第6章

Butifyouareachildofthepeopleandthepoetofthepeople，yououghtnottoleavethechastebreastofDesiree，inordertorunaboutafterdancing—girlsandsingabouttheirvoluptuousarms。"[38]

[38]SeethelettersaddressedtoCharlesPoncyinthe_Correspondance。_

ItistobehopedthatPoncyreturnedtothechasteDesiree。

ButwhyshouldhenotreadtotheyoungwomantheworksofPierreLeroux？Weneedalittlegaietyinourlife。InGeorgeSand’spublished_Correspondance_，weonlyhaveafewofherletterstoCharlesPoncy。Theyareallinexcellenttaste。ThereisanimmensecorrespondencewhichM。Rocheblavewillpublishlateron。

Thiswillbeatreatforus，anditwillnodoubtprovethattherewasadepthofimmensecandourinthecelebratedauthoress。

Itdoesnotseemtomethatthewritingsoftheworking—menpoetshavegreatlyenrichedFrenchliterature。FortunatelyGeorgeSand’ssympathywiththepeoplefounditswayintoliteratureinanotherway，andthistimeinasingularlyinterestingway。

Shedidnotgetthebookswrittenbythepeoplethemselves，butsheputthepeopleintobooks。ThiswastheplanannouncedbyGeorgeSandinherprefacetothe_CompagnondutourdeFrance_。

Thereisanentirelyfreshliteraturetocreate，shewrites，"withthehabitsandcustomsofthepeople，asthesearesolittleknownbytheotherclasses。"The_CompagnondutourdeFrance_

wasthefirstattemptatthisnewliteratureofthepeople。

GeorgeSandhadobtainedherdocumentsforthisbookfromalittleworkwhichhadgreatlystruckher，entitled_Livreducompagnonnage_，writtenbyAgricolPerdiguier，surnamedAvignonnais—la—Vertu，whowasa_compagnon_carpenter。AgricolPerdiguierinformsusthatthe_Compagnons_weredividedintothreechiefcategories：

the_Gavots_，the_Devorants_andthe_Drilles_，orthe_EnfantsdeSalomon_，the_EnlantsdeMaitreJacques_andthe_Enfantsdu__PereSoubise_。Hethendescribestheritesofthisorder。

Whentwo_Compagnons_met，theirwatchwordwas"_Tope_。"

Afterthistheyaskedeachother’strade，andthentheywenttodrinkaglasstogether。Ifa_Compagnon_whowasgenerallyrespectedleftthetown，theothersgavehimwhatwastermeda"conduiteenregle。"Ifitwasthoughtthathedidnotdeservethis，hehada"conduitedeGrenoble。"Each_Compagnon_hadasurname，andamongsuchsurnameswefind_ThePrudenceofDraguignan_，_TheFlowerofBagnolet_and_TheLibertyofChateauneuf_。

Theunfortunatepartwasthatamongthedifferentsocieties，insteadoftheunionthatoughttohavereigned，therewererivalries，quarrels，fights，andsometimesallthisledtoseriousskirmishes；

AgricolPerdiguierundertooktopreachtothedifferentsocietiespeaceandtolerance。HewentabouttravellingthroughFrancewiththisobjectinview。Hissecondexpeditionwas—atGeorgeSand’sexpense。

Afresheditionofhisbookcontainedthelettersofapprovaladdressedtohimbythosewhoapprovedhiscampaign。Amongthesesignaturesarethefollowing：Nantais—Pret—a—bien—faire，Bourgignonla—Felicite，Decide—le—Briard。Allthisisacurioushistoryofthesyndicatesofthenineteenthcentury。AgricolPerdiguiermayhaveseenthe_ConfederationduTravail_dawninginthehorizon。

Inthe_CompagnonduTourdeFrance_，PierreHuguenin，acarpenter，travelsaboutamongallthesedifferentsocietiesofthe_Compagnonnage_，andletsusseesomethingoftheircompetition，rivalries，battles，etc。

HeisthensentfortotheVillepreuxChateau，todosomework。

ThenobleYseultfallsinlovewiththisfine—talkingcarpenter，andatoncebegshimtomakeherhappybymarryingher。

Inthe_Meunierd’Angibault_itisaworkinglocksmith，HenriLemor，whofallsinlovewithMarcelledeBIanchemont。Borntowealth，sheregretsthatsheisnotthedaughterorthemotherofworkingmen。

Finally，however，shelosesherfortune，andrejoicesinthisevent。

Thepersonagewhostandsoutinreliefinthisnovelisthemiller，GrandLouis。Heisalwaysgayandcontented，withasmileonhislips，singinglivelysongsandgivingadvicetoeveryone。

Inthe_PechedeM。Antoine_，the_role_ofGrandLouisfallstoJeanthecarpenter。Inthisstoryallthepeoplearecommunists，withtheexceptionoftheownerofthefactory，who，inconsequence，istreatedwithcontempt。HissonEmilemarriesthedaughterofMonsieurAntoine。HernameisGilberte，andasillyoldman，theMarquisdeBoisguilbaut，leavesherallhismoney，onconditionthattheyoungcouplefoundacolonyofagriculturistsinwhichthereshallbeabsolutecommunism。Allthesestories，fullofeloquenceanddissertationsonthemisfortuneofbeingrichandthecorruptinginfluenceofwealth，wouldbeinsufferable，ifitwerenotforthefactthattheAngibaultmillwereintheBlackValley，andthecrumblingchateau，belongingtoMonsieurAntoine，onthebanksoftheCreuse。

Theyareverypoornovels，anditwouldbeawasteoftimetoattempttodefendthem。Theyarenottobedespised，though，asregardstheirinfluenceontherestofGeorgeSand’swork，andalsoasregardsthehistoryoftheFrenchnovel。TheyrenderedgreatservicetoGeorgeSand，inasmuchastheyhelpedhertocomeoutofherselfandtoturnherattentiontothemiseriesofotherpeople，insteadofdwellingallthetimeonherown。Themiseriesshenowsawweremoregeneralones，andconsequentlymoreworthyofinterest。

Inthehistoryofthenoveltheyareofcapitalimportance，astheyarethefirstonestobringintonotice，bymakingthemplayapart，peopleofwhomnovelistshadneverspoken。

BeforeEugeneSueandbeforeVictorHugo，GeorgeSandgivesa_role_

toamason，acarpenterandajoiner。Weseetheworking—classcomeintoliteratureinthesenovels，andthismarksanera。

Astotheirsocialisticinfluence，itissupposedbymanypeoplethattheyhadnone。Thekindofsocialismthatconsistsofmakingtinkersmarrymarchionesses，andduchessesmarryzinc—workers，seemsverychildishandveryfeminine。Itisjustanattemptatbringingaboutthemarriageofclasses。Thissocialisticpreaching，bymeansofliterature，cannotbetreatedsolightly，though，asitisbynomeansharmless。Itis，onthecontrary，apowerfulmeansofdiffusingdoctrinestowhichitlendsthecolouringofimagination，andforwhichitappealstothefeelings。GeorgeSandpropagatedthehumanitariandreamamongawholecategoryofmenandwomenwhoreadherbooks。Butforher，theywouldprobablyhaveturnedadeafeartotheinducementsheldouttothemwithregardtothisUtopia。

Lamartinewithhis_Girondins_reconciledthe_bourgeois_classestotheideaoftheRevolution。Inbothcasestheeffectwasthesame，anditisjustthiswhichliteraturedoesinaffairsofthiskind。

Its_role_consistshereincreatingasortofsnobbism，andthissnobbism，createdbyliteratureinfavourofalltheelementsofsocialdestruction，continuestorageatpresent。

Westillseemensmilingindulgentlyandstupidlyatdoctrinesofrevoltandanarchy，whichtheyoughttorepudiate，notbecauseoftheirowninterest，butbecauseitistheirdutytorepudiatethemwithallthestrengthoftheirowncommonsenseandrectitude。

Insteadofanyarguments，wehavefactstooffer。Allthiswasin1846，andthetimewasnowdrawingnearwhenGeorgeSandwastoseethosenovelsofhersactuallytakingplaceinthestreet，sothatshecouldthrowdowntotheriotersthebulletinsthatshewroteintheirhonour。

VIII

1848

GEORGESANDANDTHEPROVISIONALGOVERNMENT——

HERPASTORALNOVELS

IN1846，GeorgeSandpublished_LePechedeM。Antoine_。

Itwasaverydullstoryofasin，forsinsarenotalwaysamusing。

Thesameyear，though，shepublished_LaMareauDiable_。

Peopleareapttosay，whencomparingthesocialisticnovelsandthepastoralnovelsbyGeorgeSand，thatthelatteraresuperb，becausetheyaretheresultofaconceptionofartthatwasquitedisinterested，astheauthorhadgivenupherpreachingmania，anddevotedherselftodepictingpeoplethatsheknewandthingsthatsheliked，withoutanyothercarethanthatofpaintingthemwell。

Personally，Ithinkthatthiswasnotso。GeorgeSand’spastoralstyleisnotessentiallydifferentfromhersocialisticstyle。

Thedifferenceisonlyinthesuccessoftheexecution，buttheideasandtheintentionsarethesame。GeorgeSandiscontinuinghermissioninthem，sheisgoingonwithherhumanitariandream，thatdreamwhichshedreamedwhenawake。

Wehaveaproofofthisintheprefaceoftheauthortothereaderwithwhichthe_MareauDiable_begins。Thisprefacewouldbedisconcertingtoanyonewhodoesnotremembertheintellectualatmosphereinwhichitwaswritten。

PeoplehavewonderedbywhatfitofimaginationGeorgeSand，whentellingsuchawholesomestoryofcountrylife，shouldevoketheghastlyvisionofHolbein’sDanceofDeath。Itisthecloseofday，thehorsesarethinandexhausted，thereisanoldpeasant，and，skippingaboutinthefurrowsneartheteam，isDeath，theonlylively，careless，nimblebeinginthissceneof"sweatandweariness。"Shegivesustheexplanationofitherself。

Shewantedtoshowuptheidealoftheneworderofthings，asopposedtotheoldideal，astranslatedbytheghastlydance。

"Wehavenothingmoretodowithdeath，"shewrites，"butwithlife。

Wenolongerbelieveinthe_neant_ofthetomb，norinsalvationboughtbyenforcedrenunciation。Wewantlifetobegood，becausewewantittobefertile……Everyonemustbehappy，sothatthehappinessofafewmaynotbecriminalandcursedbyGod。"ThisnotewerecognizeasthecommonfeatureofallthesocialisticUtopias。ItconsistsintakingtheoppositebasistothatonwhichtheChristianideaisfounded。WhilstChristianityputsoff，untilafterdeath，thepossessionofhappiness，transfiguringdeathbyitseternalhopes，SocialismplacesitsParadiseonearth。

Itthusrunstheriskofleavingallthosewithoutanyrecoursewhodonotfindthisearthaparadise，andithasnoanswertogivetothelamentationsofincurablehumanmisery。

GeorgeSandgoesontoexposetoustheobjectofart，assheunderstandsit。Shebelievesthatitisforpleadingthecauseofthepeople。

Shedoesnotconsiderthather_confreres_innovel—writingandinSocialismsetabouttheirworkinthebestway。Theypaintpovertythatisuglyandvile，andsometimesevenviciousandcriminal。

Howisittobeexpectedthatthebad，richmanwilltakepityonthesorrowsofthepoorman，ifthispoormanisalwayspresentedtohimasanescapedconvictoranightloafer？Itisveryevidentthatthepeople，aspresentedtousinthe_MysteresdeParis_，arenotparticularlycongenialtous，andweshouldhavenowishtomaketheacquaintanceofthe"Chourineur。"Inordertobringaboutconversions，GeorgeSandhasmorefaithingentle，agreeablepeople，and，inconclusion，shetellsus："Webelievethatthemissionofartisamissionofsentimentandoflove，andthatthenovelofto—dayoughttotaketheplaceoftheparableandtheapologueofmoreprimitivetimes。"Theobjectoftheartist，shetellsus，"istomakepeopleappreciatewhathepresentstothem。"

Withthatendinview，hehasarighttoembellishhissubjectsalittle。"Art，"wearetold，"isnotastudyofpositivereality；

itistheseekingforidealtruth。"Suchisthepointofviewoftheauthorof_LaMareauDiable_，whichweareinvitedtoconsiderasaparableandanapologue。

Theparableisclearenough，andtheapologueiseloquent。

Thenovelcommenceswiththatfinepictureoftheploughingofthefields，sorichindescriptionandsobroadlytreatedthatthereseemstobenothinginFrenchliteraturetocomparewithitexcepttheepisodeoftheLabourersin_Jocelyn_。When_Jocelyn_

waspublished，GeorgeSandwassevereinhercriticismofit，treatingitaspoorwork，falseinsentimentandcarelessinstyle。

"Inthemidstofallthis，though，"sheadds，"therearecertainpagesandchapterssuchasdonotexistinanylanguaoe，pagesthatIreadseventimesover，cryingallthetimelikeadonkey。"

Ifancythatshemusthavecriedovertheepisodeofthe_Labourers_。

Whethersheremembereditornotwhenwritingherownbooklittlematters。MyonlyreasonformentioningitistopointouttheaffinityofgeniusbetweenLamartineandGeorgeSand，bothofthemsoadmirableinimaginingidyllsandinthrowingthecoloursoftheiridyllicimaginationontoreality。

Ihaveventured，toanalyzethe_ComtessedeRudolstadt_andeven_Consuelo_，butIshallnotbeguiltyofthebadtasteoftellingthestoryof_LaMareauDiable_，asallthepeopleofthatneighbourhoodarewellknowntous，andhavebeenourfriendsforalongtime。WeareallacquaintedwithGermain，thecleverfarm—labourer，withMarie，theshepherdess，andwithlittlePierre。

Werememberhowtheyclimbedthe_Grise_，losttheirwayinthemist，andwereobligedtospendthenightunderthegreatoak—trees。Whenwewereonlyaboutfifteenyearsofage，withwhatdelightwereadthisbook，andhowwelovedthatsweetMarieforhersimplegraceandheraffection，whichallseemedsomaternal。HowmuchbetterwelikedherthantheWidowGuerin，whowassosnobbishwithherthreelovers。Andhowgladweweretobepresentatthatwedding，celebratedaccordingtothecustominBerryfromtimeimmemorial。

Itiseasytoseethemeaningofallthesethings。Theyshowushownaturalkindlinessistotheheartofman。IfwetrytofindoutwhyGermainandMarieappearsodelightfultous，weshalldiscoverthatitisbecausetheyaresimple—hearted，andfollowthedictatesofNature。Naturemustnotbedeformed，therefore，byconstraintnortransformedbyconvention，asitleadsstraighttovirtue。

Wehaveheardthetuneofthissongbefore，andwehaveseentheblossomingofsomeveryfinepastoralpoemsandaveritableinvasionofsentimentalliterature。Inthosedaystearswereshedplentifullyoverpoetry，novelsandplays。WehavehadBernardindeSaint—Pierre，Sedaine，FlorianandBerquin。TheRevolution，brutalandsanguinaryasitwas，didnotinterruptthecourseoftheseromanticeffusions。NeverweresomanytenderepithetsusedasduringtheyearsoftheReignofTerror，andinofficialprocessionsRobespierrewasadornedwithflowerslikeavillagebride。

Thistasteforpastoralthings，atthetimeoftheRevolution，wasnotamerecoincidence。ThesameprinciplesleduptotheidyllinliteratureandtotheRevolutioninhistory。Manwassupposedtobenaturallygood，andtheideawastotakeawayfromhimalltherestraintswhichhadbeeninventedforcurbinghisnature。

Politicalandreligiousauthority，moraldisciplineandtheprestigeoftraditionhadallformedakindofnetworkofimpediments，bywhichmanhadbeenimprisonedbylegislatorswhowereinclinedtopessimism。Bydoingawaywithallthesefetters，theGoldenAgewastoberestoredanduniversalhappinesswastobeestablished。

Suchwasthefaithofthebelieversinthemillenniumof1789，andof1848。Thesamedreambeganoverandoveragain，fromDiderottoLamartineandfromJean—JacquestoGeorgeSand。Thesamestateofmindwhichweseereflectedin_LaMareauDiable_wastomakeofGeorgeSandtherevolutionarywriterof1848。Wecannowunderstandthe_role_whichthenovelistplayedinthesecondRepublic。

Itisoneofthemostsurprisingpagesinthehistoryofthisextraordinarycharacter。

ThejoywithwhichGeorgeSandwelcomedtheRepubliccanreadilybeimagined。ShehadbeenaRepublicaneversincethedaysofMichelofBourges，andademocratsincethetimewhen，asalittlegirl，shetookthesideofherplebeianmotheragainst"theoldCountesses。"

Foralongtimeshehadbeenwishingforandexpectingachangeofgovernment。Shewouldnothavebeensatisfiedwithlessthanthis。

ShewasnotmuchmovedbytheThiers—Guizotduel，anditwouldhavegivenhernopleasuretobekilledforthesakeofOdilonBarrot。

ShewasadiscipleofRomanticism，andshewantedastorm。

Whenthestormbroke，carryingallbeforeit，athrone，awholesocietywithitsinstitutions，shehurriedawayfromherpeacefulNohant。

Shewantedtobreathetheatmosphereofarevolution，andshewassoonintoxicatedbyit。

"LonglivetheRepublic，"shewroteinherletters。"Whatadreamandwhatenthusiasm，andthen，too，whatbehaviour，whatorderinParis。

Ihavejustarrived，andIsawthelastofthebarricades。Thepeoplearegreat，sublime，simpleandgenerous，themostadmirablepeopleintheuniverse。Ispentnightswithoutanysleepanddayswithoutsittingdown。Everyonewaswildandintoxicatedwithdelight，foraftergoingtosleepinthemiretheyhaveawakenedinheaven。"[39]

[39]_Correspondance：_ToCh。Poncy，March9，1848。

Shegoesondreamingthusofthestars。Everythingshehears，everythingsheseesenchantsher。Themostabsurdmeasuresdelighther。

Sheeitherthinkstheyaremostnoble，liberalstepstohavetaken，orelsetheyareverygoodjokes。

"Rothschild，"shewrites，"expressesveryfinesentimentsaboutlibertyatpresent。TheProvisionalGovernmentiskeepinghiminsight，asitdoesnotwishhimtomakeoffwithhismoney，andsowillputsomeofthetroopsonhistrack。Themostamusingthingsarehappening。"Alittlelateronshewrites：

"TheGovernmentandthepeopleexpecttohavebaddeputies，buttheyhaveagreedtoputthemthroughthewindow。Youmustcome，andwewillgoandseeallthisandhavefun。"[40]

[40]_Correspondance：_ToMauriceSand，March24，1848。

Shewasthoroughlyentertained，andthatisverysignificant。

Wemustnotforgetthefamousphrasethatsoundedthedeath—knelloftheJulymonarchy，"LaFrances’ennuie。"Francehadgoneinforarevolutionbywayofbeingentertained。

GeorgeSandwasentertained，then，bywhatwastakingplace。

Shewentdownintothestreetwheretherewasplentytosee。

Inthemorningstherewerethevariouscolouredposterstoberead。

Thesehadbeenputupinthenight，andtheywereinproseandinverse。

Processionswerealsoorganized，andmen，womenandchildren，withbannersunfurled，marchedalongtomusictotheHoteldeVille，carryingbasketsdecoratedwithribbonsandflowers。EverycorporationandeveryprofessionconsidereditselfboundinhonourtocongratulatetheGovernmentandtoencourageitinitswell—doing。Onedaytheprocessionwouldbeofthewomenwhomadewaistcoatsorbreeches，anotherdayofthewater—carriers，orofthosewhohadbeendecoratedinJulyorwoundedinFebruary；thentherewerethepavement—layers，thewasherwomen，thedelegatesfromtheParisnight—soilmen。

Thereweredelegates，too，fromtheGermans，Italians，Poles，andmostoftheinhabitantsofMontmartreandofBatignolles。

WemustnotforgetthetreesofLiberty，asGeorgeSandspeaksofmeetingwiththreeoftheseinoneday。"Immensepines，"shewrites，"carriedontheshouldersoffiftyworking—men。Adrumwentfirst，thentheflag，followedbybandsofthesefinetillersoftheground，strong—looking，seriousmenwithwreathsofleavesontheirhead，andaspade，pick—axeorhatchetovertheirshoulder。Itwasmagnificent；

finerthanallthe_Roberts_intheworld。"[41]Suchwasthetoneofherletters。

[41]_Correspondance。_

ShehadtheOperafromherwindowsandanOlympiccircusateverycross—road。Pariswascertainly_enfete_。Intheeveningsitwasjustaslively。ThereweretheClubs，andtherewerenolessthanthreehundredofthese。Societywomencouldgotothemandhearoratorsinblousesproposingincendiarymovements，whichmadethemshudderdeliciously。Thentherewerethetheatres。

Rachel，drapedinantiquestyle，lookinglikeaNemesis，declaimedthe_Marseillaise_。Andallnightlongtheexcitementcontinued。

Theyoungmenorganizedtorchlightprocessions，withfireworks，andinsistedonpeaceably—inclinedcitizensilluminating。ItwaslikeaNationialFeteday，ortheCarnival，continuingalltheweek。

Allthiswasthecommon，everydayaspectofParis，buttherewerethespecialdaysaswelltobreakthemonotonyofallthis。

Therewerethemanifestations，whichhadthegreatadvantageofprovokingcounter—manifestations。Onthe16thofMarch，therewasthemanifestationoftheNationalGuard，whoweretranquilmembersofsociety，butonthe17ththerewasacounter—manifestationoftheClubsandworkingmen。Onsuchdaysthemeeting—placewouldbeattheBastille，andfrommorningtonightgroups，consistingofseveralhundredthousandmen，wouldmarchaboutParis，sometimesinfavouroftheAssemblyagainsttheProvisionalGovernment，andsometimesinfavouroftheProvisionalGovernmentagainsttheAssembly。

Onthe17thofApril，GeorgeSandwasinthemidstofthecrowd，infrontoftheHoteldeVille，inordertoseebetter。Onthe15thofMay，asthepopulacewasdirectingitseffortsagainstthePalaisBourbon，shewasintheRuedeBourgogne，inhereagernessnottomissanything。Asshewaspassinginfrontofa_cafe_，shesawawomanharanguingthecrowdinaveryanimatedwayfromoneofthewindows。ShewastoldthatthiswomanwasGeorgeSand。

WomenwereextremelyactiveinthisRevolution。TheyorganizedaLegionforthemselves，andwerestyled_"LesVesuviennes_。"

Theyhadtheirclubs，theirbanquetsandtheirnewspapers。

GeorgeSandwasfarfromapprovingallthisfeminineagitation，butshedidnotcondemnitaltogether。Sheconsideredthat"womenandchildren，disinterestedastheyareinallpoliticalquestions，areinmoredirectintercoursewiththespiritthatbreathesfromaboveovertheagitationsofthisworld。"[42]Itwasforthem，therefore，tobetheinspirersofpolitics。GeorgeSandwasoneoftheseinspirers。InordertojudgewhatcounselsthisEgeriagave，wehaveonlytoreadsomeofherletters。Onthe4thofMarch，shewroteasfollowstoherfriendGirerd："Actvigorously，mydearbrother。Inourpresentsituation，wemusthaveevenmorethandevotionandloyalty；wemusthavefanaticismifnecessary。"

Inconclusion，shesaysthatheisnottohesitate"insweepingawayallthatisofa_bourgeois_nature。"InAprilshewrotetoLamartine，reproachinghimwithhismoderationandendeavouringtoexcitehisrevolutionaryspirit。Lateron，althoughshewasnotofaverywarlikedisposition，sheregrettedthattheyhadnot，liketheirancestorsof1793，cementedtheirRevolutionathomebyawarwiththenations。

[42]_Correspondance：_TotheCitizenThore，May28，1848。

"If，insteadoffollowingLamartine’sstupid，insipidpolicy，"

shethenwrote，"wehadchallengedallabsolutemonarchies，weshouldhavehadwaroutside，butunionathome，andstrength，inconsequenceofthis，ithomeandabroad。"[43]Likethegreatancestors，shedeclaredthattherevolutionaryideaisneitherthatofasectnorofaparty。"Itisareligion，"shesays，"thatwewanttoproclaim。"Allthiszeal，thispassionandthispersistencyinawomanisnotsurprising，butonedoesnotfeelmuchconfidenceinacertainkindofinspirationforpoliticsafterallthis。

[43]_Correspondance：_ToMazzini，October10，1849。

MyreasonfordwellingonthesubjectisthatGeorgeSanddidnotcontentherselfwithmerelylookingonattheeventsthatweretakingplace，orevenwithtalkingaboutthemwithherfriends。Shetookpartintheevents，bymeansofherpen。Shescatteredabroadallkindsofrevolutionarywritings。Onthe7thofMarch，shepublishedherfirst_LettertothePeople_，atthepriceofapenny，theprofitsofwhichweretobedistributedamongworking—menwithoutemployment。

Aftercongratulatingthesegreatandgoodpeopleontheirnoblevictory，shetellsthemtheyareallgoingtoseektogetherforthetruthofthings。Thatwasexactlythestateofthecase。Theydidnotyetknowwhattheywanted，but，inthemeantime，whiletheywereconsidering，theyhadatanyratebegunwitharevolution。

Therewasasecond_LettertothePeople_，andthentheseceased。

Publicationsinthosedayswereveryshort—lived。Theycametolifeagain，though，sometimesfromtheirashes。InAprilanewspaperwasstarted，entitled_TheCauseofthePeople_。ThiswaseditedalmostentirelybyGeorgeSand。Shewrotetheleadingarticle：

_SovereigntyisEquality_。Shereproducedherfirst_LettertothePeople_，gaveanarticleontheaspectofthestreetsofParis，andanotherontheatricalevents。Shelefttohercollaborator，VictorBorie，thetaskofexplainingthattheincreaseoftaxeswasaneminentlyrepublicanmeasure，andanagreeablesurpriseforthepersonwhohadtopaythem。Thethirdnumberofthispapercontainedaone—actplaybyGeorgeSand，entitled_LeRoiattend_。

ThishadjustbeengivenattheComedie—Francaise，orattheTheatredelaRepublique，asitwasthencalled。Ithadbeenagratisperformance，givenonthe9thofApril，1848，asafirstnationalrepresentation。

TheactorsatthattimewereSamson，Geffroy，Regnier，Anais，AugustineBrohanandRachel。Therewerenotmanyofthem，buttheyhadsomefinethingstointerpret。

InGeorgeSand’spiece，Molierewasatworkwithhisservant，Laforet，whocouldnotread，butwithoutwhom，itappears，hecouldnothavewrittenaline。Hehasnotfinishedhisplay，theactorshavenotlearnttheirparts，andthekingisimpatientatbeingkeptwaiting。Moliereisperplexed，and，notknowingwhattodo，hedecidestogotosleep。TheMuseappearstohim，styleshim"thelightofthepeople，"andbringstohimalltheghostsofthegreatpoetsbeforehim。AEschylus，Sophocles，EuripidesandShakespearealldeclaretohimthat，intheirtime，theyhadallworkedtowardspreparingtheRevolutionof1848。

Molierethenwakesup，andgoesontothestagetopayhisrespectstotheking。Thekinghasbeenchanged，though。"Iseeaking，"

saysMoliere，"buthisnameisnotLouisXIV。Itisthepeople，thesovereignpeople。ThatisawordIdidnotknow，awordasgreataseternity。"

Werecognizethedemocratinallthis。_LeRoi__attend_maybeconsideredasanauthenticcuriosityofrevolutionaryart。

ThenewspaperannouncedtoitsreadersthatsubscriptionscouldbepaidintheRueRichelieu。Subscriberswereprobablynotforthcoming，asthepaperdiedanaturaldeathafterthethirdnumber。

GeorgeSanddidmuchmorethanthis，though。[44]Wemustnotforgetthatshewasanofficialpublicistin1848。ShehadvolunteeredherservicestoLedru—Rollin，andhehadacceptedthem。"Iamasbusyasastatesman，"shewroteatthistime。"IhavealreadywrittentwoGovernmentcirculars。"[45]

[44]WithregardtoGeorgeSand’s_role_，see_LaRevolutionde_1848，byDanielStern（Madamed’Agoult）。

[45]_Correspondance：_ToMauriceSand，March24，1848。

WithGeorgeSand’scollaboration，the_BulletindelaRepublique_

becameunexpectedlyinteresting。Thispaperwaspublishedeveryotherday，byorderofLedru—Rollin，andwasintendedtoestablishaconstantinterchangeofideasandsentimentsbetweentheGovernmentandthepeople。"Itwasspeciallyaddressedtothepeopleofruraldistricts，andwasintheformofaposterthatthemayoroftheplacecouldhaveputuponthewalls，andalsodistributetothepostmentobegivenaway。The_Bulletins_wereanonymous，butseveralofthemwerecertainlywrittenbyGeorgeSand。

Theseventhisoneofthese，andalsothetwelfth。Thelatterwaswrittenwithaviewtodrawingtheattentionofthepublictothewretchedlotofthewomenandgirlsofthelowerclasses，whowerereducedtoprostitutionbythelownessoftheirwages。

Theirvirginityisanobjectoftraffic，"wearetold，"quotedontheexchangeofinfamy。"Thesixteenth_Bulletin_wassimplyanappealforrevolt。GeorgeSandwaslookingaheadtowhatoughttotakeplace，incasetheelectionsdidnotleadtothetriumphofsocialtruth。

"Thepeople，"shehoped，"wouldknowtheirduty。Therewould，inthatcase，beonlyonewayofsalvationforthepeoplewhohaderectedbarricades，andthatwouldbetomanifesttheirwillasecondtime，andsoadjournthedecisionsofarepresentationthatwasnotnational。"ThiswasnothingmorenorlessthanthelanguageofanotherFructidor。Andweknowwhatwastheresultofwordsinthosedays。The_Bulletin_wasdated。the15th，andonthe17ththepeoplewereonthewaytotheHoteldeVille。Thesepopularmovementscannotalwaysbetrusted，though，astheyfrequentlytakeanunexpectedturn，andevenchangetheirdirectionwhenontheway。

Ithappenedthistimethatthemanifestationturnedagainstthosewhowereitsinstigators。ShoutswereheardthatdayinParisof_"DeathtotheCommunists"_and_"DownwithCabet_。"GeorgeSandcouldnotunderstandthingsatall。Thiswasnotintheprogramme，andshebegantohaveherdoubtsaboutthefutureoftheRepublic——

therealone，thatofherfriends。

Itwasmuchworseonthe15thofMay，thedaywhichwassofataltoBarbes，forheplayedthepartofheroandofdupeonthateventfulday。BarbeswasGeorgeSand’sidolatthattime。

Itwasimpossibleforhertobewithoutone，although，withhervividimagination，shechangedheridolsfrequently。Withheridealism，shewasalwaysincarnatinginsomeindividualtheperfectionsthatshewasconstantlyimagining。Itseemsasthoughsheexteriorizedtheneedsofherownmindandputthemintoanindividualwhoseemedsuitabletoherfortheparticularrequirementsofthatmoment。

Atthetimeofthemonarchy，MichelofBourgesandPierreLerouxhadbeenabletoplaythepart，theformerofaradicaltheoricianandthelatterofthemysticalforerunnerofthenewtimes。

AtpresentBarbeshadcomeontothescene。

Hewasabornconspirator，theverymanforsecretsocieties。

Hehadmadehiscareerbymeansofprisons，orratherhehadmadeprisonhiscareer，In1835，hehadcommencedbyhelpingthirtyoftheprisonersofApriltoescapefromSainte—Pelagie。

Atthattimehewasaffiliatedtothe_SocietedesFamilles_。

ThepolicediscoveredawholearsenalofpowderandammunitionatthehouseintheRuedeLourcine，andBarbeswascondemnedtoprisonforayearandsenttoCarcassonne，wherehehadrelatives。

Whenheleftprison，the_SocietedesSaisons_hadtakentheplaceofthe_SocietedesFamilles_。WithBlanqui’sapproval，BarbesorganizedtheinsurrectionofMay12and13，1830。

Thistimebloodwasshed。InfrontofthePalaisdeJustice，themen，commandedbyBarbes，hadinvitedLieutenantDroulneautoletthementer。Theofficerrepliedthathewoulddiefirst。

Hewasimmediatelyshot，butBarbeswassentencedtodeathforthis。

ThankstotheinterventionofLamartineandVictorHugo，hislifewasspared，buthewasimprisonedatMontSaint—Micheluntil1843，andafterwardsatNimes。Onthe28thofFebruary，1848，theGovernorofNimesprisoninformedhimthathewasfree。Hewasmoresurprisedandembarrassedthanpleasedbythisnews。

"Iwasquitebewildered，"heownedlateron，"bythisideaofleavingprison。Ilookedatmyprisonbed，towhichIhadgrownsoaccustomed。

Ilookedatmyblanketandatmypillowandatallmybelongings，hungsocarefullyatthefootofmybed。"Heaskedpermissiontostaythereanotherday。Hehadbecomeaccustomedtoeverything，andwhenoncehewasoutagain，andfree，hewaslikeamanwhofeelsillatease。

Hetookpartintheaffairofthe15thofMay，andthisiswhatgivesatragic，andatthesametimecomic，charactertotheepisode。

UnderpretextofmanifestinginfavourofPoland，theNationalAssemblywastobeinvaded。Barbesdidnotapproveofthismanifestation，andhaddecidedtokeepoutofit。Somepeoplecannotbepresentatarevolutionaryscenewithouttakingpartinit，andwithoutsoonwantingtoplaythechiefpartinit。Theexcitementgoestotheirhead。Barbesseemstohavebeenobeyingininstinctoverwhichhehadnocontrol，for，togetherwithaworkmannamedAlbert，heheadedtheprocessionwhichwastomarchfromtheChamberofDeputiestotheHoteldeVilleandestablishafreshProvisionalGovernment。

Hehadalreadycommencedcomposingtheproclamationstobethrownthroughthewindowstothepeople，afterthemannerofthetimes，whensuddenlyLamartineappearedonthescenewithLedru—Rollinandacaptainintheartillery。Thefollowingdialoguethentookplace：

"Whoareyou？"

"AmemberoftheProvisionalGovernment。"

"OftheGovernmentofyesterdayorofto—day"Oftheoneofto—day。"

"InthatcaseIarrestyou。"

BarbeswastakentoVincennes。Hehadbeenfreeratherlessthanthreemonths，whenhereturnedtoprisonasthoughitwerehisnaturaldwelling—place。

GeorgeSandadmiredhimjustasmuchafterthisasbefore。Forher，thegreatmanoftheRevolutionwasneitherLedru—Rollin，Lamartine，norevenLouis—Blanc；itwasBarbes。ShecomparedhimtoJoanofArcandtoRobespierre。Toher，hewasmuchmorethanamerestatesman，thismanofconspiraciesanddungeons，evermysteriousandunfortunate，alwaysreadyforadramaoraromance。Inherheartshekeptanaltarforthismartyr，andneverthoughtofwonderingwhether，afterall，thisidolandherowerenotamerepuppet。

TheskirmishofMay15undeceivedGeorgeSandveryconsiderably。

TheJuneinsurrectionandthecivilwar，withbloodflowingintheParisstreets，thosestreetswhichwereformerlysolivelyandamusing，causedherterriblegrief。Fromhenceforthherletterswerefullofhersadnessanddiscouragement。Themostgloomydepressiontooktheplaceofherformerenthusiasm。Ithadonlyrequiredafewweeksforthischangetotakeplace。InFebruaryshehadbeensoproudofFrance，andnowshefeltthatshewastobepitiedforbeingaFrenchwoman。Itwasallsosad，andshewassoashamed。

Therewasnoonetocountuponnow。Lamartinewasachatterer；

Ledru—Rollinwaslikeawoman；thepeoplewereignorantandungrateful，sothatthemissionofliterarypeoplewasover。Shethereforetookrefugeinfiction，andburiedherselfinherdreamsofart。

Wearenotsorrytofollowherthere。

_FrancoisleChampi_appearedasaserialinthe_JournaldesDebats_。

The_denouement_wasdelayedbyanother_denouement_，whichthepublicfoundstillmoreinteresting。ThiswasnothinglessthanthecatastropheoftheJulyMonarchy，inFebruary，1848。

AftertheterribleJunetroubles，GeorgeSandhadbeenheartbroken，andhadturnedoncemoretoliteratureforconsolation。

Shewrote_LaPetiteFadette_，sothatthepastoralromancesandtheRevolutionarecloselyconnectedwitheachother。

Besidethenovelsofthiskindwhichwehavealreadymentioned，wemustadd_Jeanne_，whichdatesfrom1844，andthe_MaitresSonneurs_，writtenin1853。This，then，completestheincomparableseries，whichwastheauthor’s_chef—d’oeuvre_，andoneofthefinestgemsofFrenchliterature。ThiswasGeorgeSand’srealstyle，andthenoteinliteraturewhichwaspeculiarlyherown。Shewaswellfittedforsuchwriting，bothbyhernaturaldispositionandbycircumstances。

Shehadlivednearlyallherlifeinthecountry，anditwasthereonlythatshelivedtothefull。Shemadegreatefforts，butPariscertainlymadeherhomesickforherbelovedBerry。

Shecouldnothelpsighingwhenshethoughtoftheploughedfields，ofthewalnut—trees，andoftheoxenansweringtothevoiceofthelabourers。

"Itisnouse，"shewroteaboutthesametime，"ifyouarebornacountryperson，youcannotgetusedtothenoiseofcities。

Italwaysseemstomethatourmudisbeautifulmud，whilstthatheremakesmefeelsick。Iverymuchprefermykeeper’swittothatofcertainofthevisitorshere。ItseemstomethatIamlivelierwhenIhaveeatensomeofNannette’swheat—cakethanI

amaftermycoffeeinParis。Inshort，itappearstomethatweareallperfectandcharming，thatnoonecouldbemoreagreeablethanweare，andthatParisiansareallclowns。"[46]

[46]_Correspondance：_To。Ch。Duvernet，November12，1842。

Thiswassaidinallsincerity。GeorgeSandwasquiteindifferentaboutallthegreateventsofParisianlife，aboutsocialtittle—tattleandBoulevardgossip。Sheknewtheimportance，though，ofeveryepisodeofcountrylife，ofasuddenfogoroftheoverflowingoftheriver。Sheknewtheplacewell，too，asshehadvisitedeverynookandcornerinallweathersandineveryseason。

Sheknewallthepeople；therewasnotahouseshehadnotentered，eithertovisitthesickortoclearupsomepieceofbusinessfortheinmates。Notonlydidshelikethecountryandthecountrypeoplebecauseshewasaccustomedtoeverythingthere，butshehadsomethingofthenatureofthesepeoplewithinher。Shehadacertainturnofmindthatwaspeasant—like，herslownesstotakethingsin，herdislikeofspeechwhenthinking，herthoughtstakingtheformof"aseriesofreverieswhichgaveherasortoftranquilecstasy，whetherawakeorasleep。"[47]Itdoesnotseemasthoughtherehaseverbeensuchan_ensemble_offavourableconditions。

[47]Seein_Jeanne_averyfinepageonthepeasantsoul。

Shedidnotsucceedinherfirstattempt。Inseveralofhernovels，eversince_Valentine_，shehadgivenuspeasantsamonghercharacters。

Shehadtriedlabourers，mole—catchers，fortune—tellersandbeggars，butallthesewereepisodiccharacters。_Jeanne_isthefirstnovelinwhichtheheroineisapeasant。EverythingconnectedwithJeanneherselfinthenovelisexquisite。Wehaveallseenpeasantwomenofthiskind，womenwithseriousfacesandclearly—cutfeatures，withadreamylookintheireyesthatmakesusthinkofthemaidofLorraine。ItisoneoftheseexceptionalcreaturesthatGeorgeSandhasdepicted。Shehasmadeanecstaticbeingofher，whowelcomesallthatissupernatural，utterlyregardlessofdatesorepochs。

Toherallwonderfulbeingsappeal，theVirginMaryandfairies，Druidesses，JoanofArcandNapoleon。ButJeanne，theVirginofEpNell，theVelledaoftheJomatresstones，themysticalsisteroftheGreatShepherdess，wasverypoorlysupported。ThisremarkdoesnotrefertohercousinClaudie，althoughthisindividual’sconductwasnotblameless。JeannehadgoneintoserviceatBoussac，andshewassurroundedbyagroupofmiddle—classpeople，amongwhomwasSirArthur————，awealthyEnglishman，whowantedtomarryher。

Thismixtureofpeasantsand_bourgeois_isnotahappyone。

Neitheristhemixtureof_patois_withamoreChristianwayoftalking，orratherwithawrittenstyle。Theauthorwasexperimentingandfeelingherway。

Whenshewrote_LaMareauDiable_shehadfoundit，forinthisworkwehaveunityoftone，harmonyofthecharacterswiththeirsetting，ofsentimentwiththevariousadventures，and，aboveall，absolutesimplicity。

In_FrancoisleChampi_thereismuchthatisgraceful，andthereisrealfeelingmingledwithatouchofsentimentality。

MadeleineBlanchetisratheroldforChampi，whomshehadbroughtuplikeherownchild。Inthecountry，though，wheredifferenceofageissoonlessapparent，thedisproportiondoesnotseemasobjectionableasitwouldincitylife。Thenovelisnotastudyofmaternalaffectioninlove，asitisnotMadeleine’sfeelingsthatareanalyzed，butthoseofFrancois。Foralongtimehehadbeeninlovewithoutknowingit，andheisonlyawareofitwhenthislove，insteadofbeingasortofagreeabledreamandmelancholypleasure，istransformedintosuffering。

Thesubjectof_LaPetiteFadette_isanotheranalysisofalovewhichhasbeensilentforalongtime。Itisdifficulttosaywhichisthebestofthesedelightfulstories，butperhaps，onthewhole，thislastoneisgenerallypreferred，onaccountofthecuriousandcharmingfigureoflittleFadetteherself。

Wecanseethethin，slendergirl，suddenlyappearingontheroad，emergingfromathicket。Sheseemstobepartofthescenery，andcanscarcelybedistinguishedfromtheobjectsaroundher。

Thelittlewildcountrygirlislikethespiritofthefields，woods，riversandprecipices。SheisabeingveryneartoNature。

Inquisitiveandmischievous，sheisboldinherspeech，becausesheistreatedasareprobate。Shejeers，becausesheknowsthatsheisdetested，andshescratches，becauseshesuffers。Thedaycomeswhenshefeelssomeofthataffectionwhichmakestheatmospherebreathableforhumanbeings。Shefeelsherheartbeatingfasterinherbosom，thankstothisaffection，andfromthatminuteatransformationtakesplacewithinher。Landry，whohasbeenobservingher，isofopinionthatshemustbesomethingofawitch。

Landryisverysimple—minded。Thereisnowitchcrafthereexceptthatoflove，anditwasnotdifficultforthattoworkthemetamorphosis。

Ithasworkedmanyothersinthisworld。

The_MaitresSoneurs_initiatesusintoforestlife，sofullofmysteriousvisions。Inoppositiontothesedentary，stay—at—homelifeoftheinhabitantofplains，withhisindolentmind，wehavethefree—and—easyhumourofthehandsomeandadventurousmuleteer，Huriel，withhisloveoftheroadandofallthatisunexpected。

Heisa_cheminau_beforethedaysofM。Richepin。

Idonotknowanystoriesmorefinishedthanthese。TheycertainlyprovethatGeorgeSandhadtheartisticsense，aqualitywhichhasfrequentlybeendeniedher。Thecharactersinthesestoriesarelivingandactive，andatthesametimetheirpsychologyisnotinsistedupon，andtheydonotstandoutinsuchreliefastoturnourattentionfromthings，which，asweknow，aremoreimportantthanpeopleinthecountry。Wearesurroundedonallsidesbythecountry，andbathed，asitwere，initsatmosphere。

Andyet，inspiteofallthis，thecountryisnotoncedescribed。

Thereisnotoneofthosedescriptionssodeartotheheartofthosewhoareconsideredmastersintheartofword—painting。Wedoriotdescribethosethingswithwhichwelive。Wearecontenttohavethemeverpresentinourmindandtobeinconstantcommunionwiththem。

Styleis，perhaps，thesovereignqualityinthesestories。

Wordspeculiartothedistrictareintroducedjustsufficientlytogiveanaccent。Somewhatold—fashionedexpressionsareemployed，andtheseprovethesurvivalofby—gonedays，which，inthecountry，arerespectedmorethanelsewhere。Withoutanyapparenteffort，thenarrativetakesthatepicformsonaturaltothosewho，as_aedes_ofprimitiveepochs，orstory—tellersbycountryfiresides，givetheirtestimonyaboutthingsofthepast。

IamawarethatGeorgeSandhasbeenaccusedoftracingportraitsofherpeasantswhichwerenotlikethem。ThisissoabsurdthatI

donotconsideritworthwhiletospendtimeindiscussingit。

Itwouldbesoeasytoshowthatinhertypesofpeasantsthereismorevariety，andalsomorereality，thaninBalzac’smorerealisticones。Withoutbeinguntruthfulportraits，itmaybethattheyaresomewhatflattered，andthatwehavemorehonest，delicateandreligiouspeasantsinthesestoriesthaninreality。

Thismaybeso，andGeorgeSandwarnsusofthisherself。Itwasherintentiontodepictthemthus。

Itwasnotabsoluterealityandtheeverydaydetailsofthepeasants’

habitsandcustomsthatshewantedtoshowus，butthepoetryofthecountry，thereflectionofthegreatsightsofNatureinthesoulofthosewho，thankstotheirdailywork，aretheconstantwitnessesofthem。ThepeasantcertainlyhasnoexactnotionofthepoetryofNature，norishealwaysconsciousofit。

Hefeelsit，though，withinhissoulinavagueway。Atcertainmomentshehasglimpsesofit，perhaps，whenlovecauseshimemotion，orperhapswhenheisabsentfromthepartoftheworld，wherehehasalwayslived。Hishomesicknessthengiveshimakeenerperception。

Thispoetryisperhapsneverclearlyrevealedtoanyindividual，nottothelabourerwhotracesouthisfurrowstranquillyintheearlymorning，nortotheshepherdwhospendswholeweeksaloneinthemountains，facetofacewiththestars。Itdwells，though，intheinnerconscienceoftherace。Thegenerationswhichcomeandgohaveitwithinthem，andtheydonotfalltoexpressit。

Itisthispoetrywhichwefindincertaincustomsandbeliefs，inthevariouslegendsandsongs。WhenLeChampireturnstohisnativeplace，hefindsthewholecountrymurmuringwiththetwitterofbirdswhichheknewsowell。

"AndallthisremindedhimofaveryoldsongwithwhichhismotherZabelliusedtosinghimtosleep。Itwasasongwithwordssuchaspeopleusedtoemployinoldentimes。"

InGeorgeSand’spastoralnovelswehavesomeoftheseoldwords。

Theycometousfromafar，andarelikeasupremeblossomingofoldtraditions。

Itisallthiswhichcharacterizesthesebooks，andassignstothemtheirplaceinourliterature。WemustnotcomparethemwiththeruggedstudiesofBalzac，norwiththeinsipidcompositionsofthebucolicwriter，norevenwithBernadindeSaint—Pierre’smasterpiece，astherearetoomanycocoanuttreesinthat。TheypreventusseeingtheFrenchlandscapes。VeryfewpeopleknowthecountryinFranceandthehumblepeoplewhodwellthere。Veryfewwritershavelovedthecountrywellenoughtobeabletodepictitshiddencharms。

LaFontainehasdoneitinhisfablesandPerraultinhistales。

GeorgeSandhasherplace，inthisraceofwriters，amongtheFrenchHomers。

IX

THE`BONNEDAME’OFNOHANTTHETHEATRE——ALEXANDREDUMASFILS——

LIFEATNOHANT

Novelistsaregiventospeakingofthetheatresomewhatdisdainfully。

Theysaythatthereistoomuchconvention，thatanauthoristoomuchtheslaveofmaterialconditions，andisobligedtoconsiderthetasteofthecrowd，whilstabookappealstotheloverofliterature，whocanreaditbyhisownfireside，andtothesocietywoman，wholosesherselfinitspages。Assoon，though，asoneoftheirnovelshashadmoresuccessthanitspredecessors，theydonothesitatetocutitupintoslices，accordingtotherequirementsofthepublishinghouse，sothatitmaygobeyondthelittlecircleofloversofliteratureandsocietywomenandreachthecrowd——

thelargestcrowdpossible。

GeorgeSandneverpretendedtohavethisimmensedisdainforthetheatrewhichisprofessedbyultra—refinedwriters。

Shehadalwayslovedthetheatre，andsheboreitnogrudge，althoughherpieceshadbeenhissed。Inthosedaysplaysthatdidnotfindfavourwerehissed。Atpresenttheyarenothissed，eitherbecausetherearenomorepoorplays，orbecausethepublichasseensomanybadonesthatithasbecomephilosophical，anddoesnottakethetroubletoshowitsdispleasure。GeorgeSand’sfirstpiece，_Cosima_，wasanotedfailure。Abouttheyear1850，sheturnedtothetheatreoncemore，hopingtofindanewformofexpressionforherenergyandtalent。_FrancoisleChampi_

wasagreatsuccess。InJanuary，1851，shewroteasfollows，aftertheperformanceof_Claudie：_"Atearfulsuccessandafinancialone。Thehouseisfulleveryday；notaticketgivenaway，andnotevenaseatforMaurice。Thepieceisplayedadmirably；

Bocageismagnificent。Thepublicweepsandblowsitsnose，asthoughitwereinchurch。Iamtoldthatneverinthememoryofmanhastherebeensuchafirstnight。Iwasnotpresentmyself。"

Theremaybeaslightexaggerationinthewords"neverinthememoryofman，"butthesuccesswasreallygreat。_Claudie_isstillgiven，andIrememberseeingPaulMounetinterpretthepartofRemyadmirablyattheOdeonTheatre。Astothe_MariagedeVictorine_，itfigureseveryyearontheprogrammeoftheConservatoirecompetitions。

Itisthetypicalpieceforwould—be_ingenues。_

_FrancoisleChampi，Claudie_andthe_MariagedeVictorine_maybeconsideredastheseriesrepresentingGeorgeSand’sdramaticwritings。

Thesepieceswereallherown，and，inherownopinion，thatwastheirprincipalmerit。Thedramaticauthorisfrequentlyobligedtoacceptthecollaborationofpersonswhoknownothingofliterature。

"Yourcharacterssaythis，"observesthemanager；itisallverywell，but，believeme，itwillbebetterforhimtosayjusttheopposite。

Thepiecewillrunatleastsixtynightslonger。"TherewasamanagerattheGymnaseTheatreinthosedaysnamedMontigny。

Hewasaveryclevermanager，andknewexactlywhatthecharactersoughttosayformakingthepiecerun。GeorgeSandcomplainedofhismaniaforchangingeveryplay，andsheadded："EverypiecethatIdidnotchange，such，forinstance，as_Champi_，_Claudie_，_Victorine，LeDemondufoyer_and_LePressoir_，wasasuccess，whilstalltheotherswereeitherfailuresortheyhadaveryshortrun。"[48]

[48]_Correspondance：_ToMauriceSand，February24，1855。

ItwasinthesepiecesthatGeorgeSandcarriedoutherownideaofwhatwasrequiredforthetheatre。Herideawasverysimple。

Shegivesitintwoorthreewords："Ilikepiecesthatmakemecry。"

Sheadds："Ilikedramabetterthancomedy，and，likeawoman，Imustbeinfatuatedbyoneofthecharacters。"Thischaracteristhecongenialone。Thepubliciswithhimalwaysandtremblesforhim，andthetremblingisallthemoreagreeable，becausethepublicknowsperfectlywellthatallwillendwellforthischaracter。

Itcanevengoasfarasweepingthetraditionalsixtears，asMadamedeSevignedidforAndromaque。Tearsatthetheatreareallthesweeter，becausetheyareallinvain。When，inaplay，wehaveacongenialcharacterwhoistherefromthebeginningtotheend，theplayisasuccess。Letustake_CyrainodeBergerac_，forinstance，whichisoneofthegreatestsuccessesinthehistoryofthetheatre。

FrancoisleChampiiseminentlyacongenialcharacter，forheisamanwhoalwayssetswrongthingsright。WearesuchbelieversinjusticeandintheinterferenceofProvidence。Whengood，straightforwardpeoplearepersecutedbyfate，wealwaysexpecttoseeamanappearuponthescenewhowillbethechampionofinnocence，whowillputevil—doerstorights，andfindtheproperthingtodoandsayineverycircumstance。

FrancoisappearsatthehouseofMadeleineBlanchet，whoisawidowandverysadandill。HetakesherpartanddefendsherfromtheresultsofLaSevere’sintrigues。Heishardonthelatter，andhedisdainsanotherwoman，Mariette，butbothLaSevereandMariettelovehim，sotrueisitthatwomenhaveaweaknessforconquerors。