of my son。〃 … 〃True； mamma； I thought I was only speaking of
your son…in…law。〃 It is she again who； on playing 〃the boat；〃 and
obliged to decide between this beloved mother…in…law and her own
mother； whom she scarcely knew； replies； 〃I would save my mother and
drown with my mother…in…law。〃＇20＇ The Duchesse de Choiseul； the
Duchesse de Lauzun； and others besides； are equally charming
miniatures。 When the heart and the mind combine their considerations
they produce masterpieces； and these； like the art； the refinements
and the society which surrounds them； possess a charm unsurpassed by
anything except their own fragility。
III。 Personality Defects。
The failings of character thus formed。 … Adapted to one situation
but not to a contrary situation。 … Defects of intelligence。 … Defects
of disposition。 … Such a character is disarmed by good…breeding。
The reason is that； the better people have become adapted to a
certain situation the less prepared are they for the opposite
situation。 The habits and faculties that serve them in the previous
condition become prejudicial to them in the new one。 In acquiring
talents adapted to tranquil times they lose those suited to times of
agitation； reaching the extreme of feebleness at the same time with
the extreme of urbanity。 The more polished an aristocracy becomes the
weaker it becomes； and when no longer possessing the power to please
it not longer possesses the strength to struggle。 And yet； in this
world； we must struggle if we would live。 In humanity； as in nature；
empire belongs to force。 Every creature that loses the art and energy
of self…defense becomes so much more certainly a prey according as its
brilliancy； imprudence and even gentleness deliver it over in advance
to the gross appetites roaming around it。 Where find resistance in
characters formed by the habits we have just described？ To defend
ourselves we must； first of all； look carefully around us； see and
foresee； and provide for danger。 How could they do this living as they
did？ Their circle is too narrow and too carefully enclosed。 Confined
to their castles and mansions they see only those of their own sphere；
they hear only the echo of their own ideas； they imagine that there is
nothing beyond the public seems to consist of two hundred persons。
Moreover； disagreeable truths are not admitted into a drawing…room；
especially when of personal import； an idle fancy there becoming a
dogma because it becomes conventional。 Here； accordingly； we find
those who； already deceived by the limitations of their accustomed
horizon； fortify their delusion still more by delusions about their
fellow men。 They comprehend nothing of the vast world； which envelops
their little world； they are incapable of entering into the sentiments
of a bourgeois； of a villager； they have no conception of the peasant
as he is but as they would like him to be。 The idyll is in fashion；
and no one dares dispute it； any other supposition would be false
because it would be disagreeable； and as the drawing rooms have
decided that all will go well； all must go well。 Never was a delusion
more complete and more voluntary。 The Duc d'Orléans offers to wager a
hundred louis that the States…General will dissolve without
accomplishing anything； not even abolishing the lettre…de…cachet。。
After the demolition has begun； and yet again after it is finished；
they will form opinions no more accurate。 They have no idea of social
architecture； they know nothing about its materials； its proportions；
or its harmonious balance； they have had no hand in it； they have
never worked at it。 They are entirely ignorant of the old building＇21＇
in which they occupy the first story。 They are not qualified to
calculate either its pressure or its resistance。＇＇22＇＇ They conclude；
finally； that it is better to let the thing tumble in； and that the
restoration of the edifice in their behalf will follow its own course；
and that they will return to their drawing…room； expressly rebuilt for
them； and freshly gilded； to begin over again the pleasant
conversation which an accident； some tumult in the street； had
interrupted。＇23＇ Clear…sighted in society； they are obtuse in
politics。 They examine everything by the artificial light of candles；
they are disturbed and bewildered in the powerful light of open day。
The eyelid has grown stiff through age。 The organ so long bent on the
petty details of one refined life no longer takes in the popular life
of the masses； and； in the new sphere into which it is suddenly
plunged； its refinement becomes the source of its blindness。
Nevertheless action is necessary； for danger is seizing them by the
throat。 But the danger is of an ignoble species； while their education
has provided them with no arms suitable for warding it off。 They have
learned how to fence； but not how to box。 They are still the sons of
those at Fontenoy； who； instead of being the first to fire；
courteously raised their hats and addressed their English antagonists；
〃No； gentlemen； fire yourselves。〃 Being the slaves of good…breeding
they are not free in their movements。 Numerous acts； and those the
most important； those of a sudden； vigorous and rude stamp； are
opposed to the respect a well…bred man entertains for others； or at
least to the respect which he owes to himself。 They do not consider
these allowable among themselves； they do not dream of their being
allowed； and； the higher their position the more their rank fetters
them。 When the royal family sets out for Varennes the accumulated
delays by which they are lost are the result of etiquette。 Madame de
Touzel insists on her place in the carriage to which she is entitled
as governess of the Children of France。 The king； on arriving； is
desirous of conferring the marshal's baton on M。 de Bouillé； and after
running to and fro to obtain a baton he is obliged to borrow that of
the Duc de Choiseul。 The queen cannot dispense with a traveling
dressing…case and one has to be made large enough to contain every
imaginable implement from a warming…pan to a silver porridge…dish；
with other dishes besides； and； as if there were no shifts to be had
in Brussels； there had to be a complete outfit in this line for
herself and her children。＇24＇ … A fervent devotion； even humanness；
the frivolity of the small literary spirit； graceful urbanity；
profound ignorance；＇25＇ the lack or rigidity of the comprehension and
determination are still greater with the princes than with the nobles。
… All are impotent against the wild and roaring outbreak。 They have
not the physical superiority that can master it； the vulgar
charlatanism which can charm it away； the tricks of a Scapin to throw
it off the scent； the bull's neck； the mountebank's gestures； the
stentor's lungs； in short； the resources of the energetic temperament
and of animal cunning； alone capable of diverting the rage of the
unchained brute。 To find such fighters； they seek three or four men of
a different race and education； men having suffered and roamed about；
a brutal commoner like the abbé Maury； a colossal and dirty satyr like
Mirabeau； a bold and prompt adventurer like that Dumouriez who； at
Cherbou