the problem of maintaining the roads of France； which need some
hundred millions spent upon them every quarter of a century （and
which are now in a pitiable state）； they gain nothing by making
known in reports and memoranda their intelligent knowledge； it is
immediately engulfed in the archives of the general Direction；
that Parisian centre where everything enters and nothing issues；
where old men are jealous of young ones； and all the posts of
management are used to shelve old officers or men who have
blundered。
This is why； with a body of scientific men spread all over the
face of France and constituting a part of the administration；a
body which ought to enlighten every region on the subject of its
resources；this is why we are still discussing the practicability
of railroads while other countries are making theirs。 If ever
France was to show the excellence of her institution of technical
schools； it should have been in this magnificent phase of public
works； which is destined to change the face of States and nations；
to double human life； and modify the laws of space and time。
Belgium； the United States of America； England； none of whom have
an Ecole Polytechnique； will be honeycombed with railroads when
French engineers are still surveying ours； and selfish interests；
hidden behind all projects； are hindering their execution。
Thus I say that as for the State； it derives no benefit from its
technical schools； as for the individual pupil of those schools；
his earnings are poor； his ambition crushed； and his life a cruel
deception。 Most assuredly the powers he has displayed between
sixteen and twenty…six years of age would； if he had been cast
upon his own resources； have brought him more fame and more wealth
than the government in whom he trusted will ever give him。 As a
commercial man； a learned man； a military man； this choice
intellect would have worked in a vast centre where his precious
faculties and his ardent ambition would not be idiotically and
prematurely repressed。
Where； then； is progress？ Man and State are both kept backward by
this system。 Does not the experience of a whole generation demand
a reform in the practical working of these institutions？ The duty
of culling from all France during each generation the choice minds
destined to become the learned and the scientific of the nation is
a sacred office； the priests of which； the arbiters of so many
fates； should be trained by special study。 Mathematical knowledge
is perhaps less necessary to them than physiological knowledge。
And do you not think that they need a little of that second…sight
which is the witchcraft of great men？ As it is； the examiners are
former professors； honorable men grown old in harness； who limit
their work to selecting the best themes。 They are unable to do
what is really demanded of them； and yet their functions are the
noblest in the State and demand extraordinary men。
Do not think； dear sir and friend； that I blame only the Ecole
itself； no； I blame the system by which it is recruited。 This
system is the /concours/； competition；a modern invention；
essentially bad； bad not only in science； but wherever it is
employed； in arts； in all selections of men； of projects； of
things。 If it is a reproach to our great Ecoles that they have not
produced men superior to other educational establishments； it is
still more shameful that the /grand prix/ of the Institute has not
as yet furnished a single great painter； great musician； great
architect； great sculptor； just as the suffrage for the last
twenty years has not elected out of its tide of mediocrities a
single great statesman。 My observation makes me detect； as I
think； an error which vitiates in France both education and
politics。 It is a cruel error； and it rests on the following
principle； which organizers have misconceived：
/Nothing； either in experience or in the nature of things； can
give a certainty that the intellectual qualities of the adult
youth will be those of the mature man。/
At this moment I am intimate with a number of distinguished men
who concern themselves with all the moral maladies which are now
afflicting France。 They see； as I do； that our highest education
is manufacturing temporary capacities；temporary because they
are without exercise and without future； that such education is
without profit to the State because it is devoid of the vigor of
belief and feeling。 Our whole system of public education needs
overhauling； and the work should be presided over by some man of
great knowledge； powerful will； and gifted with that legislative
genius which has never been met with among moderns； except perhaps
in Jean…Jacques Rousseau。
Possibly our superfluous numbers might be employed in giving
elementary instruction so much needed by the people。 The
deplorable amount of crime and misdemeanors shows a social disease
directly arising from the half…education given the masses； which
tends to the destruction of social ties by making the people
reflect just enough to desert the religious beliefs which are
favorable to social order； and not enough to lift them to the
theory of obedience and duty； which is the highest reach of the
new transcendental philosophy。 But as it is impossible to make a
whole nation study Kant； therefore I say fixed beliefs and habits
are safer for the masses than shallow studies and reasoning。
If I had my life to begin over again； perhaps I would enter a
seminary and become a simple village priest； or the teacher of a
country district。 But I am too far advanced in my profession now
to be a mere primary instructor； I can； if I leave my present
post； act in a wider range than that of a school or a country
parish。 The Saint…Simonians； to whom I have been tempted to ally
myself； want now to take a course in which I cannot follow them。
Nevertheless； in spite of their mistakes； they have touched on
many of the sore spots which are the fruits of our present
legislation； and which the State will only doctor by insufficient
palliatives；merely delaying in France the moral and political
crisis that must come。
Adieu； dear Monsieur Grossetete； accept the assurance of my
respectful attachment； which； notwithstanding all these
observations； can only increase。
Gregoire Gerard。
According to his old habit as a banker； Grossetete had jotted down his
reply on the back of the letter itself； heading it with the
sacramental word； /Answered/。
It is useless； my dear Gerard； to discuss the observations made in
your letter； because by a trick of chance （I use the term which
is； as you say； the pet word of fools） I have a proposal to make
to you which may result in withdrawing you from the situation you
find so bad。 Madame Graslin； the owner of the forests of Montegnac
and of a barren plateau extending from the base of a chain of
mountains on which are the forests； wishes to improve this vast
domain； to clear her timber properly； and cultivate the stony
plain。
To put this project into execution she needs a man of your
scientific knowledge and ardor； and one who has also your
disinterested devotion and your ideas of practical utility。 It
will be little money and much work！ a great result from small
means！ a whole region to be changed fundamentally！ barren places
to be made to gush with plenty！ Isn't that precisely what you
want；you who are dreaming of constructing a poem？ From the tone
of sincerity which pervades your letter； I do not hesitate to bid
you come and see me at Limoges。 But； my good friend； don't send in
your resignation yet； get leave of absence only； and tell your
administration that you are going to study questions connected
with your profession outside of the government works。 In this way；
you will not lose your rights； and you will have time to judge for
yourself whether the project conceived by the rector of Montegnac
and approved by Madame Graslin is feasible。
I will explain to you by word of mouth the advantages you will
find in case this great scheme can be carried out。 Rely on the
friendship of
Yours； etc； T。 Grossetete。
Madame Graslin replied to Grossetete in few words： 〃Thank you； my
friend； I shall expect your /protege/。〃 She showed the letter to the
rector； saying；
〃One more wounded man for the hospital。〃
The rector read the letter； reread it； made two or three turns on the
terrace silently； then he gave it back to Madame Graslin； saying；
〃A fine soul； and a superior man。 He says the schools invented by the
genius of the Revolution manufacture incapacities。 For my part； I say
they manufacture unbelievers； for if Monsieur Gerard is not an
atheist； he is a protestant。〃
〃We will ask him；〃 she said； struck by an answer。
XVII
THE REVOLUTION OF JULY JUDGED AT MONTEGNAC
A fortnight later； in December； and in spite of the cold； Monsieur
Grossetete came to the chateau de Montegnac； to 〃present his protege；〃
whom Veronique and Monsieur Bonnet were impatiently awaiting。
〃I must love you very much； my dear child；〃 said the old man； taking
Veronique's two hands in his； and kissing them with that gallantry of
old men which never displeases women； 〃yes； I must love you well； to
come from Limoges in such weather。 But I wanted to present to you
myself the gift of Monsieur Gregoire Gerard here present。 You'll find
him a man after your own heart； Monsieur Bonnet；〃 added the banker；
bowing affectionately to the rector。
Gerard's external appearance was not prepossessing。 He was of middle
height； stocky in shape； the neck sunk in the shoulders； as they say
vulgarly； he had yellow hair； and the pink eyes of an albino； with
lashes and eyebrows almost white。 Though his skin； like that of all
persons of that description； was amazingly white； marks of the small…
box and other very visible scars had destroyed its original
brilliancy。 Study had probably injured his sight； for he wore glasses。
When he removed the great cloak of a gend