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shes to abolish external commerce; Lafarelle to tax machinery; another to take off the drink duties, to restore trade wardenships, or to distribute soups. Proudhon conceives the idea of a uniform tariff, and claims for the state the monopoly of sugar. "These socialists," said Bouvard, "always call for tyranny." "Oh, no!" "Yes, indeed!" "You are absurd!" "Well, I am shocked at you!" They sent for the works of which they had only summaries. Bouvard noted a number of passages, and, pointing them out, said: "Read for yourself. They offer as examples to us the Essenes, the Moravian Brethren, the Jesuits of Paraguay, and even the government of prisons." "'Amongst the Icarians breakfast was over in twenty minutes; women were delivered at the hospitals. As for books, it was forbidden to print them without the authorisation of the Republic.'" "But Cabet is an idiot." "Here, now, we have from Saint-Simon: 'The publicists should submit their works to a committee of manufacturers.' "And from Pierre Leroux: 'The law will compel the citizens to listen to an orator.' "And from Auguste Comte: 'The priests will educate the youth, will exercise supervision over literary works, and will reserve to themselves the power of regulating procreation.'" These quotations troubled Pecuchet. In the evening, at dinner, he replied: "I admit that there are absurdities in the works of the inventors of Utopias; nevertheless they deserve our sympathy. The hideousness of the world tormented them, and, in order to make it beautiful, they endured everything. Recall to mind More decapitated, Campanella put seven times to the torture, Buonarotti with a chain round his neck, Saint-Simon dying of want; many others. They might have lived in peace; but no! they marched on their way with their heads towards the sky, like heroes." "Do you believe," said Bouvard, "that the world will change, thanks to the theories of some particular gentleman?" "What does it matter?" said Pecuchet; "it is time to cease stagnating in selfishness. Let us look out for the best system." "Then you expect to find it?" "Certainly." "You?" And, in the fit of laughter with which Bouvard was seized, his shoulders and stomach kept shaking in harmony. Redder than the jams before them, with his napkin under his armpits, he kept repeating, "Ha! ha! ha!" in an irritating fashion. Pecuchet left the room, slamming the door after him. Germaine w
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