按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
as Gondreville； and more unprincipled than Maxime de Trailles。 At such
times Celestine's mind took a wide range； and she imagined herself at
the summit of her ideas。
When these fine visions first began Rabourdin； who saw the practical
side； was cool。 Celestine； much grieved； thought her husband narrow…
minded； timid； unsympathetic； and she acquired； insensibly； a wholly
false opinion of the companion of her life。 In the first place； she
often extinguished him by the brilliancy of her arguments。 Her ideas
came to her in flashes； and she sometimes stopped him short when he
began an explanation； because she did not choose to lose the slightest
sparkle of her own mind。 From the earliest days of their marriage
Celestine； feeling herself beloved and admired by her husband； treated
him without ceremony； she put herself above conjugal laws and the
rules of private courtesy by expecting love to pardon all her little
wrong…doings； and； as she never in any way corrected herself； she was
always in the ascendant。 In such a situation the man holds to the wife
very much the position of a child to a teacher when the latter cannot
or will not recognize that the mind he has ruled in childhood is
becoming mature。 Like Madame de Stael； who exclaimed in a room full of
people； addressing； as we may say； a greater man than herself； 〃Do you
know you have really said something very profound！〃 Madame Rabourdin
said of her husband： 〃He certainly has a good deal of sense at times。〃
Her disparaging opinion of him gradually appeared in her behavior
through almost imperceptible motions。 Her attitude and manners
expressed a want of respect。 Without being aware of it she injured her
husband in the eyes of others； for in all countries society； before
making up its mind about a man； listens for what his wife thinks of
him； and obtains from her what the Genevese term 〃pre…advice。〃
When Rabourdin became aware of the mistakes which love had led him to
commit it was too late；the groove had been cut； he suffered and was
silent。 Like other men in whom sentiments and ideas are of equal
strength； whose souls are noble and their brains well balanced； he was
the defender of his wife before the tribunal of his own judgment； he
told himself that nature doomed her to a disappointed life through his
fault； HIS； she was like a thoroughbred English horse； a racer
harnessed to a cart full of stones； she it was who suffered； and he
blamed himself。 His wife； by dint of constant repetition； had
inoculated him with her own belief in herself。 Ideas are contagious in
a household； the ninth thermidor； like so many other portentous
events； was the result of female influence。 Thus； goaded by
Celestine's ambition； Rabourdin had long considered the means of
satisfying it； though he hid his hopes； so as to spare her the
tortures of uncertainty。 The man was firmly resolved to make his way
in the administration by bringing a strong light to bear upon it。 He
intended to bring about one of those revolutions which send a man to
the head of either one party or another in society； but being
incapable of so doing in his own interests； he merely pondered useful
thoughts and dreamed of triumphs won for his country by noble means。
His ideas were both generous and ambitious； few officials have not
conceived the like； but among officials as among artists there are
more miscarriages than births； which is tantamount to Buffon's saying
that 〃Genius is patience。〃
Placed in a position where he could study French administration and
observe its mechanism； Rabourdin worked in the circle where his
thought revolved； which； we may remark parenthetically； is the secret
of much human accomplishment； and his labor culminated finally in the
invention of a new system for the Civil Service of government。 Knowing
the people with whom he had to do； he maintained the machine as it
then worked； so it still works and will continue to work； for
everybody fears to remodel it； though no one； according to Rabourdin；
ought to be unwilling to simplify it。 In his opinion； the problem to
be resolved lay in a better use of the same forces。 His plan； in its
simplest form； was to revise taxation and lower it in a way that
should not diminish the revenues of the State； and to obtain； from a
budget equal to the budgets which now excite such rabid discussion；
results that should be two…fold greater than the present results。 Long
practical experience had taught Rabourdin that perfection is brought
about in all things by changes in the direction of simplicity。 To
economize is to simplify。 To simplify means to suppress unnecessary
machinery； removals naturally follow。 His system； therefore； depended
on the weeding out of officials and the establishment of a new order
of administrative offices。 No doubt the hatred which all reformers
incur takes its rise here。 Removals required by this perfecting
process； always ill…understood； threaten the well…being of those on
whom a change in their condition is thus forced。 What rendered
Rabourdin really great was that he was able to restrain the enthusiasm
that possesses all reformers； and to patiently seek out a slow
evolving medium for all changes so as to avoid shocks； leaving time
and experience to prove the excellence of each reform。 The grandeur of
the result anticipated might make us doubt its possibility if we lose
sight of this essential point in our rapid analysis of his system。 It
is； therefore； not unimportant to show through his self…communings；
however incomplete they might be； the point of view from which he
looked at the administrative horizon。 This tale； which is evolved from
the very heart of the Civil Service； may also serve to show some of
the evils of our present social customs。
Xavier Rabourdin； deeply impressed by the trials and poverty which he
witnessed in the lives of the government clerks； endeavored to
ascertain the cause of their growing deterioration。 He found it in
those petty partial revolutions； the eddies； as it were； of the storm
of 1789； which the historians of great social movements neglect to
inquire into； although as a matter of fact it is they which have made
our manners and customs what they are now。
Formerly； under the monarchy； the bureaucratic armies did not exist。
The clerks； few in number； were under the orders of a prime minister
who communicated with the sovereign； thus they directly served the
king。 The superiors of these zealous servants were simply called head…
clerks。 In those branches of administration which the king did not
himself direct； such for instance as the 〃fermes〃 （the public domains
throughout the country on which a revenue was levied）； the clerks were
to their superior what the clerks of a business…house are to their
employer； they learned a science which would one day advance them to
prosperity。 Thus； all points of the circumference were fastened to the
centre and derived their life from it。 The result was devotion an