Then, one of them exclaims: "President, are there any
refreshments provided for us? After working so hard for so many days
we need something to strengthen us !" "Why, yes ; there is a good
calf's-tongue, a large turbot, a large piece of pie and some other
things." They cheer up, begin to eat and drink champagne, and indulge
in drolleries. About eleven or twelve o'clock the members of other
Committees come in; signatures are affixed to their various decrees,
on trust, without reading them over. They, in their turn, sit down at
the table and the conclave of sovereign bellies digests without giving
itself further trouble about the millions of stomachs that are empty.
_______________________________________________________________________-
Notes:
[1] On the other more complicated functions, such as the maintenance
of roads, canals, harbors, public buildings, lighting, cleanliness,
hygiene, superior secondary and primary education, hospitals, and
other asylums, highway security, the suppression of robbery and
kindred crimes, the destruction of wolves, etc., see Rocquam, "Etat de
la France au 18 Brumaire," and the "Statistiques des Departements,"
published by the prefets, from years IX.
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