“Oh, take care, Monsieur! take care!” said a professor. “Don’t attack the precious boons we gained in 1830! Respect our liberties!” It would be better, he contended, to adopt a policy of decentralisation, and to distribute the surplus populations of the towns through the country districts.
“But they are gangrened!” exclaimed a Catholic. “Let religion be more firmly established!”
Martinon hastened to observe:
“As a matter of fact, it is a restraining force.”
All the evil lay in this modern longing to rise above one’s class and to possess luxuries.
“However,” urged a manufacturer, “luxury aids commerce. Therefore, I approve of the Duc de Nemours’ action in insisting on having short breeches at his evening parties.”
“M. Thiers came to one of them in a pair of trousers. You know his joke
