- Even in the large towns, it is evident
that discretionary power has fallen into the hands of nearly raw
barbarians; one has only to note in the old documents, at the
Archives, the orthography and style of the committees empowered to
grant or refuse civic cards, and draw up reports on the opinions and
pursuits of prisoners. "His opinions appear insipid (Ces opignons
paroisse insipide)[93] . . . . He is married with no children."
(Il est marie cent (sans) enfants).. . . Her profession is wife of
Paillot-Montabert, she is living on her income, his relations are with
a woman we pay no attention to; we presume her opinions are like her
husband's."[94] The handwriting, unfortunately, cannot be represented
here, being that of a child five years old.[95]
"As stupid as they are immoral,"[96] says Representative Albert, of
the Jacobins he finds in office at Troyes. Low, indeed, as their
condition may be, their feeling and intelligence are yet lower
because, in their professions or occupations, they are the refuse
instead of the ?lite, and, especially on this account, they are turned
out after Thermidor, some, it is true, as Terrorists, but the larger
number as either dolts, scandalous or crazy, simply intruders, or mere
valets.
Pages:
529
530
531
532
533
534
535
536
537
538
539
540
541
542
543
544
545
546
547
548
549
550
551
552
553