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This bread is made of oats and beans 。 。 。 On days that there is
none； beans； chestnuts and rice are distributed in very small
quantities；〃 four ounces of bread； five of rice or chestnuts。 〃I； who
tell you this； have already eaten eight or ten meals without bread； I
would gladly do without it if I could get potatoes in place of it； but
these； too； cannot be had。〃 Five months later； fasting still
continues； and it lasts until after the reign of Terror； not alone in
the town； but throughout the department。 〃In the district of
Cadillac； says Tallien；＇55＇ 〃absolute dearth prevails； the citizens of
the rural districts contend with each other for the grass in the
fields； I have eaten bread made of dog…grass。〃 Haggard and worn out；
the peasant； with his pallid wife and children； resorts to the marsh
to dig roots； while there is scarcely enough strength in his arms to
hold the plough。 … The same spectacle is visible in places which
produce but little grain； or where the granaries have been emptied by
the revolutionary drafts。 〃In many of the Indre districts；〃 writes
the representative on missions；＇56＇ 〃food is wanting absolutely。 Even
in some of the communes； many of the inhabitants are reduced to a
frightful state of want； feeding on acorns； bran and other unhealthy
food。 。 。 。 The districts of Chatre and Argenton； especially； will
be reduced to starvation unless they are promptly relieved。 。 。 。
The cultivation of the ground is abandoned； most of the persons in the
jurisdiction wander about the neighboring departments in search of
food。〃 … And it is doubtful whether they find it。 In the department
of Cher； 〃the butchers can no longer slaughter； the dealers' stores
are all empty。〃 In Allier； 〃the slaughterhouses and markets are
deserted； every species of vegetable and aliment having disappeared；
the inns are closed。〃 In one of the Lozère districts； composed of five
cantons； of which one produces an extra quantity of rye； the people
live on requisitions imposed on Gard and the Upper Loire； the
extortions of the representatives in these two departments 〃were
distributed among the municipalities； and by these to the most
indigent： many entire families； many of the poor and even of the rich；
suffered for want of bread during six or eight days； and this
frequently。〃＇57＇ Nevertheless they do not riot； they merely supplicate
and stretch forth their hands 〃with tears in their eyes。 〃 … Such is
the diet and submission of the stomach in the provinces。 Paris is
less patient。 For this reason； all the rest is sacrificed to it；＇58＇
not merely the public funds； the Treasury from which it gets one or
two millions per week；＇59＇ but whole districts are starved for its
benefit； six departments providing grain； twenty six departments
providing pork；＇60＇ at the rate of the maximum； through requisitions；
through the prospect of imprisonment and of the scaffold in case of
refusal or concealment； under the predatory bayonets of the
revolutionary army。 The capital； above all； has to be fed。 Let us
see； under this system of partiality； how people live in Paris and
what they feed on。
〃Frightful crowds〃 at the doors of the bakeries； then at the doors of
the butchers and grocers； then at the markets for butter； eggs； fish
and vegetables； and then on the quay for wine； firewood and charcoal …
such is the steady refrain of the police reports。＇61＇ … And this lasts
uninterruptedly during the fourteen months of revolutionary
government： long lines of people waiting in turn for bread； meat； oil；
soap and candles； 〃queues for milk； for butter； for wood； for
charcoal； queues everywhere！ 〃＇62＇ 〃There was one queue beginning at
the door of a grocery in the Petit Carreau stretching half way up the
rue Montorgueil。〃＇63＇ These queues form at three o'clock in the
morning； one o'clock and at midnight； increasing from hour to hour。
Picture to yourself； reader； the file of wretched men and women
sleeping on the pavement when the weather is fine＇64＇ and when not
fine； standing up on stiff tottering legs； above all）in winter； 〃the
rain pouring on their backs；〃 and their feet in the snow； for so many
weary hours in dark； foul； dimly lighted streets strewed with garbage；
for； for want of oil； one half of the street lamps are extinguished；
and for lack of money； there is no repaving； no more sweeping； the
offal being piled up against the walls。＇65＇ The crowd draggles along
through it； likewise； nasty； tattered and torn； people with shoes full
of holes； because the shoemakers do no more work for their customers；
and in dirty shirts； because no more soap can be had to wash with；
while； morally as well as physically； all these forlorn beings
elbowing each other render themselves still fouler。 …
Promiscuousness； contact； weariness； waiting and darkness afford free
play to the grosser instincts； especially in summer； natural
bestiality and Parisian mischievousness have full play。 〃Lewd
women〃＇66＇ pursue their calling standing in the row； it is an
interlude for them； 〃their provoking expressions； their immoderate
laughter；〃 is heard some distance off and they find it a convenient
place： two steps aside； on the flank of the row； are 〃half open doors
and dark alleys〃 which invite tête…à…tête； many of these women who
have brought their mattresses 〃sleep there and commit untold
abominations。〃 What an example for the wives and daughters of steady
workmen； for honest servants who hear and see！ 〃Men stop at each row
and choose their dulcinea； while others； less shameless； pounce on the
women like bulls and kiss them one after the other。〃 Are not these the
fraternal kisses of patriotic Jacobins？ Do not Mayor Pache's wife and
daughter go to the clubs and kiss drunken sans…culottes？ And what says
the guard？ … It has enough to do to restrain another blind and deaf
animal instinct； aroused as it is by suffering； anticipation and
deception。
On approaching each butcher's stall before it opens 〃the porters；
bending under the weight of a side of beef； quicken their steps so as
not to be assailed by the crowd which presses against them； seeming to
devour the raw meat with their eyes。〃 They force a passage； enter the
shop in the rear； and it seems as if the time for distributing the
meat had come； the gendarmes； spurring their horses to a gallop；
scatter the groups that are too dense； 〃rascals； in pay of the
Commune；〃 range the women in files； two and two； 〃shivering〃 in the
cold morning air of December and January； awaiting their turn。
Beforehand； however； the butcher； according to law； sets aside the
portion for the hospitals； for pregnant women and others who are
confined； for nurses； and besides； notwithstanding the law； he sets
aside another portion for the revolutionary committee of the section；
for the assistant commissioner and superintendent； for the pashas and
semi pashas of the quarter； and finally for his rich customers who pay
him extra。＇67＇ To this end