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Picture to yourself； reader； the file of wretched men and women
sleeping on the pavement when the weather is fine＇64＇ and when not
fine； standing up on stiff tottering legs； above all）in winter； 〃the
rain pouring on their backs；〃 and their feet in the snow； for so many
weary hours in dark； foul； dimly lighted streets strewed with garbage；
for； for want of oil； one half of the street lamps are extinguished；
and for lack of money； there is no repaving； no more sweeping； the
offal being piled up against the walls。＇65＇ The crowd draggles along
through it； likewise； nasty； tattered and torn； people with shoes full
of holes； because the shoemakers do no more work for their customers；
and in dirty shirts； because no more soap can be had to wash with；
while； morally as well as physically； all these forlorn beings
elbowing each other render themselves still fouler。 …
Promiscuousness； contact； weariness； waiting and darkness afford free
play to the grosser instincts； especially in summer； natural
bestiality and Parisian mischievousness have full play。 〃Lewd
women〃＇66＇ pursue their calling standing in the row； it is an
interlude for them； 〃their provoking expressions； their immoderate
laughter；〃 is heard some distance off and they find it a convenient
place： two steps aside； on the flank of the row； are 〃half open doors
and dark alleys〃 which invite tête…à…tête； many of these women who
have brought their mattresses 〃sleep there and commit untold
abominations。〃 What an example for the wives and daughters of steady
workmen； for honest servants who hear and see！ 〃Men stop at each row
and choose their dulcinea； while others； less shameless； pounce on the
women like bulls and kiss them one after the other。〃 Are not these the
fraternal kisses of patriotic Jacobins？ Do not Mayor Pache's wife and
daughter go to the clubs and kiss drunken sans…culottes？ And what says
the guard？ … It has enough to do to restrain another blind and deaf
animal instinct； aroused as it is by suffering； anticipation and
deception。
On approaching each butcher's stall before it opens 〃the porters；
bending under the weight of a side of beef； quicken their steps so as
not to be assailed by the crowd which presses against them； seeming to
devour the raw meat with their eyes。〃 They force a passage； enter the
shop in the rear； and it seems as if the time for distributing the
meat had come； the gendarmes； spurring their horses to a gallop；
scatter the groups that are too dense； 〃rascals； in pay of the
Commune；〃 range the women in files； two and two； 〃shivering〃 in the
cold morning air of December and January； awaiting their turn。
Beforehand； however； the butcher； according to law； sets aside the
portion for the hospitals； for pregnant women and others who are
confined； for nurses； and besides； notwithstanding the law； he sets
aside another portion for the revolutionary committee of the section；
for the assistant commissioner and superintendent； for the pashas and
semi pashas of the quarter； and finally for his rich customers who pay
him extra。＇67＇ To this end； 〃porters with broad shoulders form an
impenetrable rampart in front of the shop and carry away whole oxen；〃
after this is over； the women find the shop stripped； while many；
after wasting their time for four mortal hours；〃 go away empty handed。
… With this prospect before them the daily assemblages get to be
uneasy and the waves rise； nobody； except those at the head of the
row； is sure of his pittance those that are behind regard enviously
and with suppressed anger the person ahead of them。 First come
outcries； then jeering and then scuffling； the women rival the men in
struggling and in profanity；＇68＇ and they hustle each other。 The line
suddenly breaks； each rushes to get ahead of the other； the foremost
place belongs to the most robust and the most brutal； and to secure it
they have to trample down their neighbors。
There are fisticuffs every day。 When an assemblage remains quiet the
spectators take notice of it。 In general 〃they fight；＇69＇ snatch
bread out of each other's hands； those who cannot get any forcing
whoever gets a loaf weighing four pounds to share it in small pieces。
The women yell frightfully。 。 。 。 Children sent by their parents
are beaten；〃 while the weak are pitched into the gutter。 〃In
distributing the meanest portions of food＇70＇ it is force which
decides；〃 the strength of loins and arms； 〃a number of women this
morning came near losing their lives in trying to get four ounces of
butter。 … More sensitive and more violent than men； 〃they do not； or
will not； listen to reason；＇71＇ they pounce down like harpies〃 on the
market wagons； they thrash the drivers； strew the vegetables and
butter on the ground； tumble over each other and are suffocated
through the impetuosity of the assault； some； 〃trampled upon； almost
crushed； are carried off half dead。〃 Everybody for himself。 Empty
stomachs feel that； to get anything； it is important to get ahead； not
to await for the distribution； the unloading or even the arrival of
the supplies。 … 〃A boat laden with wine having been signaled； the
crowd rushed on board to pillage it and the boat sunk；〃 probably along
with a good many of its invaders。＇72＇ Other gatherings at the
barriers stop the peasants' wagons and take their produce before they
reach the markets。 Outside the barriers； children and women throw
stones at the milkmen； forcing them to get down from their carts and
distribute milk on the spot。 Still further out； one or two leagues
off on the highways； gangs from Paris go at night to intercept and
seize the supplies intended for Paris。 〃This morning；〃 says a
watchman； 〃all the Faubourg St。 Antoine scattered itself along the
Vincennes road and pillaged whatever was on the way to the city； some
paid； while others carried off without paying。 。 。 。 The
unfortunate peasants swore that they would not fetch anything more；〃
the dearth thus increasing through the efforts to escape it。
In vain the government makes its requisitions for Paris as if in a
state of siege； and fixes the quantity of grain on paper which each
department； district； canton； and commune； must send to the capital。
… Naturally； each department； district； canton and commune strives to
retain its own supplies； for charity begins at home。＇73＇ Especially in
a village； the mayor and members of a municipality； themselves
cultivators； are lukewarm when the commune is to be starved for the
benefit of the capital。 They declare a less return of grain than
there really is； they allege reasons and pretexts。 They mystify or
suborn the commissioner on provisions； who is a stranger； incompetent
and needy； they make him drink and eat； and； now and then； fill his
pocket book。 He slips over the accounts； he gives the village
receipts on furnishing three…quarters or a half of the demand； often
in spoilt or mixed grain or poor flour； while those who have no rusty
wheat get it of their neighbors。 Instead of parting with a hundred
quintals they part with fifty； while the quantity of grain in the
Paris markets is not only insufficient； but the grain blackens or
sprouts and the flour grows musty。 In vain the government makes
clerks and depositaries of butchers and grocers； allowing them five or
ten per cent。 profit on retail sales of the food it supplies them
with at wholesale； and thus creates in Paris； at the expense of all
France； an artificial drop in prices。 Naturally； the bread＇74＇ which；
thanks to the State； costs three sous in Paris； is furtively carried
out of Paris into the suburbs； where six sous are obtained for it。
There is the same furtive leakage for other food furnished by the
State on the same conditions to other dealers； the tax is a burden
which forces them to go outside their shops。 Food finds its level
like water； not alone outside of Paris； but in Paris itself。
* Naturally； 〃the grocers peddle their goods〃 secretly； 〃sugar；
candles； soap； butter； dried vegetables； meat pies and the rest；〃
amongst private houses； in which these articles are bought at any
price。
* Naturally； the butcher keeps his large pieces of beef and choice
morsels for the large eating houses； and for rich customers who pay
him whatever profit he asks。
* Naturally； whoever is in authority； or has the power； uses it to
supply himself first； largely； and in preference； we have seen the
levies of the revolutionary committees； superintendents and agents； as
soon as rations are allotted to all mouths； each potentate will have
several rations delivered for his mouth alone； in the meantime＇75＇ the
patriots who guard the barriers appropriate all provisions that
arrive； and the next morning； should any scolding appear in the orders
of the day； it is but slight。
Such are the two results of the system： not only is the food which is
supplied to Paris scant and poor； but the regular consumers