"Well，"resumedthepoorliberatedconvict，"whenheleftmethefirsttime，andCatherinehadgonewithhimtoshowtheway，Iwasleftalone。Ithenfeltwithinmysoulafreshness，acalmness，asweetness，Ihadneverknownsincechildhood。ItwaslikethehappinessmypoorCatherinehadgivenme。Theloveofthisdearmanhadcometo/seekme/;that，andhisthoughtforme，formyfuture，stirredmysoultoitsdepths;itchangedme。Alightbrokeforthinmybeing。Aslongashewasthere，speakingtome，Iresisted。That’snotsurprising;hewasapriest，andwebanditsdon’teatoftheirbread。ButwhenInolongerheardhisfootstepsnorCatherine’s，oh！I
　　was——ashetoldmetwodayslater——enlightenedbydivinegrace。Godgavemethenceforthstrengthtobearall，——prison，sentence，irons，parting;eventhelifeofthegalleys。IbelievedinhiswordasIdointheGospel;IlookeduponmysufferingsasadebtIwasboundtopay。WhenIseemedtosuffertoomuch，Ilookedacrosstenyearsandsawmyhomeinthewoods，mylittleBenjamin，myCatherine。Hekepthisword，thatgoodMonsieurBonnet。Butonethingwaslacking。WhenatlastIwasreleased，Catherinewasnotatthegateofthegalleys;
　　shewasnotonthecommon。Nodoubtshehasdiedofgrief。ThatiswhyIamalwayssad。Now，thankstoyou，Ishallhaveusefulworktodo;I
　　canemploybothbodyandsoul，——andmyboy，too，forwhomIlive。"
　　"Ibegintounderstandhowitisthattherectorhaschangedthecharacterofthiswholecommunity，"saidMadameGraslin。
　　"Nothingcanresisthim，"saidFarrabesche。
　　"Yes，yes，Iknowit！"repliedVeronique，hastily，makingagestureoffarewelltoherkeeper。
　　Farrabeschewithdrew。Veroniqueremainedaloneontheterraceforagoodpartoftheday，walkingupanddowninspiteofafinerainwhichfelltillevening。Whenherfacewasthusconvulsed，neitherhermothernorAlinedaredtointerrupther。ShedidnotnoticeintheduskthathermotherwastalkinginthesalontoMonsieurBonnet;theoldwoman，anxioustoputanendtothisfreshattackofdreadfuldepression，sentlittleFrancistofetchher。Thechildtookhismother’shandandledherin。Whenshesawtherectorshegaveastartofsurpriseinwhichthereseemedtobesomefear。MonsieurBonnettookherbacktotheterrace，saying:——
　　"Well，madame，whatwereyoutalkingaboutwithFarrabesche？"
　　Inordernottospeakfalsely，Veroniqueevadedareply;shequestionedMonsieurBonnet。
　　"Thatmanwasyourfirstvictoryhere，washenot？"shesaid。
　　"Yes，"heanswered;"hisconversionwould，Ithought，givemeallMontegnac——andIwasnotmistaken。"
　　VeroniquepressedMonsieurBonnet’shandandsaid，withtearsinhervoice，"Iamyourpenitentfromthisdayforth，monsieur;Ishallgoto—morrowtotheconfessional。"
　　Herlastwordsshowedagreatinternaleffort，aterriblevictorywonoverherself。Therectorbroughtherbacktothehousewithoutsayinganotherword。Afterthatheremainedtilldinner—time，talkingabouttheproposedimprovementsatMontegnac。
　　"Agricultureisaquestionoftime，"hesaid;"thelittlethatIknowofitmakesmeunderstandwhatagainitwouldbetogetsomegoodoutofthewinter。Therainsarenowbeginning，andthemountainswillsoonbecoveredwithsnow;youroperationscannotthenbebegun。HadyounotbetterhastenMonsieurGrossetete？"
　　Insensibly，MonsieurBonnet，whoatfirstdidallthetalking，ledMadameGraslintojoinintheconversationandsodistractherthoughts;infact，heleftheralmostrecoveredfromtheemotionsoftheday。MadameSauviat，however，thoughtherdaughtertooviolentlyagitatedtobeleftalone，andshespentthenightinherroom。
　　XVI
　　CONCERNSONEOFTHEBLUNDERSOFTHENINETEENTHCENTURY
　　Thefollowingdayanexpress，sentfromLimogesbyMonsieurGrossetetetoMadameGraslin，broughtherthefollowingletter:——
　　ToMadameGraslin:
　　MydearChild，——Itwasdifficulttofindhorses，butIhopeyouaresatisfiedwiththoseIsentyou。Ifyouwantworkordrafthorses，youmustlookelsewhere。Inanycase，however，Iadviseyoutodoyourtillingandtransportationwithoxen。Allthecountrieswhereagricultureiscarriedonwithhorseslosecapitalwhenthehorseispastwork;whereascattlealwaysreturnaprofittothosewhousethem。
　　Iapproveineverywayofyourenterprise，mychild;youwillthusemploythepassionateactivityofyoursoul，whichwasturningagainstyourselfandthusinjuringyou。
　　Yoursecondrequest，namely，foramancapableofunderstandingandsecondingyourprojects，requiresmetofindyoua/raraavis/
　　suchasweseldomraiseintheprovinces，where，ifwedoraisethem，weneverkeepthem。Theeducationofthathighproductistooslowandtooriskyaspeculationforcountryfolks。
　　Besides，menofintellectalarmus;wecallthem"originals。"Themenbelongingtothescientificcategoryfromwhichyouwillhavetoobtainyourco—operatordonotflourishhere，andIwasonthepointofwritingtoyouthatIdespairedoffulfillingyourcommission。Youwantapoet，amanofideas，——inshort，whatweshouldherecallafool，andallourfoolsgotoParis。Ihavespokenofyourplanstotheyoungmenemployedinlandsurveying，tocontractorsonthecanals，andmakersoftheembankments，andnoneofthemseeany"advantage"inwhatyoupropose。
　　Butsuddenly，asgoodluckwouldhaveit，chancehasthrowninmywaytheverymanyouwant;ayoungmantowhomIbelieveIrenderaserviceinnaminghimtoyou。Youwillseebyhisletter，herewithenclosed，thatdeedsofbeneficenceoughtnottobedonehap—hazard。Nothingneedsmorereflectionthanagoodaction。Weneverknowwhetherthatwhichseemsbestatonemomentmaynotproveanevillater。Theexerciseofbeneficence，asIhavelivedtodiscover，istousurptheroleofDestiny。
　　AsshereadthatsentenceMadameGraslinletfalltheletterandwasthoughtfulforseveralminutes。
　　"MyGod！"shesaidatlast，"whenwiltthouceasetostrikemedownonallsides？"
　　Thenshetookuptheletterandcontinuedreadingit:
　　Gerardseemstometohaveacoolheadandanardentheart;that’sthesortofmanyouwant。Parisisjustnowahotbedofnewdoctrines;IshouldbedelightedtohavetheladremovedfromthetrapswhichambitiousmindsaresettingforthegenerousyouthofFrance。WhileIdonotaltogetherapproveofthenarrowandstupefyinglifeoftheprovinces，neitherdoIlikethepassionatelifeofParis，withitsardorofreformation，whichisdrivingyouthintosomanyunknownways。Youaloneknowmyopinions;tomymindthemoralworldrevolvesuponitsownaxis，likethematerialworld。Mypoorprotegedemands（asyouwillseefromhisletter）
　　thingsimpossible。Nopowercanresistambitionssoviolent，soimperious，soabsolute，asthoseofto—day。Iaminfavoroflowlevelsandslownessinpoliticalchange;Idislikethesesocialoverturnstowhichambitiousmindssubjectus。
　　ToyouIconfidetheseprinciplesofamonarchicalandprejudicedoldman，becauseyouarediscreet。HereIholdmytongueinthemidstofworthypeople，whothemoretheyfailthemoretheybelieveinprogress;butIsufferdeeplyattheirreparableevilsalreadyinflictedonourdearcountry。
　　Ihaverepliedtotheenclosedletter，tellingmyyoungmanthataworthytaskawaitshim。Hewillgotoseeyou，andthoughhisletterwillenableyoutojudgeofhim，youhadbetterstudyhimstillfurtherbeforecommittingyourself，——thoughyouwomenunderstandmanythingsfromthemerelookofaman。However，allthemenwhomyouemploy，eventhemostinsignificant，oughttobethoroughlysatisfactorytoyou。Ifyoudon’tlikehimdon’ttakehim;butifhesuitsyou，mydearchild，Ibegyoutocurehimofhisill—disguisedambition。Makehimtaketoapeaceful，happy，rurallife，wheretruebeneficenceisperpetuallyexercised;wherethecapacitiesofgreatandstrongsoulsfindcontinualexercise，andtheythemselvesdiscoverdailyfreshsourcesofadmirationintheworksofNature，andinrealameliorations，realprogress，anoccupationworthyofanyman。
　　Iamnotobliviousofthefactthatgreatideasgivebirthtogreatactions;butasthoseideasarenecessarilyfewandfarbetween，Ithinkitmaybesaidthatusuallythingsaremoreusefulthanideas。Hewhofertilizesacorneroftheearth，whobringstoperfectionafruit—tree，whomakesaturfonathanklesssoil，isfarmoreusefulinhisgenerationthanhewhoseeksnewtheoriesforhumanity。How，Iaskyou，hasNewton’ssciencechangedtheconditionofthecountrydistricts？Oh！mydear，I
　　havealwayslovedyou;butto—dayI，whofullyunderstandwhatyouareabouttoattempt，Iadoreyou。
　　NooneatLimogesforgetsyou;wealladmireyourgrandresolutiontobenefitMontegnac。Bealittlegratefultousforhavingsoulenoughtoadmireanobleaction，anddonotforgetthatthefirstofyouradmirersisalsoyourfirstfriend。
　　F。Grossetete。
　　Theenclosedletterwasasfollows:——
　　ToMonsieurGrossetete:
　　Monsieur，——Youhavebeentomeafatherwhenyoumighthavebeenonlyamereprotector，andthereforeIventuretomakeyouarathersadconfidence。Itistoyoualone，youwhohavemademewhatIam，thatIcantellmytroubles。
　　Iamafflictedwithaterriblemalady，acruelmoralmalady。InmysoularefeelingsandinmymindconvictionswhichmakemeutterlyunfitforwhattheStateandsocietydemandofme。Thismayseemtoyouingratitude;itisonlythestatementofacondition。WhenIwastwelveyearsoldyou，mygenerousgod—father，sawinme，thesonofamereworkman，anaptitudefortheexactsciencesandaprecociousdesiretoriseinlife。Youfavoredmyimpulsetowardbetterthingswhenmynaturalfatewastostayacarpenterlikemyfather，who，poorman，didnotlivelongenoughtoenjoymyadvancement。Indeed，monsieur，youdidagoodthing，andthereisneveradaythatIdonotblessyouforit。ItmaybethatIamnowtoblame;butwhetherIamrightorwrongitisverycertainthatIsuffer。InmakingmycomplainttoyouIfeelthatItakeyouasmyjudgelikeGodHimself。Willyoulistentomystoryandgrantmeyourindulgence？
　　BetweensixteenandeighteenyearsofageIgavemyselftothestudyoftheexactscienceswithanardor，youremember，thatmademeill。MyfuturedependedonmyadmissiontotheEcolePolytechnique。Atthattimemystudiesoverworkedmybrain，andI
　　cameneardying;Istudiednightandday;Ididmorethanthenatureofmyorganspermitted。IwantedtopasssuchsatisfyingexaminationsthatmyplaceintheEcolewouldbenotonlysecure，butsufficientlyadvancedtoreleasemefromthecostofmysupport，whichIdidnotwantyoutopayanylonger。
　　Itriumphed！Itrembleto—dayasIthinkofthefrightfulconscription（ifImaysocallit）ofbrainsdeliveredoveryearlytotheStatebyfamilyambition。Byinsistingontheseseverestudiesatthemomentwhenayouthattainshisvariousformsofgrowth，theauthoritiesproducesecretevilsandkillbymidnightstudymanypreciousfacultieswhichlaterwouldhavedevelopedbothstrengthandgrandeur。Thelawsofnaturearerelentless;
　　theydonotyieldinanyparticulartotheenterprisesorthewishesofsociety。Inthemoralorderasinthenaturalorderallabusesmustbepaidfor;fruitsforcedinahot—houseareproducedatthetree’sexpenseandoftenatthesacrificeofthegoodnessofitsproduct。LaQuintiniekilledtheorange—treestogiveLouisXIV。abunchofflowerseverydayatallseasons。Soitiswithintellects。Thestrainuponadolescentbrainsdiscountstheirfuture。
　　Thatwhichischieflywantingtoourepochislegislativegenius。
　　EuropehashadnotruelegislatorssinceJesusChrist，who，nothavinggiventotheworldapoliticalcode，lefthisworkincomplete。Beforeestablishinggreatschoolsofspecialistsandregulatingthemethodofrecruitingforthem，wherewerethegreatthinkerswhocouldbearinmindtherelationofsuchinstitutionstohumanpowers，balancingadvantagesandinjuries，andstudyingthepastforthelawsofthefuture？Whatinquiryhasbeenmadeastotheconditionofexceptionalmen，who，bysomefatalchance，knewhumansciencesbeforetheirtime？Hastherarityofsuchcasesbeenreckoned——theresultexamined？Hasanyenquirybeenmadeastothemeansbywhichsuchmenwereenabledtoenduretheperpetualstrainofthought？Howmany，likePascal，diedprematurely，worn—outbyknowledge？Havestatisticsbeengatheredastotheageatwhichthosemenwholivedthelongestbegantheirstudies？Whohaseverknown，doesanyoneknownow，theinteriorconstructionofbrainswhichhavebeenabletosustainaprematureburdenofhumanknowledge？Whosuspectsthatthisquestionbelongs，aboveall，tothephysiologyofman？
　　Formypart，Inowbelievethetruegenerallawistoremainalongtimeinthevegetativeconditionofadolescence;andthatthoseexceptionswherestrengthoforgansisproducedduringadolescenceresultusuallyintheshorteningoflife。Thusthemanofgeniuswhoisabletobearupundertheprecociousexerciseofhisfacultiesisanexceptiontoanexception。
　　IfIamright，ifwhatIsayaccordswithsocialfactsandmedicalobservations，thenthesystempractisedinFranceinhertechnicalschoolsisafatalimpairmentandmutilation（inthestyleofLaQuintinie）practiseduponthenoblestflowerofyouthineachgeneration。
　　Butitisbettertocontinuemyhistory，andaddmydoubtsasthefactsdevelopthemselves。
　　WhenIenteredtheEcolePolytechnique，Iworkedharderthaneverandwithevenmoreardor，inordertoleaveitastriumphantlyasIhadenteredit。Fromnineteentotwenty—oneIdevelopedeveryaptitudeandstrengthenedeveryfacultybyconstantpractice。
　　Thosetwoyearswerethecrownandcompletionofthefirstthree，duringwhichIhadonlypreparedmyselftodowell。ThereforemypridewasgreatwhenIwontherighttochoosethecareerthatpleasedmemost，——eithermilitaryornavalengineering，artillery，orstaffduty，orthecivilengineeringofmining，and/pontsetchaussees/。[*]Byyouradvice，Ichosethelatter。
　　[*]Departmentofthegovernmentincludingeverythingconnectedwiththemakingandrepairingofroads，bridges，canals，etc。
　　ButwhereItriumphedhowmanyothersfail！DoyouknowthatfromyeartoyeartheStateincreasesthescientificrequirementsoftheEcole？thestudiesaremoresevere，moreexactingyearly。Thepreparatorystudieswhichtriedmesomuchwerenothingtotheintenseworkoftheschoolitself，whichhasforitsobjecttoputthewholeofphysicalscience，mathematics，astronomy，chemistry，andalltheirnomenclaturesintothemindsofyoungmenofnineteentotwenty—oneyearsofage。TheState，whichseemsinFrancetowishtosubstituteitselfinmanywaysforthepaternalauthority，hasneitherbowelsofcompassionnorfatherhood;itmakesitsexperiments/inanimavili/。Neverdoesitinquireintothehorriblestatisticsofthesufferingitcauses。Doesitknowthenumberofbrainfeversamongitspupilsduringthelastthirty—sixyears;orthedespairandthemoraldestructionwhichdecimateitsyouth？IampointingouttoyouthispainfulsideoftheStateeducation，foritisoneoftheanteriorcontingentsoftheactualresult。
　　Youknowthatscholarswhoseconceptionsareslow，orwhoaretemporarilydisabledfromexcessofmentalwork，areallowedtoremainattheEcolethreeyearsinsteadoftwo;theythenbecometheobjectofsuspicionslittlefavorabletotheircapacity。Thisoftencompelsyoungmen，whomightlatershowsuperiorcapacity，toleavetheschoolwithoutbeingemployed，simplybecausetheycouldnotmeetthefinalexaminationwiththefullscientificknowledgerequired。Theyarecalled"driedfruits";Napoleonmadesub—lieutenantsofthem。To—daythe"driedfruits"constituteanenormouslossofcapitaltofamiliesandoftimetoindividuals。
　　However，asIsay，Itriumphed。Attwenty—oneyearsofageIknewthemathematicalsciencesuptothepointtowhichsomanymenofgeniushavebroughtthem，andIwasimpatienttodistinguishmyselfbycarryingthemfurther。ThisdesireissonaturalthatalmosteverypupilleavingtheEcolefixeshiseyesonthatmoralsuncalledFame。ThefirstthoughtofallistobecomeanotherNewton，orLaplace，orVauban。SucharetheeffortsthatFrancedemandsoftheyoungmenwholeavehercelebratedschool。
　　Nowletusseethefateofthesemenculledwithsomuchcarefromeachgeneration。Atone—and—twentywedreamoflife，andexpectmarvelsofit。IenteredtheEcoledesPontsetChaussees;Iwasapupil—engineer。Istudiedthescienceofconstruction，andhowardently！Iamsureyourememberthat。Ilefttheschoolin1827，beingthentwenty—fouryearsofage，stillonlyacandidateasengineer，andthegovernmentpaidmeonehundredandfiftyfrancsamonth;thecommonestbook—keeperinParisearnsthatbythetimeheiseighteen，givinglittlemorethanfourhoursadaytohiswork。
　　Byamostunusualpieceofluck，perhapsbecauseofthedistinctionmydevotedstudieswonforme，Iwasmade，in1828，whenIwastwenty—fiveyearsold，engineer—in—ordinary。Iwassent，asyouknow，toasub—prefecture，withasalaryoftwenty—
　　fivehundredfrancs。Thequestionofmoneyisnothing。Certainlymyfatehasbeenmorebrilliantthanthesonofacarpentermightexpect;butwherewillyoufindagrocer’sboy，who，ifthrownintoashopatsixteen，willnotintenyearsbeonthehigh—roadtoanindependentproperty？
　　Ilearnedthentowhattheseterribleeffortsofmentalpower，thesegiganticexertionsdemandedbytheStateweretolead。TheStatenowemployedmetocountandmeasurepavementsandheapsofstonesontheroadways;Ihadtokeepinorder，repair，andsometimesconstructculverts，one—archedbridges，regulatedrift—
　　ways，cleanandsometimesopenditches，layoutbounds，andanswerquestionsabouttheplantingandfellingoftrees。Sucharetheprincipalandsometimestheonlyoccupationsofordinaryengineers，togetherwithalittlelevellingwhichthegovernmentobligesustodoourselves，thoughanyofourchain—bearerswiththeirlimitedexperiencecandoitbetterthanwewithallourscience。
　　Therearenearlyfourhundredengineers—in—ordinaryandpupilengineers;andastherearenotmorethanahundredorsoofengineers—in—chief，onlyalimitednumberofthesub—engineerscanhopetorise。Besides，abovethegradeofengineer—in—chief，thereisnoabsorbentclass;forwecannotcountasameansofabsorptionthetenorfifteenplacesofinspector—generalsordivisionaries，——poststhatarealmostasuselessinourcorpsascolonelsareintheartillery，wherethebatteryistheessentialthing。Theengineer—in—ordinary，likethecaptainofartillery，knowsthewholescience。Heoughtnottohaveanyoneoverhimexceptanadministrativeheadtowhomnomorethaneighty—sixengineersshouldreport，——foroneengineer，withtwoassistantsisenoughforadepartment。
　　Thepresenthierarchyinthesebodiesresultsinthesubordinationofactiveenergeticcapacitiestotheworn—outcapacitiesofoldmen，who，thinkingtheyknowbest，alterornullifytheplanssubmittedbytheirsubordinates，——perhapswiththesoleaimofmakingtheirexistencefelt;forthatseemstometheonlyinfluenceexercisedoverthepublicworksofFrancebytheCouncil—generalofthe/PontsetChaussees/。
　　Suppose，however，thatIbecome，betweenthirtyandfortyyearsofage，anengineerofthefirst—classandanengineer—in—chiefbeforeIamfifty。Alas！Iseemyfuture;itiswrittenbeforemyeyes。Hereisaforecastofit:——
　　Mypresentengineer—in—chiefissixtyyearsold;heissuedwithhonors，asIdid，fromthefamousEcole;hehasturnedgraydoingintwodepartmentswhatIamdoingnow，andhehasbecomethemostordinarymanitispossibletoimagine;hehasfallenfromtheheighttowhichhehadreallyrisen;farworse，heisnolongeronthelevelofscientificknowledge;sciencehasprogressed，hehasstayedwherehewas。Themanwhocameforthreadyforlifeattwenty—twoyearsofage，witheverysignofsuperiority，hasnothingleftto—daybutthereputationofit。Inthebeginning，withhismindspeciallyturnedtotheexactsciencesandmathematicsbyhiseducation，heneglectedeverythingthatwasnothisspecialty;andyoucanhardlyimaginehispresentdulnessinallotherbranchesofhumanknowledge。IhardlydareconfideeventoyouthesecretsofhisincapacityshelteredbythefactthathewaseducatedattheEcolePolytechnique。Withthatlabelattachedtohimandonthefaithofthatprestige，noonedreamsofdoubtinghisability。ToyoualonedoIdarerevealthefactthatthedullingofallhistalentshasledhimtospendamilliononasinglematterwhichoughtnottohavecosttheadministrationmorethantwohundredthousandfrancs。Iwishedtoprotest，andwasabouttoinformtheprefect;butanengineerIknowverywellremindedmeofoneofourcomradeswhowashatedbytheadministrationfordoingthatverything。"Howwouldyoulike，"hesaidtome，"whenyougettobeengineer—in—chieftohaveyourerrorsdraggedforthbyyoursubordinate？Beforelongyourengineer—in—chiefwillbemadeadivisionalinspector。Assoonasanyoneofuscommitsaseriousblunder，ashehasdone，theadministration（whichcan’tallowitselftoappearinthewrong）
　　willquietlyretirehimfromactivedutybymakinghiminspector。"
　　That’showtherewardofmeritdevolvesonincapacity。AllFranceknewofthedisasterwhichhappenedintheheartofParistothefirstsuspensionbridgebuiltbyanengineer，amemberoftheAcademyofSciences;amelancholycollapsecausedbyblunderssuchasnoneoftheancientengineers——themanwhocutthecanalatBriareinHenriIV。’stime，orthemonkwhobuiltthePontRoyal——
　　wouldhavemade;butouradministrationconsoleditsengineerforhisblunderbymakinghimamemberoftheCouncil—general。
　　Arethetechnicalschoolsvastmanufactoriesofincapables？Thatsubjectrequirescarefulinvestigation。IfIamrighttheyneedreforming，atanyrateintheirmethodofproceeding，——forIamnot，ofcourse，doubtingtheutilityofsuchschools。Only，whenwelookbackintothepastweseethatFranceinformerdaysneverwantedforthegreattalentsnecessarytotheState;butnowshepreferstohatchouttalentgeometrically，afterthetheoryofMonge。DidVaubanevergotoanyotherEcolethanthatgreatschoolwecallvocation？WhowasRiquet’stutor？Whengreatgeniusesariseabovethesocialmass，impelledbyvocation，theyarenearlyalwaysroundedintocompleteness;themanisthennotmerelyaspecialist，hehasthegiftofuniversality。DoyouthinkthatanengineerfromtheEcolePolytechniquecouldevercreateoneofthosemiraclesofarchitecturesuchasLeonardodaVinciknewhowtobuild，——mechanician，architect，painter，inventorofhydraulics，indefatigableconstructorofcanalsthathewas？
　　Trainedfromtheirearliestyearstothebaldnessofaxiomandformula，theyouthswholeavetheEcolehavelostthesenseofeleganceandornament;acolumnseemstothemuseless;theyreturntothepointwhereartbegins，andclingtotheuseful。
　　Butallthisisnothingincomparisontotherealmaladywhichisunderminingme。Ifeelanawfultransformationgoingonwithinme;
　　Iamconsciousthatmypowersandmyfaculties，formerlyunnaturallytaxed，aregivingway。Iamlettingtheprosaicinfluenceofmylifegetholdofme。Iwho，bytheverynatureofmyefforts，lookedtodosomegreatthing，Iamfacetofacewithnonebutpettyones;Imeasurestones，Iinspectroads，Ihavenotenoughtoreallyoccupymefortwohoursinmyday。Iseemycolleaguesmarry，andfallintoasituationcontrarytothespiritofmodernsociety。Iwantedtobeusefultomycountry。Ismyambitionanunreasonableone？Thecountryaskedmetoputforthallmypowers;ittoldmetobecomearepresentativeofscience;
　　yethereIamwithfoldedarmsinthedepthsoftheprovinces。I
　　amnotevenallowedtoleavethelocalityinwhichIampenned，toexercisemyfacultiesinplanningusefulenterprises。Ahiddenbutveryrealdisfavoristhecertainrewardofanyoneofuswhoyieldstoaninspirationandgoesbeyondthespecialservicelaiddownforhim。
　　No，thefavorasuperiormanhastohopeforinthatcaseisthathistalentandhispresumptionmaynotbenoticed，andthathisprojectmaybeburiedinthearchivesoftheadministration。WhatthinkyouwillbetherewardofVicat，theoneamonguswhohasbroughtabouttheonlyrealprogressinthepracticalscienceofconstruction？TheCouncil—generalofthe/PontsetChaussees/，composedinpartofmenworn—outbylongandsometimeshonorableservice，butwhoseonlyremainingforceisfornegation，andwhosetasideeverythingtheynolongercomprehend，istheextinguisherusedtosnuffouttheprojectsofaudaciousspirits。
　　ThisCouncilseemstohavebeencreatedtoparalyzethearmofthatgloriousyouthofFrance，whichasksonlytoworkandtobeusefultoitscountry。
　　MonstrousthingsaredoneinParis。Thefutureofaprovincedependsonthemeresignatureofmenwho（throughintriguesIhavenotimetoexplaintoyou）oftenstoptheexecutionofusefulandmuch—neededwork;infact，thebestplansareoftenthosewhichoffermosttothecupidityofcommercialcompaniesorspeculators。
　　AnotherfiveyearsandIshallnolongerbemyself;myambitionwillbequenched，mydesiretousethefacultiesmycountryorderedmetoexercisegoneforever;thefacultiesthemselvesarerustingoutinthemiserablecorneroftheworldinwhichI
　　vegetate。Takingmychancesattheirbest，thefutureseemstomeapoorthing。IhavejusttakenadvantageofafurloughtocometoParis;Imeantochangemyprofessionandfindsomeotherwaytoputmyenergy，myknowledge，andmyactivitytouse。Ishallsendinmyresignationandgotosomeothercountry，wheremenofmyspecialcapacityarewanted。
　　IfIfindIcannotdothis，thenIshallthrowmyselfintothestruggleofthenewdoctrines，whichcertainlyseemcalculatedtoproducegreatchangesinthepresentsocialorderbyjudiciouslyguidingtheworking—classes。Whatarewenowbutworkerswithoutwork，toolsontheshelvesofashop？Wearetrainedandorganizedasiftomovetheworld，andnothingisgivenustodo。Ifeelwithinmesomegreatthing，whichisdecreasingdaily，andwillsoonvanish;Itellyousowithmathematicalfrankness。BeforemakingthechangeIwantyouradvice;Ilookuponmyselfasyourchild，andIwillnevertakeanyimportantstepwithoutconsultingyou，foryourexperienceisequaltoyourkindness。
　　IknowverywellthattheState，afterobtainingaclassoftrainedmen，cannotundertakeforthemalonegreatpublicworks;
　　therearenotthreehundredbridgesneededayearinallFrance;
　　theStatecannomorebuildgreatbuildingsforthefameofitsengineersthanitcandeclarewarmerelytowinbattlesandbringtothefrontgreatgenerals;but，then，asmenofgeniushaveneverfailedtopresentthemselveswhentheoccasioncalledforthem，springingfromthecrowdlikeVauban，cantherebeanygreaterproofoftheuselessnessofthepresentinstitution？Can’ttheyseethatwhentheyhavestimulatedamanoftalentbyallthosepreparationshewillmakeafiercestrugglebeforeheallowshimselftobecomeanonentity？IsthisgoodpolicyonthepartoftheState？Onthecontrary，isnottheStatelightingthefireofardentambitions，whichmustfindfuelsomewhere。
　　Amongthesixhundredyoungmenwhomtheyputfortheveryyearthereareexceptions，——menwhoresistwhatmaybecalledtheirdemonetization。Iknowsomemyself，andifIcouldtellyoutheirstruggleswithmenandthingswhenarmedwithusefulprojectsandconceptionswhichmightbringlifeandprosperitytothehalf—deadprovinceswheretheStatehassentthem，youwouldfeelthatamanofpower，amanoftalent，amanwhosenatureisamiracle，isahundredfoldmoreunfortunateandmoretobepitiedthanthemanwhoselowernatureletshimsubmittotheshrinkageofhisfaculties。
　　Ihavemadeupmymind，therefore，thatIwouldratherdirectsomecommercialorindustrialenterprise，andliveonsmallmeanswhiletryingtosolvesomeofthegreatproblemsstillunknowntoindustryandtosociety，thanremainatmypresentpost。
　　Youwilltellme，perhaps，thatnothinghindersmefromemployingtheleisurethatIcertainlyhaveinusingmyintellectualpowersandseekinginthestillnessofthiscommonplacelifethesolutionofsomeproblemusefultohumanity。Ah！monsieur，don’tyouknowtheinfluenceoftheprovinces，——therelaxingeffectofalifejustbusyenoughtowastetimeonfutilelabor，andnotenoughtousetherichresourcesoureducationhasgivenus？Don’tthinkme，mydearprotector，eatenupbythedesiretomakeafortune，norevenbyaninsensatedesireforfame。Iamtoomuchofacalculatornottoknowthenothingnessofglory。NeitherdoIwanttomarry;seeingthefatenowbeforeme，Ithinkmyexistenceamelancholygifttoofferanywoman。Asformoney，thoughIregarditasoneofthemostpowerfulmeansgiventosocialmantoactwith，itis，afterall，butameans。
　　Iplacemywholedesireandhappinessonthehopeofbeingusefultomycountry。Mygreatestpleasurewouldbetoworkinsomesituationsuitedtomyfaculties。Ifinyourregion，orinthecircleofyouracquaintances，youshouldhearofanyenterprisethatneededthecapacitiesyouknowmetopossess，thinkofme;I
　　willwaitsixmonthsforyouranswerbeforetakinganystep。