It
is evident that, along with the nobles and clergy, the best fruits of
history were gathered in it, and most of the mental and moral capital
accumulated, not only by the century, but, again, by preceding
centuries.
VI. The Demi-notables.
Where recruited. - Village and trade syndics. - Competency of their
electors. - Their interest in making good selections. - Their
capacity and integrity. - The sorting of men under the ancient
regime. - Conditions of a family's maintenance and advancement. -
Hereditary and individual right of the Notable to his property and
rank.
Like a fire lit on a hilltop overlooking a cold and obscure
countryside, a civilization, kept alive with much expense on peaks in
a sea of human barbarity, radiating while its rays grow dim; its light
and warmth fading just as its gleams reach remoter and deeper strata.
Nevertheless, both penetrate yet sufficiently far and deep before
wholly dying out. If we want to appraise their power in France at the
close of the eighteenth century we must add to the notables the half-
notables of society, namely, the men who, like the people, were
devoted to manual labor, but who, among the people, led the way, say
one hundred and fifty thousand families, consisting of well-to-do
farmers, small rural proprietors, shopkeepers, retailers, foremen and
master-workmen, village syndics and guild syndics,[82] those who were
established and had some capital, owning a plot of land and a house,
with a business or stock of tools, and a set of customers, that is to
say, with something ahead and credit, not being obliged to live from
hand to mouth, and therefore, beginning to be independent and more
influential, in short, the overseers of the great social work-house,
the sergeants and corporals of the social army.
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