Le Juif errant. English

by Eugène Sue

  CHAPTER LI. THE SECRET.

  When the very natural astonishment which the arrival of Marshal Simonhad caused in Angela had passed away, Agricola said to her with a smile:"I do not wish to take advantage of this circumstance, Mdlle. Angela,to spare you the account of the secret, by which all the wonders of ourCommon Dwelling-house are brought to pass."

  "Oh! I should not have let you forget your promise, M. Agricola,"answered Angela, "what you have already told me interests me too muchfor that."

  "Listen, then. M. Hardy, like a true magician, has pronounced threecabalistic words: ASSOCIATION--COMMUNITY--FRATERNITY. We have understoodthe sense of these words, and the wonders you have seen have sprung fromthem, to our great advantage; and also, I repeat, to the great advantageof M. Hardy."

  "It is that which appears so extraordinary, M. Agricola."

  "Suppose, mademoiselle, that M. Hardy, instead of being what he is, hadonly been a cold-hearted speculator, looking merely to the profit, andsaying to himself: 'To make the most of my factory, what is needed?Good work--great economy in the raw material--full employment of theworkman's time; in a word, cheapness of manufacture, in order to producecheaply--excellence of the thing produced, in order to sell dear.'"

  "Truly, M. Agricola, no manufacturer could desire more."

  "Well, mademoiselle, these conditions might have been fulfilled, as theyhave been, but how? Had M. Hardy only been a speculator, he might havesaid: 'At a distance from my factory, my workmen might have trouble toget there: rising earlier, they will sleep less; it is a bad economyto take from the sleep so necessary to those who toil. When they getfeeble, the work suffers for it; then the inclemency of the seasonsmakes it worse; the workman arrives wet, trembling with cold, enervatedbefore he begins to work--and then, what work!'"

  "It is unfortunately but too true, M. Agricola. At Lille, when I reachedthe factory, wet through with a cold rain, I used sometimes to shiverall day long at my work."

  "Therefore, Mdlle. Angela, the speculator might say: 'To lodgemy workmen close to the door of my factory would obviate thisinconvenience. Let us make the calculation. In Paris the married workmanpays about two hundred and fifty francs a-year,(30) for one or twowretched rooms and a closet, dark, small, unhealthy, in a narrow,miserable street; there he lives pell-mell with his family. What ruinedconstitutions are the consequence! and what sort of work can you expectfrom a feverish and diseased creature? As for the single men, they payfor a smaller, and quite as unwholesome lodging, about one hundred andfifty francs a-year. Now, let us make the addition. I employ one hundredand forty-six married workmen, who pay together, for their wretchedholes, thirty-six thousand five hundred francs; I employ also onehundred and fifteen bachelors, who pay at the rate of seventeen thousandtwo hundred and eighty francs; the total will amount to about fiftythousand francs per annum, the interest on a million."'

  "Dear me, M. Agricola! what a sum to be produced by uniting all theselittle rents together!"

  "You see, mademoiselle, that fifty thousand francs a-year is amillionaire's rent. Now, what says our speculator: To induce our workmento leave Paris, I will offer them, enormous advantages. I will reducetheir rent one-half, and, instead of small, unwholesome rooms, theyshall have large, airy apartments, well-warmed and lighted, at atrifling charge. Thus, one hundred and forty-six families, paying meonly one hundred and twenty-five francs a-year, and one hundredand fifteen bachelors, seventy-five francs, I shall have a total oftwenty-six to twenty-seven thousand francs. Now, a building large enoughto hold all these people would cost me at most five hundred thousandfrancs.(31) I shall then have invested my money at five per cent at theleast, and with perfect security, since the wages is a guarantee for thepayment of the rent.'"

  "Ah, M. Agricola! I begin to understand how it may sometimes beadvantageous to do good, even in a pecuniary sense."

  "And I am almost certain, mademoiselle, that, in the long run, affairsconducted with uprightness and honesty turn out well. But to return toour speculator. 'Here,' will he say, 'are my workmen, living close tomy factory, well lodged, well warmed, and arriving always fresh attheir work. That is not all; the English workman who eats good beef, anddrinks good beer, does twice as much, in the same time, as the Frenchworkman,(32) reduced to a detestable kind of food, rather weakening thanthe reverse, thanks to the poisonous adulteration of the articles heconsumes. My workmen will then labor much better, if they eat muchbetter. How shall I manage it without loss? Now I think of it, whatis the food in barracks, schools, even prisons? Is it not the union ofindividual resources which procures an amount of comfort impossible torealize without such an association? Now, if my two hundred and sixtyworkmen, instead of cooking two hundred and sixty detestable dinners,were to unite to prepare one good dinner for all of them, which mightbe done, thanks to the savings of all sorts that would ensue, what anadvantage for me and them! Two or three women, aided by children, wouldsuffice to make ready the daily repasts; instead of buying wood andcharcoal in fractions,(33) and so paying for it double its value, theassociation of my workmen would, upon my security (their wages would bean efficient security for me in return), lay in their own stock of wood,flour, butter, oil, wine, etc., all which they would procure directlyfrom the producers. Thus, they would pay three or four sous for a bottleof pure wholesome wine, instead of paying twelve or fifteen sous forpoison. Every week the association would buy a whole ox, and some sheep,and the women would make bread, as in the country. Finally, with theseresources, and order, and economy, my workmen may have wholesome,agreeable, and sufficient food, for from twenty to twenty-five sous aday.'"

  "Ah! this explains it, M. Agricola."

  "It is not all, mademoiselle. Our cool-headed speculator would continue:'Here are my workmen well lodged, well warmed, well fed, with a savingof at least half; why should they not also be warmly clad? Their healthwill then have every chance of being good, and health is labor. Theassociation will buy wholesale, and at the manufacturing price (stillupon my security, secured to me by their wages), warm, good, strongmaterials, which a portion of the workmen's wives will be able to makeinto clothes as well as any tailor. Finally, the consumption of caps andshoes being considerable, the association will obtain them at a greatreduction in price.' Well, Mdlle. Angela! what do you say to ourspeculator?"

  "I say, M. Agricola," answered the young girl; with ingenuousadmiration, "that it is almost incredible, and yet so simple!"

  "No doubt, nothing is more simple than the good and beautiful, and yetwe think of it so seldom. Observe, that our man has only been speakingwith a view to his own interest--only considering the material side ofthe question--reckoning for nothing the habit of fraternity and mutualaid, which inevitably springs from living together in common--notreflecting that a better mode of life improves and softens the characterof man--not thinking of the support and instruction which the strong oweto the weak--not acknowledging, in fine, that the honest, active, andindustrious man has a positive right to demand employment fromsociety, and wages proportionate to the wants of his condition. No,our speculator only thinks of the gross profits; and yet, you see, heinvests his money in buildings at five per cent., and finds the greatestadvantages in the material comfort of his workmen."

  "It is true, M. Agricola."

  "And what will you say, mademoiselle, when I prove to you that ourspeculator finds also a great advantage in giving to his workmen, inaddition to their regular wages, a proportionate share of his profits?"

  "That appears to me more difficult to prove, M. Agricola."

  "Yet I will convince you of it in a few minutes."

  Thus conversing, Angela and Agricola had reached the garden-gate of theCommon Dwelling-house. An elderly woman, dressed plainly, but with careand neatness, approached Agricola, and asked him: "Has M. Hardy returnedto the factory, sir?"

  "No, madame; but we expect him hourly."

  "To-day, perhaps?"

  "To-day or to-morrow, madame."

  "You cannot tell me at what hour he will be here
?"

  "I do not think it is known, madame, but the porter of the factory,who also belongs to M. Hardy's private house, may, perhaps, be able toinform you."

  "I thank you, sir."

  "Quite welcome, madame."

  "M. Agricola," said Angela, when the woman who had just questioned himwas gone, "did you remark that this lady was very pale and agitated?"

  "I noticed it as you did, mademoiselle; I thought I saw tears standingin her eyes."

  "Yes, she seemed to have been crying. Poor woman! perhaps she came toask assistance of M. Hardy. But what ails you, M. Agricola? You appearquite pensive."

  Agricola had a vague presentiment that the visit of this elderly womanwith so sad a countenance, had some connection with the adventure of theyoung and pretty lady, who, three days before had come all agitated andin tears to inquire after M. Hardy, and who had learned--perhaps toolate--that she was watched and followed.

  "Forgive me, mademoiselle," said Agricola to Angela; "but the presenceof this old lady reminded me of a circumstance, which, unfortunately, Icannot tell you, for it is a secret that does not belong to me alone."

  "Oh! do not trouble yourself, M. Agricola," answered the young girl,with a smile; "I am not inquisitive, and what we were talking of beforeinterests me so much, that I do not wish to hear you speak of anythingelse."

  "Well, then mademoiselle, I will say a few words more, and you will beas well informed as I am of the secrets of our association."

  "I am listening, M. Agricola."

  "Let us still keep in view the speculator from mere interest. 'Here aremy workmen, says he, 'in the best possible condition to do a greatdeal of work. Now what is to be done to obtain large profits? Producecheaply, and sell dear. But there will be no cheapness, without economyin the use of the raw material, perfection of the manufacturing process,and celerity of labor. Now, in spite of all my vigilance, how am I toprevent my workmen from wasting the materials? How am I to induce them,each in his own province, to seek for the most simple and least irksomeprocesses?"

  "True, M. Agricola; how is that to be done?"

  "'And that is not all,' says our man; 'to sell my produce at highprices, it should be irreproachable, excellent. My workmen do prettywell; but that is not enough. I want them to produce masterpieces.'"

  "But, M. Agricola, when they have once performed the task set them whatinterest have workmen to give themselves a great deal of trouble toproduce masterpieces?"

  "There it is, Mdlle. Angela; what interest have they? Therefore, ourspeculator soon says to himself: 'That my workmen may have an interestto be economical in the use of the materials, an interest to employtheir time well, an interest to invent new and better manufacturingprocesses, an interest to send out of their hands nothing butmasterpieces--I must give them an interest in the profits earned bytheir economy, activity, zeal and skill. The better they manufacture,the better I shall sell, and the larger will be their gain and minealso.'"

  "Oh! now I understand, M. Agricola."

  "And our speculator would make a good speculation. Before he wasinterested, the workman said: 'What does it matter to me, that I do moreor do better in the course of the day? What shall I gain by it? Nothing.Well, then, little work for little wages. But now, on the contrary(he says), I have an interest in displaying zeal and economy. All ischanged. I redouble my activity, and strive to excel the others. If acomrade is lazy, and likely to do harm to the factory, I have the rightto say to him: 'Mate, we all suffer more or less from your laziness, andfrom the injury you are doing the common weal.'"

  "And then, M. Agricola, with what ardor, courage, and hope, you must setto work!"

  "That is what our speculator counts on; and he may say to himself,further: 'Treasures of experience and practical wisdom are often buriedin workshops, for want of goodwill, opportunity, or encouragement.Excellent workmen, instead of making all the improvements in theirpower, follow with indifference the old jog-trot. What a pity! for anintelligent man, occupied all his life with some special employment,must discover, in the long run, a thousand ways of doing his work betterand quicker. I will form, therefore, a sort of consulting committee; Iwill summon to it my foremen and my most skillful workmen. Our interestis now the same. Light will necessarily spring from this centre ofpractical intelligence.' Now, the speculator is not deceived in this,and soon struck with the incredible resources, the thousand new,ingenious, perfect inventions suddenly revealed by his workmen, 'Why'he exclaims, 'if you knew this, did you not tell it before? What for thelast ten years has cost me a hundred francs to make, would have costme only fifty, without reckoning an enormous saving of time.' 'Sir,'answers the workman, who is not more stupid than others, 'what interesthad I, that you should effect a saving of fifty per cent? None. But nowit is different. You give me, besides my wages, a share in yourprofits; you raise me in my own esteem, by consulting my experience andknowledge. Instead of treating me as an inferior being, you enter intocommunion with me. It is my interest, it is my duty, to tell you all Iknow, and to try to acquire more.' And thus it is, Mdlle. Angela,that the speculator can organize his establishment, so as to shamehis oppositionists, and provoke their envy. Now if, instead of a coldhearted calculator, we tape a man who unites with the knowledge of thesefacts the tender and generous sympathies of an evangelical heart, andthe elevation of a superior mind, he will extend his ardent solicitude;not only to the material comfort, but to the moral emancipation, ofhis workmen. Seeking everywhere every possible means to develop theirintelligence, to improve their hearts, and strong in the authorityacquired by his beneficence, feeling that he on whom depends thehappiness or the misery of three hundred human creatures has also thecare of souls, he will be the guide of those whom he no longer calls hisworkmen, but his brothers, in a straightforward and noble path, and willtry to create in them the taste for knowledge and art, which will renderthem happy and proud of a condition of life that is often accepted byothers with tears and curses of despair. Well, Mdlle. Angela, such a manis--but, see! he could not arrive amongst us except in the middle of ablessing. There he is--there is M. Hardy!"

  "Oh, M. Agricola!" said Angela, deeply moved, and drying her tears; "weshould receive him with our hands clasped in gratitude."

  "Look if that mild and noble countenance is not the image of hisadmirable soul!"

  A carriage with post horses, in which was M. Hardy, with M. de Blessac,the unworthy friend who was betraying him in so infamous a manner,entered at this moment the courtyard of the factory.

  A little while after, a humble hackney-coach was seen advancing alsotowards the factory, from the direction of Paris. In this coach wasRodin.

  (30) The average price of a workman's lodging, composed of two smallrooms and a closet at most, on the third or fourth story.

  (31) This calculation is amply sufficient, if not excessive. A similarbuilding, at one league from Paris, on the side of Montrouge, with allthe necessary offices, kitchen, wash-houses, etc., with gas and waterlaid on, apparatus for warming, etc., and a garden of ten acres, cost,at the period of this narrative, hardly five hundred thousand francs.An experienced builder less obliged us with an estimate, which confirmswhat we advance. It is, therefore, evident, that, even at the sameprice which workmen are in the habit of paying, it would be possible toprovide them with perfectly healthy lodgings, and yet invest one's moneyat ten per cent.

  (32) The fact was proved in the works connected with the Rouen Railway.Those French workmen who, having no families, were able to live like theEnglish, did at least as much work as the latter, being strengthened bywholesome and sufficient nourishment.

  (33) Buying penny-worths, like all other purchases at minute retail, aregreatly to the poor man's disadvantage.