MARIE-GASTON TO MADAME LA COMTESSE DE L'ESTORADEArcis-sur-Aube, May 16, 1839.
Madame,--Last evening the preparatory meeting took place,--a ridiculous ceremony, very annoying to the candidates, which cannot, however, be avoided.
Perhaps it is natural that before pledging themselves to a man who is to represent them for four or five years, voters should want to question him, and discover, if possible, what he really is.Is he a man of intelligence? Does he really sustain the ideas put forth about him? Will he be cordial and affable to the various interests which may claim his support? Is he firm in character? Can he defend his ideas--if he has any? In a word, will the constituency be worthily, faithfully, and honestly represented? That is the serious and respectable aspect of this institution, which, not being a part of the law, must, in order to be so firmly fixed in our customs, have a sound reason for its existence.
But every medal has its reverse; as may be seen in these meetings of candidates with electors puffed up by their own self-importance, eager to exercise for a moment the sovereignty they are about to delegate to their deputy, and selling it as dearly as they can to him.Considering the impertinence of certain questions addressed to a candidate, it would really seem as if the latter were a serf over whom each elector had rights of life and death.Not a corner of his private life where the unhappy man is safe from prying curiosity.All things are possible in the line of preposterous questioning; for instance: Why does the candidate prefer the wine of Champagne to the wine of Bordeaux? At Bordeaux, where wine is a religion, this preference implies an idea of non-patriotism and may seriously affect the election.Many voters go to these meetings solely to enjoy the embarrassment of the candidates.
Holding them as it were in the pillory, they play with them like a child with a beetle, an old judge with the criminal he examines, or a young surgeon at an autopsy.
Others have not such elevated tastes; they come merely to enjoy the racket, the confusion of tongues which is certain to take place on such occasions.Some see their opportunity to exhibit a choice talent;for (as they say in the reports of the Chamber) when "the tumult is at its height," a cock is heard to crow or a dog to howl as if his paw were trodden upon,--noises that are imitated with marvellous accuracy.
But truly, are not fools and stupid beings a majority in the world, and ought they not to have their representative?
The meeting took place in a large dance-hall, the loft for the orchestra forming a sort of private box to which non-voters were admitted, I among the number.Some ladies had already taken the front seats; Madame Marion, aunt of Simon Giguet, the Left centre candidate;Madame and Mademoiselle Mollot, wife and daughter of the clerk of the court, and some others whose names and position I did not catch.
Madame and Mademoiselle Beauvisage shone conspicuously, like Brutus and Cassius, by their absence.
Before the candidacy of Monsieur Beauvisage was brought forward on the ministerial side after the death of Charles Keller, that of Monsieur Simon Giguet was thought to be certain of success.Now, in consequence of that of our friend Sallenauve, who has in turn distanced Beauvisage, Giguet has fallen a step lower still.His father, a former colonel of the Empire, is greatly respected throughout this region.As an expression of regret for not electing his son (according to all probabilities), the electors made him, by acclamation, chairman of the meeting.
The first candidate who was called upon to speak was Simon Giguet; he made a long-winded address, full of commonplaces.Few questions were asked him which deserve a place in the present report.The audience felt that the tug of war was elsewhere.
Monsieur Beauvisage was then summoned; whereupon Maitre Achille Pigoult the notary rose, and asked leave to make a statement.
"Monsieur le maire," he said, "has, since yesterday, been attacked by--""Ha! ha!" derisive laughter on the part of the electors.
Colonel Giguet rang his bell repeatedly, without being able to enforce silence.At the first lull Maitre Pigoult resumed,--"I have the honor to inform you, gentlemen, that, attacked by an indisposition which, not serious in itself--"Fresh interruption, noisier than the first.
Like all military men, Colonel Giguet is not patient nor parliamentary; he therefore rose and called out vehemently,--"Messieurs, we are not at a circus.I request you to behave in a more seemly manner; if not, I leave the chair."It is to be supposed that men in masses like to be handled roughly;for this lesson was greeted with merry applause, after which silence appeared to be firmly re-established.
"I regret to inform you," began Maitre Achille Pigoult, varying his formula for the third time, "that, attacked by an indisposition happily not serious, which may confine him to his chamber--""Throat trouble," suggested a voice.
"--our venerable and excellent mayor," continued Achille Pigoult, taking no notice of the interruption, "is unable to be present at this meeting.Madame Beauvisage, with whom I have just had the honor of an interview, requests me to inform you that, for the present, Monsieur Beauvisage renounces the honor of receiving your suffrages, and requests those of you who have given him your intelligent sympathy to transfer your votes to Monsieur Simon Giguet."This Achille Pigoult is a malicious fellow, who intentionally brought in the name of Madame Beauvisage to exhibit her conjugal sovereignty.
But the assembly was really too provincial to catch the meaning of that little bit of treachery.Besides, in the provinces, women take part in the most virile affairs of the men.The well-known saying of the vicar's old housekeeper, "We don't say masses at that price,"would pass without comment in Champagne.