Red Wing sentinel. [volume] (Red Wing, M.T. [i.e. Minn.]) 1855-1861, 1859-01-29
George Sand on FRINGE ralfeyraud.

George Sand on Prince Calfeyrmrd.
"Wherfoc, then, do We live? 20 ex
claimed he, seating himself, with .
sudden movement, on the stone bencl
in front Of the chateau. "What profit
is there in our lives? What noble u.s.
do We make of our faculties What
then, is'virtueF It's stagnant marsl
or an impetuous river; the buried dia
mond, or the bursting lava, shroudin,
its brilliancy from the light, or shed
ding intolcrablo splendour over tn
world?"
SIN none Of these things is virtu
imagined" replied; II would rathe
likeu it to little rivulet, proceeding
from the peaceful grotta, giving no'st
ure to the verdant meadows, to .,lant<
which cmbalm the air, and follower.
which enamel the earth. Virt'e, mind
you, is not genius, it is GODDESS. You
who arc SO ambitious, look 1t that pal
ace, think Of him who inbablts it, and
tell me, are you not recc'ciled to your
lot
Hideous consolaton :" responded
my friend.
"Pat,ence, patince," l resumed
edo not believe At is apathy which
makes me counse contentment. Wher
ono can prever CT me, it is mean and
cowardly to WISH ones hands like Pi.
late. But, tai me, are you not seiz ed
with an ipincible disgust, secret
horror for active life, in front of that
Chateau, where so many unclean prof.
ects, so m.ny compact scoundrelisms
brood ard germinate in the silence OF
the night? Know you not that the
man resides there who, for sixty years
has been playing with crowns aud ma
tons as at a game of chess ? Who
knows but this man, the first time he
ever sat before table in the public
service, had an honest resolution in his
head, and a noble sentiment in his
heart ~
"Nevcr" cried my friend "profane
not integrity by such thought. That
lip, like cats drawn up, and clinginR
to the gums, that other lip, like satyr's,
large and falling; mixture of dissim.
"lation and lasciviousness those sol,
and well rounded lineamcnts, marking
suppleness Of character; that danger,
Gus told on q prominent forehead: that
arrogant nose with the reptile look 80
many contrasts on human physiogno-
my, reveal a man born for great
vice and little actions. Never has the
heart OF this man felt the warmth of a
generous emotion F.; never has a frank
idea traversed his laborious head: that
man is an exception in nature, q mon
strosity so rare, that the human race.
even in despising has contemplated him
with stupid admiration. I will defv
you to debase yourself even to the
most extraordinary Of his talents.'
Hele my friend stopped with an air
ironically Joyous, and after few min
utes silence resumed,
"Contemplate moment the pale
immovablc face of this old palace {!
Listen and look; all is sombre and 81.
tent. 1t seems as if we were in :bu-
!ying.ground: yet fifty persons at least
inhabit that wing. There are but some
few Of its windows barely lighted. Not
the slightest noise bctrays the wherea-
bouts Of the master, his society, or his
suite, what order what respect, what
gloon, presides over his little empire.
The doors open and shut without noise.
The Wallets come and 90 without awak.
ing an echo by their tread under these
mysterious arches. Their service seems
to be done by enchantment. Look at
that window little better lighted
than the others, through which you
may see the uncertain spectre Of q
white statue that is the dining-room.
There are assembled, sportsmen, art.
lists, brilliant women, men of fashion,
and all which France possesses, the
elegance and France. But do you
hear from this assembly song, a laugh
or the raised sound Of a single voice.
attcsting tho presence Of man?
would wager even that they avoid eacf
others looks, lest thought should cir
culate under ceilings which canopy 81
lence, mystery and secret dread. No
avalet dares sneeze, not dog dares t
bark, in this place. Does it not seen
to you that the air around these Moor
ish towers is more sonorous than il
any other spot of the earth? But Hank
I think / hear the roll of q carriap,
over the fine sand of thecourt.-
It is the master returning. Eleve,
o'clock has just struck. It isimpos
'sible 70, conceive a life more regular
an existence more avariciously dis
tribut ed, tsan that of this octagena
rian fox. Go and tell him that twent,
times day you are on the verge o
despair, from tt> fear of remaining
Improbable to yos< fellow creatures
and that you are alarmed and care
stricken at the idea ofIving withou
virtue, and you will see Nm smile lik,
one abandoned, to whom apious yir
gin might confess the ngNdness O
her prayer, or her inattention durin,
the divine service. Ask by what oc
equations, by what good actions hi
day filed up? His people will tell 20
that he rises in the morning, at eleye
o'clock, and gives four hours to hj
toilet, in the vain attempt to impair
some appearance of life TO his marbl
face. which Discrimination has natrif;o