ONE of the hobbies cherished in the most especial manner by the
good citizen of Paris, is Philosophy; not that he takes delight
in the cultivation of wisdom, or makes the study of nature his
pursuit: but when things go well with him in the world; when his
fortune has reached the limit of his desires; when age has abated
the ardor of his passions, and in the bosom of his family he finds
himself surrounded with every comfort and luxury that heart could
wish; he fancies himself beyond the common accidents of life; he
becomes a philosopher. His philosophy is his pet, his play-thing,
his hobby-horse upon which he gets astride, and gambols like a
frolicsome child. Should his wife scold, should his roast-beef be
burnt, should a sudden shower break up a party of pleasure, he alone
preserves his equanimity; is smiling, soothing, and consolatory;
he is a philosopher. Philosophy is his sovereign panacea; with the
understanding that no precautions have been neglected to secure him
as far as possible against the weightier mishaps of life. His houses
and furniture are insured, and his money, instead of being exposed
to the hazards of joint stock companies or rail-roads, is safely
invested in the royal funds.
Monsieur d'Herbois was a happy example of this consolatory system,
and seemed to have been sent into the world expressly for the
purpose of sounding the praises of philosophy, without ever being
obliged to test its efficacy in his own case. Wealthy by a paternal
inheritance, which thrift on his part had increased, he had early
in life married the woman of his choice; and his only son, about
twenty-two years of age, was now in his turn about to espouse
a young lady, whose character, fortune, and family all exactly
suited the fortunate father. And so Monsieur d'Herbois, a man of
a naturally placid and even temper, was now busying himself in
preparing the dower, or if you please the appanage of Gustavus, with
the benignity and disinterested solicitude of a sage.
'My friend,' said he to Monsieur Durand, who was not a philosopher,
'I shall give to Gustavus my house at Sussy. I well know that this
will be a great sacrifice, and that we cannot pass the summers
there any more, because it is possible that my wife cannot agree
on all points with her daughter-in-law; but we love Gustavus so
dearly!--and beside, one must be a philosopher. We shall therefore
live in Paris on the second floor; the first will be occupied by the
young folks. My wife grumbles a little at this; but says I to her:
'My dear, suppose some unexpected calamity should occur, to sweep
away all our property?--what would then become of us? Then we should
have to climb up into the garret, and would be forced to summon up
all our philosophy, of which we shall scarcely stand in need, merely
to ascend a few additional steps. Thales of Miletus acted in this
manner, one of the seven wise men of Greece, who endured all sorts
of troubles without complaint, and in fact defied all mankind to
disturb the serenity of his soul and the tranquillity of his spirit.'
'And do you give the same defiance to men as Thales did?' asked
Monsieur Durand.
'To be sure I do. You, my friend, ought to know whether I have
not the right to do so. Have you ever known me to depart from my
principles?'
'I know,' replied M. Durand, 'that during the time since you and I
left college together, which is now upward of thirty years, I have
never known you to be afflicted with any personal misfortune; and if
Thales of Miletus, whose story I do not now remember, was always as
lucky, his philosophy would not have cost him more than yours does.'
'To speak candidly,' replied M. d'Herbois, with a
good-natured-smile, 'I think that I am a little more of a
philosopher than Thales himself was; for I have never been
inconsistent with my professions, although a husband and a father,
while Thales was a bachelor.'
'But still,' said his friend Durand to him, 'you have never been put
to the test.'
'Let the test come; I am ready.'
'Suppose your wife should prove false to you, or your son not turn
out in accordance with your expectations?--do you think you would
support these misfortunes with the constancy of Job?'
'Of Thales, my dear friend, of Thales, if you please; do not
confound them:
'For all events the wise man is prepared.'