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the deepest mourning； and pushing for places in the chapel within。
The chapel is spacious and of no great architectural pretensions；
but was on this occasion gorgeously decorated in honor of the great
person to whose body it was about to give shelter。
We had arrived at nine； the ceremony was not to begin； they said；
till two： we had five hours before us to see all that from our
places could be seen。
We saw that the roof； up to the first lines of architecture； was
hung with violet； beyond this with black。 We saw N's； eagles； bees；
laurel wreaths； and other such imperial emblems； adorning every nook
and corner of the edifice。 Between the arches； on each side of the
aisle； were painted trophies； on which were written the names of
some of Napoleon's Generals and of their principal deeds of arms
and not their deeds of arms alone； pardi； but their coats of arms
too。 O stars and garters！ but this is too much。 What was Ney's
paternal coat； prithee； or honest Junot's quarterings； or the
venerable escutcheon of King Joachim's father； the innkeeper？
You and I； dear Miss Smith； know the exact value of heraldic
bearings。 We know that though the greatest pleasure of all is to
ACT like a gentleman； it is a pleasure； nay a merit； to BE oneto
come of an old stock； to have an honorable pedigree； to be able to
say that centuries back our fathers had gentle blood； and to us
transmitted the same。 There IS a good in gentility： the man who
questions it is envious； or a coarse dullard not able to perceive
the difference between high breeding and low。 One has in the same
way heard a man brag that he did not know the difference between
wines； not hegive him a good glass of port； and he would pitch all
your claret to the deuce。 My love； men often brag about their own
dulness in this way。
In the matter of gentlemen； democrats cry； 〃Psha！ Give us one of
Nature's gentlemen； and hang your aristocrats。〃 And so indeed
Nature does make SOME gentlemena few here and there。 But Art
makes most。 Good birth； that is； good handsome well…formed fathers
and mothers； nice cleanly nursery…maids； good meals； good physicians；
good education； few cares； pleasant easy habits of life； and
luxuries not too great or enervating； but only refininga course of
these going on for a few generations are the best gentleman…makers
in the world； and beat Nature hollow。
If； respected Madam； you say that there is something BETTER than
gentility in this wicked world； and that honesty and personal wealth
are more valuable than all the politeness and high…breeding that
ever wore red…heeled pumps； knights' spurs； or Hoby's boots；
Titmarsh for one is never going to say you nay。 If you even go so
far as to say that the very existence of this super…genteel society
among us； from the slavish respect that we pay to it； from the
dastardly manner in which we attempt to imitate its airs and ape its
vices； goes far to destroy honesty of intercourse； to make us meanly
ashamed of our natural affections and honest； harmless usages； and
so does a great deal more harm than it is possible it can do good by
its exampleperhaps； Madam； you speak with some sort of reason。
Potato myself； I can't help seeing that the tulip yonder has the
best place in the garden； and the most sunshine； and the most water；
and the best tendingand not liking him over well。 But I can't
help acknowledging that Nature has given him a much finer dress than
ever I can hope to have； and of this； at least； must give him the
benefit。
Or say； we are so many cocks and hens； my dear （sans arriere
pensee）； with our crops pretty full； our plumes pretty sleek； decent
picking here and there in the straw…yard； and tolerable snug
roosting in the barn： yonder on the terrace； in the sun； walks
Peacock； stretching his proud neck； squealing every now and then in
the most pert fashionable voice and flaunting his great supercilious
dandified tail。 Don't let us be too angry； my dear； with the
useless； haughty； insolent creature； because he despises us。
SOMETHING is there about Peacock that we don't possess。 Strain your
neck ever so； you can't make it as long or as blue as hiscock your
tail as much as you please； and it will never be half so fine to
look at。 But the most absurd； disgusting； contemptible sight in the
world would you and I be； leaving the barn…door for my lady's
flower…garden； forsaking our natural sturdy walk for the peacock's
genteel rickety stride； and adopting the squeak of his voice in the
place of our gallant lusty cock…a…doodle…dooing。
Do you take the allegory？ I love to speak in such； and the above
types have been presented to my mind while sitting opposite a
gimcrack coat…of…arms and coronet that are painted in the Invalides
Church； and assigned to one of the Emperor's Generals。
Ventrebleu！ Madam； what need have THEY of coats…of…arms and
coronets； and wretched imitations of old exploded aristocratic
gewgaws that they had flung out of the countrywith the heads of
the owners in them sometimes； for indeed they were not particulara
score of years before？ What business； forsooth； had they to be
meddling with gentility and aping its ways； who had courage； merit；
daring； genius sometimes； and a pride of their own to support； if
proud they were inclined to be？ A clever young man （who was not of
high family himself； but had been bred up genteelly at Eton and the
university）young Mr。 George Canning； at the commencement of the
French Revolution； sneered at 〃Roland the Just； with ribbons in his
shoes；〃 and the dandies； who then wore buckles； voted the sarcasm
monstrous killing。 It was a joke； my dear； worthy of a lackey； or
of a silly smart parvenu； not knowing the society into which his
luck had cast him （God help him！ in later years； they taught him
what they were！）； and fancying in his silly intoxication that
simplicity was ludicrous and fashion respectable。 See； now； fifty
years are gone； and where are shoebuckles？ Extinct； defunct； kicked
into the irrevocable past off the toes of all Europe！
How fatal to the parvenu； throughout history； has been this respect
for shoebuckles。 Where； for instance； would the Empire of Napoleon
have been； if Ney and Lannes had never sported such a thing as a
coat…of…arms； and had only written their simple names on their
shields； after the fashion of Desaix's scutcheon yonder？the bold
Republican who led the crowning charge at Marengo； and sent the best
blood of the Holy Roman Empire to the right…about； before the
wretched misbegotten imperial heraldry was born； that was to prove
so disastrous to the father of it。 It has always been so。 They
won't amalgamate。 A country must be governed by the one principle
or the other。 But give； in a republic； an aristocracy ever so
little chance； and it works and plots and sneaks and bullies and
sneers itself into place； and you find democracy out of doors。 Is
it good that the aristocracy should so triumph？that is a question
that you may settle according to your own notions and taste； and
permit me to say； I do not care twopence how you settle it。 Large
books have been written upon the subject in a variety of languages；
and coming to a variety of conclusions。 Great statesmen are there
in our country； from Lord Londonderry down to Mr。 Vincent； each in
his degree maintaining his different opinion。 But here； in the
matter of Napoleon； is a simple fact： he founded a great； glorious；
strong； potent republic； able to cope with the best aristocracies in
the world； and perhaps to beat them all； he converts his republic
into a monarchy； and surrounds his monarchy with what he calls
aristocratic institutions； and you know what becomes of him。 The
people estranged； the aristocracy faithless （when did they ever
pardon one who was not of themselves？）the imperial fabric tumbles
to the ground。 If it teaches nothing else； my dear； it teaches one
a great point of p