按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
Lord…lieutenant； officer in the militia； administrator； justice； he is
visibly useful。 And； above all； he lives at home； from father to son；
he belongs to the district。 He is in hereditary and constant relation
with the local public through his occupations and through his
pleasures； through the chase and caring for the poor； through his
farmers whom he admits at his table； and through his neighbors whom he
meets in committee or in the vestry。 This shows how the old
hierarchies are maintained： it is necessary； and it suffices； that
they should change their military into a civil order of things and
find modern employment for the chieftain of feudal times。
II。 Resident Seigniors。
Remains of the beneficent feudal spirit。…They are not rigorous
with their tenants but no longer retain the local government。…Their
isolation。…Insignificance or mediocrity of their means of
subsistence。…Their expenditure。…Not in a condition to remit dues。…
Sentiments of peasantry towards them。
If we go back a little way in our history we find here and there
similar nobles。＇3＇ Such was the Duc de Saint…Simon； father of the
writer； a real sovereign in his government of Blaye； a respected by
the king himself。 Such was the grandfather Mirabeau； in his chateau of
Mirabeau in Provence； the haughtiest； most absolute； most intractable
of men； 〃demanding that the officers whom he appointed in his regiment
should be favorably received by the king and by his ministers；〃
tolerating the inspectors only as a matter of form； but heroic；
generous； faithful； distributing the pension offered to himself among
six wounded captains under his command； mediating for poor litigants
in the mountain； driving off his grounds the wandering attorneys who
come to practice their chicanery； 〃the natural protector of man even
against ministers and the king。 A party of tobacco inspectors having
searched his curate's house； he pursues them so energetically on
horseback that they hardly escape him by fording the Durance。
Whereupon； 〃he wrote to demand the dismissal of the officers；
declaring that unless this was done every person employed in the
Excise should be driven into the Rhine or the sea； some of them were
dismissed and the director himself came to give him satisfaction。〃
Finding his canton sterile and the settlers on it idle he organized
them into groups； women and children； and； in the foulest weather；
puts himself at their head； with his twenty severe wounds and neck
supported by a piece of silver。 He pays them to work making them clear
off the lands； which he gives them on leases of a hundred years； and
he makes them enclose a mountain of rocks with high walls and plant it
with olive trees。 〃No one； under any pretext could be excused from
working unless he was ill； and in this case under treatment； or
occupied on his own property； a point in which my father could not be
deceived； and nobody would have dared to do it。〃 These are the last
offshoots of the old； knotty； savage trunk； but still capable of
affording shelter。 Others could still be found in remote cantons； in
Brittany and in Auvergne； veritable district commanders； and I am sure
that in time of need the peasants would obey them as much out of
respect as from fear。 Vigor of heart and of body justifies its own
ascendancy； while the superabundance of energy； which begins in
violence； ends in beneficence。
Less independent and less harsh a paternal government subsists
elsewhere； if not in the law at least through custom。 In Brittany；
near Tréguier and Lannion； says the bailiff of Mirabeau；＇4＇ 〃the entire
staff of the coast…guard is composed of people of quality and of stock
going back a thousand years。 I have not seen one of them get irritated
with a peasant…soldier； while； at the same time； I have seen on the
part of the latter an air of filial respect for them 。 。 。 。 It is a
terrestrial paradise with respect to patriarchal manners； simplicity
and true grandeur； the attitude of the peasants towards the seigniors
is that of an affectionate son with his father； and the seigniors in
talking with the peasants use their rude and coarse language； and
speak only in a kind and genial way。 We see mutual regard between
masters and servants。〃 Farther south； in the Bocage； a wholly
agricultural region； and with no roads； where ladies are obliged to
travel on horseback and in ox…carts； where the seignior has no
farmers； but only twenty…five or thirty métayers who work for him on
shares； the supremacy of the great is no offense to their inferiors。
People live together harmoniously when living together from birth to
death； familiarly； and with the same interests； occupations and
pleasures； like soldiers with their officers； on campaigns and under
tents； in subordination although in companionship； familiarity never
endangering respect。 〃The seignior often visits them on their small
farms；＇5＇ talks with them about their affairs； about taking care of
their cattle； sharing in the accidents and mishaps which likewise
seriously affect him。 He attends their children's weddings and drinks
with the guests。 On Sunday there are dances in the chateau court； and
the ladies take part in them。〃 When he is about to hunt wolves or
boars the curate gives notice of it in the sermon； the peasants； with
their guns gaily assemble at the rendezvous； finding the seignior who
assigns them their posts； and strictly observing the directions he
gives them。 Here are soldiers and a captain ready made。 A little
later； and of their own accord； they will choose him for commandant in
the national guard； mayor of the commune； chief of the insurrection；
and； in 1792； the marksmen of the parish are to march under him
against 〃 the blues〃 as； at this epoch against the wolves。 Such are
the remnants of the good feudal spirit； like the scattered remnants of
a submerged continent。 Before Louis XIV。； the spectacle was similar
throughout France。 〃The rural nobility of former days；〃 says the
Marquis de Mirabeau； 〃spent too much time over their cups； slept on
old chairs or pallets； mounted and started off to hunt before
daybreak； met together on St。 Hubert's； and did not part until after
the octave of St。 Martin's。 。 。 。 These nobles led a gay and hard
life； voluntarily； costing the State very little； and producing more
through its residence and manure than we of today with our tastes； our
researches； our cholics and our vapors 。 。 The custom； and it may be
said； the obsession of making presents to the seigniors； is well
known。 I have； in my lifetime； seen this custom everywhere disappear；
and rightly so 。 。 。 。 The seigniors are no longer of any consequence
to them； is quite natural that they should be forgotten by them as
they forget 。 。 。 。 The seignior being no longer known on his estates
everybody pillages him； which is right。〃＇6＇ Everywhere； except in remote
comers； the affection and unity of the two classes has disa