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the Will/； his subsequent reflections led to many changes in its plan
and method； but the incident of that day was certainly the germ of the
work； just as the electric shock always felt by Mesmer at the approach
of a particular manservant was the starting…point of his discoveries
in magnetism； a science till then interred under the mysteries of
Isis； of Delphi； of the cave of Trophonius； and rediscovered by that
prodigious genius； close on Lavater； and the precursor of Gall。
Lambert's ideas； suddenly illuminated by this flash of light； assumed
vaster proportions； he disentangled certain truths from his many
acquisitions and brought them into order； then； like a founder； he
cast the model of his work。 At the end of six months' indefatigable
labor； Lambert's writings excited the curiosity of our companions； and
became the object of cruel practical jokes which led to a fatal issue。
One day one of the masters； who was bent on seeing the manuscripts；
enlisted the aid of our tyrants； and came to seize； by force； a box
that contained the precious papers。 Lambert and I defended it with
incredible courage。 The trunk was locked； our aggressors could not
open it； but they tried to smash it in the struggle； a stroke of
malignity at which we shrieked with rage。 Some of the boys； with a
sense of justice； or struck perhaps by our heroic defence； advised the
attacking party to leave us in peace； crushing us with insulting
contempt。 But suddenly； brought to the spot by the noise of a battle；
Father Haugoult roughly intervened； inquiring as to the cause of the
fight。 Our enemies had interrupted us in writing our impositions； and
the class…master came to protect his slaves。 The foe； in self…defence；
betrayed the existence of the manuscript。 The dreadful Haugoult
insisted on our giving up the box； if we should resist； he would have
it broken open。 Lambert gave him the key； the master took out the
papers； glanced through them； and said； as he confiscated them：
〃And it is for such rubbish as this that you neglect your lessons！〃
Large tears fell from Lambert's eyes； wrung from him as much by a
sense of his offended moral superiority as by the gratuitous insult
and betrayal that he had suffered。 We gave the accusers a glance of
stern reproach： had they not delivered us over to the common enemy？ If
the common law of school entitled them to thrash us； did it not
require them to keep silence as to our misdeeds？
In a moment they were no doubt ashamed of their baseness。
Father Haugoult probably sold the /Treatise on the Will/ to a local
grocer； unconscious of the scientific treasure； of which the germs
thus fell into unworthy hands。
Six months later I left the school； and I do not know whether Lambert
ever recommenced his labors。 Our parting threw him into a mood of the
darkest melancholy。
It was in memory of the disaster that befell Louis' book that； in the
tale which comes first in these /Etudes/； I adopted the title invented
by Lambert for a work of fiction； and gave the name of a woman who was
dear to him to a girl characterized by her self…devotion； but this is
not all I have borrowed from him： his character and occupations were
of great value to me in writing that book； and the subject arose from
some reminiscences of our youthful meditations。 This present volume is
intended as a modest monument； a broken column； to commemorate the
life of the man who bequeathed to me all he had to leavehis
thoughts。
In that boyish effort Lambert had enshrined the ideas of a man。 Ten
years later； when I met some learned men who were devoting serious
attention to the phenomena that had struck us and that Lambert had so
marvelously analyzed； I understood the value of his work； then already
forgotten as childish。 I at once spent several months in recalling the
principal theories discovered by my poor schoolmate。 Having collected
my reminiscences； I can boldly state that； by 1812； he had proved；
divined； and set forth in his Treatise several important facts of
which； as he had declared； evidence was certain to come sooner or
later。 His philosophical speculations ought undoubtedly to gain him
recognition as one of the great thinkers who have appeared at wide
intervals among men； to reveal to them the bare skeleton of some
science to come； of which the roots spread slowly； but which； in due
time； bring forth fair fruit in the intellectual sphere。 Thus a humble
artisan； Bernard Palissy； searching the soil to find minerals for
glazing pottery； proclaimed； in the sixteenth century； with the
infallible intuition of genius； geological facts which it is now the
glory of Cuvier and Buffon to have demonstrated。
I can； I believe； give some idea of Lambert's Treatise by stating the
chief propositions on which it was based； but； in spite of myself； I
shall strip them of the ideas in which they were clothed； and which
were indeed their indispensable accompaniment。 I started on a
different path； and only made use of those of his researches which
answered the purpose of my scheme。 I know not； therefore； whether as
his disciple I can faithfully expound his views； having assimilated
them in the first instance so as to color them with my own。
New ideas require new words； or a new and expanded use of old words；
extended and defined in their meaning。 Thus Lambert； to set forth the
basis of his system； had adopted certain common words that answered to
his notions。 The word Will he used to connote the medium in which the
mind moves； or to use a less abstract expression； the mass of power by
which man can reproduce； outside himself； the actions constituting his
external life。 Volitiona word due to Lockeexpressed the act by
which a man exerts his will。 The word Mind； or Thought； which he
regarded as the quintessential product of the Will； also represented
the medium in which the ideas originate to which thought gives
substance。 The Idea； a name common to every creation of the brain；
constituted the act by which man uses his mind。 Thus the Will and the
Mind were the two generating forces； the Volition and the Idea were
the two products。 Volition； he thought； was the Idea evolved from the
abstract state to a concrete state； from its generative fluid to a
solid expression； so to speak； if such words may be taken to formulate
notions so difficult of definition。 According to him； the Mind and
Ideas are the motion and the outcome of our inner organization； just
as the Will and Volition are of our external activity。
He gave the Will precedence over the Mind。
〃You must will before you can think；〃 he said。 〃Many beings live in a
condition of Willing without ever attaining to the condition of
Thinking。 In the North； life is long； in the South； it is shorter； but
in the North we see torpor； in the South a constant excitability of
the Will； up to the point where from an excess of cold or of heat the
organs are almost nullified。〃
The use of the word 〃medium〃 was suggested to him by an observation he
had made in his childhood； though； to be sure； he had no suspicion
then of its importance； but its singularity naturally struck his
delicately alert imagination。 His mother； a f