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。