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especially by Stanislas Maillard； the famous September judge； and his
sixty…eight bearded ruffians； each receiving pay at five francs a day。
〃On all the roads； within a circuit of fifteen or twenty leagues of
the capital；〃 the delegates are searched； their trunks are opened； and
their letters read。 At the barriers in Paris they find 〃inspectors〃
posted by the Commune； under the pretext of protecting them against
prostitutes and swindlers。 There； they are taken possession of； and
conducted to the mayoralty； where they receive lodging tickets； while
a picket of gendarmerie escorts them to their allotted domiciles。＇25＇
Behold them in pens like sheep； each in his numbered stall； there
is no fear of the dissidents trying to escape and form a band apart：
one of them； who comes to the Convention and asks for a separate hall
for himself and his adherents； is snubbed in the most outrageous
manner； they denounce him as an intriguer； and accuse him of a desire
to defend the traitor Castries； they take his name and credentials；
and threaten him with an investigation。＇26＇ The unfortunate speaker
hears the Abbaye alluded to； and evidently thinks himself fortunate to
escape sleeping there that night。 After this； it is certain that
he will not again demand the privilege of speaking； and that his
colleagues will remain quiet； and all this is the more likely
* because the revolutionary tribunal holds permanent sessions under
their eyes；
* because the guillotine is set up and in operation on the 〃Place de
la Révolution；〃
* because a recent act of the Commune enjoins on the police 〃the most
active surveillance〃 and 〃constant patrols〃 by the armed force；
* because； from the first to the fourth of August； the barriers are
closed；
* because； on the 2nd of August； a raid into three of the theaters
puts five hundred young men in the lock…up；＇27＇
so the discontented soon discover； if there are any； that this is not
the time or the place to protest。
As to the others； already Jacobin； the faction takes it upon itself to
render them still more so。 Lost in the immensity of Paris； all
these provincials require moral as well as physical guides； it agrees
to exercise toward them 〃hospitality in all its plenitude； the
sweetest of Republican virtues。〃＇28＇ Hence； ninety…six sans…culottes；
selected from among the sections； wait on them at the Mayoralty to
serve as their correspondents； and perhaps as their guarantees； and
certainly as pilots
* to give them lodging…tickets；
* to escort and install them；
* to indoctrinate them； as formerly with the federates of July； 1792；
* to prevent their getting into bad company；
* to introduce them into all the exciting meetings；
* to see that their ardent patriotism quickly rises to the proper
temperature of Parisian Jacobinism。＇29＇
The theaters must not offend their eyes or ears with pieces 〃opposed
to the spirit of the Revolution。〃＇30＇ An order is issued for the
performance three times a week of 〃republican tragedies； such as
'Brutus'； 'William Tell'； 'Caius Gracchus；' and other dramas suitable
for the maintenance of the principles of equality and liberty。〃 Once a
week the theaters must be free； when Chéniér's alexandrines are
spouted on the stage to the edification of the delegates； crowded into
the boxes at the expense of the State。 The following morning； led in
groups into the tribunes of the Convention；＇31＇ they there find the
same； classic； simple； declamatory； sanguinary tragedy； except that
the latter is not feigned but real； and the tirades are in prose
instead of in verse。 Surrounded by paid yappers like victims for the
ancient Romans celebrations of purifications； our provincials applaud；
cheer and get excited； the same as on the night before at the signal
given by the claqueurs and the regulars。 Another day； the procureur…
syndic Lhullier summons them to attend the 〃Evéché；〃 to 〃fraternize
with the authorities of the Paris department；〃＇32＇ the 〃Fraternité〃
section invites them to its daily meetings； the Jacobin club lends
them its vast hall in the morning and admits them to its sessions in
the evening。 Thus monopolized and kept； as in a diving bell； they
breathe in Paris nothing but a Jacobin atmosphere； from one Jacobin
den to another； as they are led about in this heated atmosphere； their
pulse beats more rapidly。 Many of them； who； on their arrival； were
〃plain； quiet people；〃＇33＇ but out of their element； subjected to
contagion without any antidote； quickly catch the revolutionary fever。
The same as at an American revival； under the constant pressure of
preaching and singing； of shouts and nervous spasms； the lukewarm and
even the indifferent have not long to wait before the delirium puts
them in harmony with the converted。
V。
They make their profession of Jacobin faith。 Their part in the
Fête of August 10th。 Their enthusiasm。
On the 7th of August things come to a head。 Led by the department
and the municipality； a number of delegates march to the bar of the
Convention； and make a confession of Jacobin faith。 〃Soon；〃 they
exclaim； 〃will search be made on the banks of the Seine for the foul
marsh intended to engulf us。 Were the royalist and intriguers to die
of spite； we will live and die 'Montagnards。'〃＇34＇ Applause and
embraces。 From thence they betake themselves to the Jacobin Club；
where one of them proposes an address prepared beforehand： the object
of this is to justify the 31st of May； and the 2nd of June； 〃to open
the eyes〃 of provincial France； to declare 〃war against the
federalists。〃＇35＇ 〃Down with the infamous libelers who have
calumniated Paris！ 。。。。 We cherish but one sentiment； our souls are
all melted into one 。。。 We form here but one vast； terrible mountain；
about to vomit forth its fires on the royalists and supporters of
tyranny。〃 Applause and cheers。 Robespierre declares that they are
there to save the country。＇36＇ On the following day； August 8th； this
address is presented to the Convention and Robespierre has a
resolution adopted； ordering it to be sent to the armies； to foreign
powers and all the Communes。 More applause； more embraces； and more
cheers。 On the 9th of August；＇37＇ by order of the Convention； the
delegates meet in the Tuileries garden； where； divided into as many
groups as there are departments； they study the program drawn up by
David； in order to familiarize themselves with the parts they are to
play in the festival of the following day。
What an odd festival and how well it expresses the spirit of the time！
It is a sort of opera played in the streets by the public authorities；
with triumphant chariots； altars； censers； an Ark of the Covenant；
funeral urns； classic banners and other trappings！ Its divinities
consist of plaster statues representing Nature； Liberty； the People；
and Hercules； all of which are personified abstractions； like those
painted on the ceiling of a theater。 In all this there is no
spontaneity nor sincerity； the actors； whose consciences tell them
that they are only actors； render homage to symbols which they know to
be nothing but symbols； while the mechanical procession；＇38＇ the
invocations； the apostrophes； the postures； the gestures are regulated
beforehand； the same as by a ballet…manager。 To any truth…loving
person all this must seem like a charade performed by puppets。 But
the festival is colossal； well calculated to stimulate the imagination
and excite pride through physical excitement。＇39＇ On this grandiose
stage the delegates become quite intoxicated with their part； for；
evidently； theirs is the leading part； they represent twenty…six
millions of Frenchmen； and the sole object of this ceremony is to
glorify the national will of which they are the bearers。 On the
Place de la Bastille＇40＇ where the gigantic effigy of nature pours
forth from its two breasts 〃the regenerating water；〃 Hérault； the
president； after offering libations and saluting the new goddess；
passes the cup to the eighty…seven elders （les doyens） of the eighty…
seven departments； each 〃summoned by sound of drum and trumpet〃 to
step forward and drink in his turn； while cannon belch forth their
thunders as if for a monarch。 After the eighty…seven have passed the
cup around； the artillery roars。 The procession them moves on； and
the delegates again are assigned the place of honor。 The elders；
holding an olive…branch in one hand； and a pike in the other； with a
streamer on the end of it bearing the name of their department； 〃bound
to each other by a small three…color ribbon；〃 surround the Convention
as if to convey the idea that the nation maintains and conducts its
legal representative。 Behind them march the rest of the eight
thousand delegates； likewise holding olive…branches and forming a
second distinct body； the largest of all； and on which all eyes are