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themselves in the education of their children。 Simplicity again forms
an element of manners。 Hair…powder is no longer put on little boys'
heads； many of the seigniors abandon laces； embroideries； red heels
and the sword； except when in full dress。 People appear in the streets
〃dressed à la Franklin； in coarse cloth； with a knotty cane and thick
shoes。〃＇15＇ The taste no longer runs on cascades； statues and stiff
and pompous decorations； the preference is for the English garden。 The
queen arranges a village for herself at the Trianon； where； 〃dressed
in a frock of white cambric muslin and a gauze neck…handkerchief； and
with a straw hat；〃 she fishes in the lake and sees her cows milked。
Etiquette falls away like the paint scaling off from the skin；
disclosing the bright hue of natural emotions。 Madame Adelaide takes
up a violin and replaces an absent musician to let the peasant girls
dance16 The Duchesse de Bourbon goes out early in the morning
incognito to bestow alms； and 〃to see the poor in their garrets。〃 The
Dauphine jumps out of her carriage to assist a wounded post…boy； a
peasant knocked down by a stag。 The king and the Comte d'Artois help a
carter to extract his cart from the mud。 People no longer think about
self…constraint； and self…adjustment； and of keeping up their dignity
under all circumstances； and of subjecting the weaknesses of human
nature to the exigencies of rank。 On the death of the first
Dauphin；＇17＇ whilst the people in the room place themselves before the
king to prevent him from entering it； the queen falls at his knees；
and he says to her； weeping； 〃Ah； my wife； our dear child is dead；
since they do not wish me to see him。〃 And the narrator adds with
admiration； 〃I always seem to see a good farmer and his excellent wife
a prey to the deepest despair at the loss of their beloved child。〃
Tears are no longer concealed； as it is a point of honor to be a human
being。 One becomes human and familiar with one's inferiors。 A prince；
on a review； says to the soldiers on presenting the princess to them；
〃My boys； here is my wife。〃 There is a disposition to make people
happy and to take great delight in their gratitude。 To be kind； to be
loved is the object of the head of a government； of a man in place。
This goes so far that God is prefigured according to this model。 The
〃harmonies of nature〃 are construed into the delicate attentions of
Providence； on instituting filial affection the Creator 〃deigned to
choose for our best virtue our sweetest pleasure。〃＇18＇ … The idyll
which is imagined to take place in heaven corresponds with the idyll
practiced on earth。 From the public up to the princes； and from the
princes down to the public； in prose； in verse； in compliments at
festivities； in official replies； in the style of royal edicts down to
the songs of the market…women； there is a constant interchange of
graces and of sympathies。 Applause bursts out in the theater at any
verse containing an allusion to princes； and； a moment after； at the
speech which exalts the merits of the people； the princes return the
compliment by applauding in their turn。＇19＇ … On all sides； just as
this society is vanishing； a mutual deference； a spirit of kindliness
arises； like a soft and balmy autumnal breeze； to dissipate whatever
harshness remains of its aridity and to mingle with the radiance of
its last hours the perfume of dying roses。 We now encounter acts and
words of infinite grace； unique of their kind； like a lovely；
exquisite little figure on old Sèvres porcelain。 One day； on the
Comtesse Amélie de Boufflers speaking somewhat flippantly of her
husband； her mother…in…law interposes； 〃You forget that you are
speaking of my son。〃 … 〃True； mamma； I thought I was only speaking of
your son…in…law。〃 It is she again who； on playing 〃the boat；〃 and
obliged to decide between this beloved mother…in…law and her own
mother； whom she scarcely knew； replies； 〃I would save my mother and
drown with my mother…in…law。〃＇20＇ The Duchesse de Choiseul； the
Duchesse de Lauzun； and others besides； are equally charming
miniatures。 When the heart and the mind combine their considerations
they produce masterpieces； and these； like the art； the refinements
and the society which surrounds them； possess a charm unsurpassed by
anything except their own fragility。
III。 Personality Defects。
The failings of character thus formed。 … Adapted to one situation
but not to a contrary situation。 … Defects of intelligence。 … Defects
of disposition。 … Such a character is disarmed by good…breeding。
The reason is that； the better people have become adapted to a
certain situation the less prepared are they for the opposite
situation。 The habits and faculties that serve them in the previous
condition become prejudicial to them in the new one。 In acquiring
talents adapted to tranquil times they lose those suited to times of
agitation； reaching the extreme of feebleness at the same time with
the extreme of urbanity。 The more polished an aristocracy becomes the
weaker it becomes； and when no longer possessing the power to please
it not longer possesses the strength to struggle。 And yet； in this
world； we must struggle if we would live。 In humanity； as in nature；
empire belongs to force。 Every creature that loses the art and energy
of self…defense becomes so much more certainly a prey according as its
brilliancy； imprudence and even gentleness deliver it over in advance
to the gross appetites roaming around it。 Where find resistance in
characters formed by the habits we have just described？ To defend
ourselves we must； first of all； look carefully around us； see and
foresee； and provide for danger。 How could they do this living as they
did？ Their circle is too narrow and too carefully enclosed。 Confined
to their castles and mansions they see only those of their own sphere；
they hear only the echo of their own ideas； they imagine that there is
nothing beyond the public seems to consist of two hundred persons。
Moreover； disagreeable truths are not admitted into a drawing…room；
especially when of personal import； an idle fancy there becoming a
dogma because it becomes conventional。 Here； accordingly； we find
those who； already deceived by the limitations of their accustomed
horizon； fortify their delusion still more by delusions about their
fellow men。 They comprehend nothing of the vast world； which envelops
their little world； they are incapable of entering into the sentiments
of a bourgeois； of a villager； they have no conception of the peasant
as he is but as they would like him to be。 The idyll is in fashion；
and no one dares dispute it； any other supposition would be false
because it would be disagreeable； and as the drawing rooms have
decided that all will go well； all must go well。 Never was a delusion
more complete and more voluntary。 The Duc d'Orléans offers to wager a
hundred louis that the States…General will dissolve w