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hundred louis that the States…General will dissolve without
accomplishing anything； not even abolishing the lettre…de…cachet。。
After the demolition has begun； and yet again after it is finished；
they will form opinions no more accurate。 They have no idea of social
architecture； they know nothing about its materials； its proportions；
or its harmonious balance； they have had no hand in it； they have
never worked at it。 They are entirely ignorant of the old building＇21＇
in which they occupy the first story。 They are not qualified to
calculate either its pressure or its resistance。＇＇22＇＇ They conclude；
finally； that it is better to let the thing tumble in； and that the
restoration of the edifice in their behalf will follow its own course；
and that they will return to their drawing…room； expressly rebuilt for
them； and freshly gilded； to begin over again the pleasant
conversation which an accident； some tumult in the street； had
interrupted。＇23＇ Clear…sighted in society； they are obtuse in
politics。 They examine everything by the artificial light of candles；
they are disturbed and bewildered in the powerful light of open day。
The eyelid has grown stiff through age。 The organ so long bent on the
petty details of one refined life no longer takes in the popular life
of the masses； and； in the new sphere into which it is suddenly
plunged； its refinement becomes the source of its blindness。
Nevertheless action is necessary； for danger is seizing them by the
throat。 But the danger is of an ignoble species； while their education
has provided them with no arms suitable for warding it off。 They have
learned how to fence； but not how to box。 They are still the sons of
those at Fontenoy； who； instead of being the first to fire；
courteously raised their hats and addressed their English antagonists；
〃No； gentlemen； fire yourselves。〃 Being the slaves of good…breeding
they are not free in their movements。 Numerous acts； and those the
most important； those of a sudden； vigorous and rude stamp； are
opposed to the respect a well…bred man entertains for others； or at
least to the respect which he owes to himself。 They do not consider
these allowable among themselves； they do not dream of their being
allowed； and； the higher their position the more their rank fetters
them。 When the royal family sets out for Varennes the accumulated
delays by which they are lost are the result of etiquette。 Madame de
Touzel insists on her place in the carriage to which she is entitled
as governess of the Children of France。 The king； on arriving； is
desirous of conferring the marshal's baton on M。 de Bouillé； and after
running to and fro to obtain a baton he is obliged to borrow that of
the Duc de Choiseul。 The queen cannot dispense with a traveling
dressing…case and one has to be made large enough to contain every
imaginable implement from a warming…pan to a silver porridge…dish；
with other dishes besides； and； as if there were no shifts to be had
in Brussels； there had to be a complete outfit in this line for
herself and her children。＇24＇ … A fervent devotion； even humanness；
the frivolity of the small literary spirit； graceful urbanity；
profound ignorance；＇25＇ the lack or rigidity of the comprehension and
determination are still greater with the princes than with the nobles。
… All are impotent against the wild and roaring outbreak。 They have
not the physical superiority that can master it； the vulgar
charlatanism which can charm it away； the tricks of a Scapin to throw
it off the scent； the bull's neck； the mountebank's gestures； the
stentor's lungs； in short； the resources of the energetic temperament
and of animal cunning； alone capable of diverting the rage of the
unchained brute。 To find such fighters； they seek three or four men of
a different race and education； men having suffered and roamed about；
a brutal commoner like the abbé Maury； a colossal and dirty satyr like
Mirabeau； a bold and prompt adventurer like that Dumouriez who； at
Cherbourg； when； through the feebleness of the Duc de Beuvron； the
stores of grain were given up and the riot began； hooted at and nearly
cut to pieces； suddenly sees the keys of the storehouse in the hands
of a Dutch sailor； and； yelling to the mob that it was betrayed
through a foreigner having got hold of the keys； himself jumps down
from the railing； seizes the keys and hands them to the officer of the
guard； saying to the people； 〃I am your father； I am the man to be
responsible for the storehouse！〃＇26＇ To entrust oneself with porters
and brawlers； to be collared by a political club； to improvise on the
highways； to bark louder than the barkers； to fight with the fists or
a cudgel； as much later with the young and rich gangs； against brutes
and lunatics incapable of employing other arguments； and who must be
answered in the same vein； to mount guard over the Assembly； to act as
volunteer constable； to spare neither one's own hide nor that of
others； to be one of the people to face the people； all these are
simple and effectual proceedings； but so vulgar as to appear to them
disgusting。 The idea of resorting to such means never enters their
head； they neither know how； nor do they care to make use of their
hands in such business。＇27＇ They are skilled only in the duel and；
almost immediately； the brutality of opinion； by means of assaults；
stops the way to polite combats。 Their arms； the shafts of the
drawing…room； epigrams； witticisms； songs； parodies； and other needle
thrusts are impotent against the popular bull。＇28＇ Their personality
lacks both roots and resources； through super…refinement it has
weakened； their nature； impoverished by culture； is incapable of the
transformations by which we are renewed and survive。 … An all…powerful
education has repressed； mollified； and enfeebled their very
instincts。 About to die； they experience none of the reactions of
blood and rage； the universal and sudden restoration of the forces；
the murderous spasm； the blind irresistible need of striking those who
strike them。 If a gentleman is arrested in his own house by a Jacobin
we never find him splitting his head open。＇29＇ They allow themselves
to be taken； going quietly to prison； to make an uproar would be bad
taste； it is necessary； above all things； to remain what they are；
well…bred people of society。 In prison both men and women dress
themselves with great care； pay each other visits and keep up a
drawing…room； it may be at the end of a corridor； by the light of
three or four candles； but here they circulate jests； compose
madrigals； sing songs and pride themselves on being as gallant； as gay
and as gracious as ever： need people be morose and ill…behaved because
accident has consigned them to a poor inn？ They preserve their dignity
and their smile before their judges and on the cart； the women；
especially； mount the scaffold with the ease and serenity
characteristic of an evening entertainment。 It is th