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＇78＇。 George Sand； I。 85。 〃At my grandmother's I have found boxes
full of couplets； madrigals and biting satires。。。。 I burned some of
them so obscene that I would not dare read them through； and these
written by abbés I had known to my infancy and by a marquis of the
best blood。〃 Among other examples； toned down； the songs on the Bird
and the Shepherdess； may be read in 〃Correspondance；〃 by Métra。
CHAPTER III。 DISADVANTAGES OF THIS DRAWING ROOM LIFE。
I。
Its Barrenness and Artificiality。 … Return to Nature and sentiment。
MERE pleasure； in the long run； ceases to gratify； and however
agreeable this drawing room life may be； it ends in a certain
hollowness。 Something is lacking without any one being able to say
precisely what that something is； the soul becomes restless； and
slowly； aided by authors and artists； it sets about investigating the
cause of its uneasiness and the object of its secret longings。
Barrenness and artificiality are the two traits of this society； the
more marked because it is more complete； and； in this one； pushed to
extreme； because it has attained to supreme refinement。 In the first
place naturalness is excluded from it； everything is arranged and
adjusted； … decoration； dress； attitude； tone of voice； words； ideas
and even sentiments。 〃A genuine sentiment is so rare；〃 said M。 de V
； 〃that； when I leave Versailles； I sometimes stand still in the
street to see a dog gnaw a bone。〃＇1＇ Man； in abandoning himself wholly
to society； had withheld no portion of his personality for himself
while decorum； clinging to him like so much ivy； had abstracted from
him the substance of his being and subverted every principle of
activity。
〃There was then；〃 says one who was educated in this style；＇2＇ 〃a
certain way of walking； of sitting down； of saluting； of picking up a
glove； of holding a fork； of tendering any article； in short； a
complete set of gestures and facial expressions； which children had to
be taught at a very early age in order that habit might become a
second nature； and this conventionality formed so important an item in
the life of men and women in aristocratic circles that the actors of
the present day； with all their study； are scarcely able to give us an
idea of it。〃
Not only was the outward factitious but； again； the inward； there
was a certain prescribed mode of feeling and of thinking； of living
and of dying。 It was impossible to address a man without placing
oneself at his orders； or a woman without casting oneself at her feet；
Fashion； 'le bon ton；' regulated every important or petty proceeding；
the manner of making a declaration to a woman and of breaking an
engagement； of entering upon and managing a duel； of treating an
equal； an inferior and a superior。 If any one failed in the slightest
degree to conform to this code of universal custom； he is called 〃a
specimen。〃 A man of heart or of talent； D'Argenson； for example； bore
a surname of 〃simpleton；〃 because his originality transcended the
conventional standard。 〃That has no name； there is nothing like it！〃
embodies the strongest censure。 In conduct as in literature； whatever
departs from a certain type is rejected。 The quantity of authorized
actions is as great as the number of authorized words。 The same super…
refined taste impoverishes the initiatory act as well as the
initiatory expression； people acting as they write； according to
acquired formulas and within a circumscribed circle。 Under no
consideration can the eccentric； the unforeseen； the spontaneous；
vivid inspiration be accepted。 Among twenty instances I select the
least striking since it merely relates to a simple gesture； and is a
measure of other things。 Mademoiselle de … obtains； through family
influence； a pension for Marcel； a famous dancing…master； and runs
off； delighted； to his domicile to convey him the patent。 Marcel
receives it and at once flings it on the floor： 〃Mademoiselle； did I
teach you to offer an object in that manner？ Pick up that paper and
hand it to me as you ought to。〃 She picks up the patent and presents
it to him with all suitable grace。 〃That's very well； Mademoiselle； I
accept it； although your elbow was not quite sufficiently rounded； and
I thank you。〃＇3＇ So many graces end in becoming tiresome； after having
eaten rich food for years； a little milk and dry bread becomes
welcome。
Among all these social flavorings one is especially abused； one
which； unremittingly employed； communicates to all dishes its frigid
and piquant relish； I mean insincerity （badinage）。 Society does not
tolerate passion； and in this it exercises its right。 One does not
enter company to be either vehement or somber； a strained air or one
of concentration would appear inconsistent。 The mistress of a house is
always right in reminding a man that his emotional constraint brings
on silence。 〃Monsieur Such…a…one； you are not amiable to day。〃 To be
always amiable is； accordingly； an obligation； and； through this
training； a sensibility that is diffused through innumerable little
channels never produces a broad current。 〃One has a hundred friends；
and out of these hundred friends two or three may have some chagrin
every day； but one could not award them sympathy for any length of
time as； in that event； one would be wanting in consideration for the
remaining ninety…seven；〃＇4＇ one might sigh for an instant with some
one of the ninety…seven； and that would be all。 Madame du Deffant；
having lost her oldest friend； the President Hénault； that very day
goes to sup in a large assemblage： 〃Alas；〃 she exclaimed； 〃he died at
six o'clock this evening； otherwise you would not see me here。〃 Under
this constant régime of distractions and diversions there are no
longer any profound sentiments； we have nothing but an epidermic
exterior； love itself is reduced to 〃the exchange of two fantasies。〃 …
And； as one always falls on the side to which one inclines； levity
becomes deliberate and a matter of elegance。＇5＇ Indifference of the
heart is in fashion； one would be ashamed to show any genuine emotion。
One takes pride in playing with love； in treating woman as a
mechanical puppet； in touching one inward spring； and then another； to
force out； at will； her anger or her pity。 Whatever she may do； there
is no deviation from the most insulting politeness； the very
exaggeration of false respect which is lavished on her is a mockery by
which indifference for her is fully manifested。 … But they go still
further； and in souls naturally unfeeling； gallantry turns into
wickedness。 Through ennui and the demand for excitement； through
vanity； and as a proof of dexterity； delight is found in tormenting；
in exciting tears； in dishonoring and in killing women by slow
torture。 At last； as vanity is a bottomless pit； there is no species
of blackness of which these polished executioners are not capable； the
personages of Laclos are derived from