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strangers on the wing； with no personal standing； without local landed
property； interests or means； encamped in some hired apartment； often
in a furnished room； sometimes stopping at a hotel； eternal nomads
awaiting a telegram； always prepared to pack up and leave for another
place a hundred leagues off in consideration of a hundred crowns extra
pay； and doing the same detached work over again。 Their predecessor；
belonging to the country； was a stable fixture and contented； he was
not tormented by a craving for promotion； he had a career within the
bounds of his corporation and town； cherishing no wish or idea of
leaving it； he accommodated himself to it； he became proud of his
office and professional brethren； and rose above the egoism of the
individual； his self…love was bent on maintaining every prerogative
and interest belonging to his guild。 Established for life in his
native town； in the midst of old colleagues； numerous relatives and
youthful companions； he esteemed their good opinion。 Exempt from
vexatious or burdensome taxes； tolerably well off； owning at least his
own office； he was above sordid preoccupations and common necessities。
Used to old fashioned habits of simplicity； soberness and economy； he
was not tormented by a disproportion between his income and expenses；
by the requirements of show and luxury； by the necessity of annually
adding to his revenue。 … Thus guided and free； the instincts of
vanity and generosity； the essence of French character； took the
ascendant； the councilor or comptroller； the King's agent； regarded
himself as a man above the common run； as a noble of the Third…Estate；
he thought less of making money than of gaining esteem； his chief
desire was to be honored and honorable； 〃he passed life comfortably
and was looked up to； 。 。 。 in the discharge of his duty； 。 。 。
with no other ambition than to transmit to his children 。 。 。 。
along with their inheritance an unsullied reputation。〃＇80＇ Among the
other groups of the bourgeoisie the same corporate system； the same
settled habits； the same security； the same frugality； the same
institutions； the same customs；＇81＇ promoted the growth of nearly the
same sentiments； while the intellectual culture of these men was not
insignificant。 Having leisure； they were given to reading； as they
were not overwhelmed with newspapers they read books worth reading； I
have found in old libraries in the provinces； in the houses of the
descendants of a manufacturer or lawyer in a small town； complete
editions of Voltaire； Rousseau； Montesquieu； Buffon and Condillac；
with marks in each volume showing that the volume had been read by
someone in the house before the close of the eighteenth century。
Nowhere else； likewise； had all that was sound and liberal in the
philosophy of the eighteenth century found such a welcome； it is from
this class that the patriots of 1789 were recruited； it had furnished
not only the majority of the Constituent Assembly； but again all the
honest men who； from July； 1789 to the end of 1791 performed their
administrative duties so disinterestedly； and with such devotion and
zeal； amidst so many difficulties； dangers and disappointments。
Composed of Feuillants or Monarchists； possessing such types of men as
Huez of Troyes or Dietrich of Strasbourg； and for representatives such
leaders as Lafayette and Bailly； it comprised the superior
intelligence and most substantial integrity of the Third…Estate。 It
is evident that； along with the nobles and clergy； the best fruits of
history were gathered in it； and most of the mental and moral capital
accumulated； not only by the century； but； again； by preceding
centuries。
VI。 The Demi…notables。
Where recruited。 … Village and trade syndics。 … Competency of their
electors。 … Their interest in making good selections。 … Their
capacity and integrity。 … The sorting of men under the ancient
regime。 … Conditions of a family's maintenance and advancement。 …
Hereditary and individual right of the Notable to his property and
rank。
Like a fire lit on a hilltop overlooking a cold and obscure
countryside； a civilization； kept alive with much expense on peaks in
a sea of human barbarity； radiating while its rays grow dim； its light
and warmth fading just as its gleams reach remoter and deeper strata。
Nevertheless； both penetrate yet sufficiently far and deep before
wholly dying out。 If we want to appraise their power in France at the
close of the eighteenth century we must add to the notables the half…
notables of society； namely； the men who； like the people； were
devoted to manual labor； but who； among the people； led the way； say
one hundred and fifty thousand families； consisting of well…to…do
farmers； small rural proprietors； shopkeepers； retailers； foremen and
master…workmen； village syndics and guild syndics；＇82＇ those who were
established and had some capital； owning a plot of land and a house；
with a business or stock of tools； and a set of customers； that is to
say； with something ahead and credit； not being obliged to live from
hand to mouth； and therefore； beginning to be independent and more
influential； in short； the overseers of the great social work…house；
the sergeants and corporals of the social army。 … They； too； were not
unworthy of their rank。 In the village or trade community； the
syndic； elected by his equals and neighbors； was not blindly
nominated； all his electors in relation to him were competent； if
peasants； they had seen him turning up the soil； if blacksmiths or
joiners； they had seen him at work in his forge； or at the bench。
And； as their direct； present and obvious interests were concerned；
they chose him for the best； not on the strength of a newspaper
recommendation； in deference to a vague declamatory platform or
sounding； empty phrases； but according to their personal experiences；
and the thorough knowledge they had of him。 The man sent by the
village to represent them to the intendant and selected by the guild
to sit in the town council； was its most capable； and most creditable
man； one of those； probably； who； through his application；
intelligence； honesty and economy； had proved the most prosperous；
some master…workman or farmer that had gained experience through long
years of assiduity； familiar with details and precedents； of good
judgment and repute； more interested than anybody else in supporting
the interests of the community and with more leisure than others to
attend to public affairs。＇83＇ This man； through the nature of things；
imposed himself on the attention； confidence； and deference of his
peers； and； because he was their natural representative； he was their
legal representative。
Upon the whole； if； in this old society； the pressure was unequally
distributed； if the general equilibrium was unstable； if the upper
parts bore down too heavily on the lower ones； the sorting； at least；
which goes on in every civi