Complete Works of Emile Zola (1790 page)

“Well, my beauty, I have been able, in a few words, to give you a course of geography similar to that of the angels. I should not complete your education in ten years were I to teach you the frivolous things retailed to the students I mentioned previously. Man has delighted in confusing everything on earth; he has given twenty different names to the same peak; he has invented continents and disowned even more; he has founded so many kingdoms, and annihilated so many, that each stone in the fields has assuredly served as boundary to some vanished nation. Those well-defined lines, that eternity of selfsame boundaries, exist for God alone. When human nature is introduced upon this vast scene terrible confusion ensues. It is so easy every hundred years to take a sheet of paper and sketch a new world, the one existing for the time being. If the Creator’s world had undergone all the changes of the world of man, we should have the strangest medley of colours and lines spread out before us, instead of this natural map, which is so clear. I cannot appreciate the whims our brethren have indulged in. I again tell you to look attentively. In a glance you will learn more than all the geographers in the world know; for with your own eyes you will have seen the great boundaries of the terrestrial crust, which these gentlemen are still seeking with their levels and compasses. Unless I am mistaken, this is rather a very popularised lesson in physical and political geography.”

As the teacher ceased speaking, the pupil, who for the time being was travelling over fields of ice, stepped across the pole, without more ado, and placed his foot on the other hemisphere. It was noon on one side and midnight on the other. The comrades, leaving a bright April sun behind them, continued their journey in the clearest moonlight that could ever be seen. Sidoine, simple-minded by nature, almost fell backward in astonishment at the want of logic the sun and moon appeared to him to display at that moment. He looked up and studied the stars.

“My beauty,” Médéric shouted in his ear, “now or never is the time to popularise astronomy for your benefit. Astronomy is the geography of the planets. It teaches that the earth is a speck of dust cast into space. It is amongst all a whole some science when taken in reasonable doses. But I will not dwell on that branch of human knowledge; I know you are modest and not inquisitive as regards mathematical formulas. But if you possessed the least pride I should have, in order to cure you of the bad habit, to bring to your notice, proof in hand, the appalling truths of space. No man, however insane he may be, could be so stupid as to believe for a moment, when contemplating the stars on a clear night, that God created the universe for the greater enjoyment of humanity.

“There is in the vault of heaven an everlasting denial of those false theories which, taking man only into account in the midst of creation, dispose of God’s will towards him, as though God had solely the earth to consider. What is done with other worlds? If the work has an aim, will not the entire work be devoted to attaining that aim? We, the infinitely small, study astronomy in order to learn what place we hold in creation. Look at the sky, my beauty, observe it well. Giant though you be, you have infinity overhead, with all its mysteries. If ever you should have the unfortunate idea to philosophise on your origin and end, this infinity would prevent you drawing any conclusions.”

“Brother Médéric, popularising is an amusing game. I should like to know the cause of night and day. These are strange phenomena which I have never before thought about.”

“My beauty, it is thus with all things. We see them constantly without understanding them in the least. You ask me what day is. I dare not popularise this serious physical question for you. Know simply that, like you, scientists are unable to account for light; each one has formed his own pet theory in support of his argument; yet the world is none the less lit up. But, to my great honour be it said, I can attempt to popularise the phenomenon of night. First of all understand that night does not exist.”

“Night does not exist, brother Médéric? Yet I see it.”

“Well, my beauty, close your eyes and listen to me. Do you not know that man’s intelligence alone sees clearly; the eyes are a gift of the spirit of evil, and mislead one. It is certain that night does not exist, if day does. You will soon understand me. In summer, at harvest time, when the sun scorches and travellers cannot bear the glare of the white roads, they seek a wall, in the shadow of which they walk in comparative darkness. We are at the present moment walking in the shade of the earth, in what is popularly called complete darkness. But though travellers walk in the shade, do not the neighbouring fields still enjoy the sun’s rays? And though we cannot see and do not know where to place our feet, has the infinite lost a single ray of light? Therefore night does not exist if day does.”

“Why this last restriction, brother? Can it be possible day does not exist?”

“Certainly, my beauty, day does not exist if night does. Oh! the fine diffusion of knowledge, and how I wish I had a few dozen children here that I might make them forget their toys! Listen: light is not one of the essential conditions of space; it is undoubtedly an entirely artificial phenomenon. Our sun is waning, they say; the stars will forcibly be extinguished. Then total darkness will again hold sway in its kingdom, that kingdom of space from which we sprang. Everything considered, night exists, if day does not.”

“As for me, brother, I am inclined to think that neither exists.”

“It may be so, my beauty. If we could command the necessary time to acquire an abstract of all knowledge, I mean the length of several men’s’ lives, I would prove to you by means of a third argument, that both night and day exist But we have devoted sufficient time to physical science; let us turn to the natural ones.”

Médéric and Sidoine did not stop to speak. As, after all, the only aim of their journey was to discover the Kingdom of the Happy, they descended the globe from north to south, from east to west without pausing. This way of seeking an empire certainly possessed great advantages, but it could not be said to be free of annoyance. Since the previous evening, Sidoine had risked getting colds and chilblains, by going without transition from oppressive tropical heat to the icy winds of the poles. What annoyed him most was the sudden disappearance of the sun, when he passed from one hemisphere to the other. All the lectures in the world could not have made him understand this phenomenon, which produced in his mind the same effect as the irritating alternation of light and darkness which occurs in a room when a shutter is opened and closed rapidly. You can judge from this how quickly the comrades walked. As for Médéric, more comfortably settled in his beauty’s ear than on the cushions of the best hung carriage, he did not trouble much about the incidents of the journey, but sheltered himself from the cold and heat. Besides, he cared little about the flashes of day and night. The travellers had now re-entered the hemisphere where daylight reigned. Médéric popped out his head.

“My beauty,” he said, “the most interesting study in natural science is that of the various races of the same animal species. On the other hand, the study of the human species offers peculiar attraction to scientists, as it claims having cost the Creator an entire day’s labour, and that it does not belong to the same order of creation as other creatures. We will therefore examine the various races of mankind. Keep in the sunlight so as to see our brethren, and to be able to read the truth of my statements on their faces. You can convince yourself, at the first glance, that to a disinterested observer the countenances are equally ugly in all countries. I know that in every land they discern features of rare beauty in some; but this is mere imagination, as the different races do not agree on the subject of absolute beauty, each worshipping what his neighbour despises; a truth is true, if it be always true and true for all. I will not lay greater stress on universal ugliness. There are four human races — you see them at your feet — the black, red, yellow, and white. There are certainly intermediate shades; by seeking, one could manage to establish the entire scale, from black to white, passing through all colours. One question, the only one I intend to go deeply into to-day, presents itself at the outset to the man who wishes to popularise successfully. Here it is. Was Adam white, yellow, red, or black? If I affirm he was white, being white myself I do not know how to explain the peculiar changes of colour which have arisen amongst my brethren. As they, no doubt, all picture the first man as like themselves, they are as perplexed as I am when they look on me. We will admit that the question is a knotty one. Learned scientists would perhaps explain the fact by the various influences of climate and food, by a hundred fine reasons difficult to foresee and comprehend. As for me, I popularise, and you will have no trouble in understanding me. My beauty, if to-day one sees men of four colours, black, red, yellow, and white, it is because God in the beginning created four Adams, one white, one yellow, one red, and one black.”

“Brother Médéric, your explanation fully satisfies me. But tell me, is it not somewhat impious? Where would be the universal brotherhood of men? Besides, is there not a holy book in existence, dictated by God Himself, which speaks of only one Adam? I am simple-minded, and it would be wrong of you to tempt me to think evil.”

“My beauty, you are too exacting. I cannot be right without proving others to be wrong. No doubt my view of the matter, which is, moreover, a personal one, attacks an old belief worthy of respect on account of its great age. But how can it harm God if we study His work freely as He has allowed us this freedom? Discussing His work is not denying Him. Even were I to deny the Creator under one form, it would be to present Him to you in another. Ah, my beauty, I am popularising theology now! Theology is the science of God.”

“Good,” interrupted Sidoine, “I am acquainted with that. To master it one only needs an upright mind. Here, at last, is a simple science which does not require reasoning out.”

“What are you saying, my beauty? Theology a simple science! Requiring no reasoning out! It is easy, certainly, for simple minds, to acknowledge a God, and to limit science to that, for it allows of their being wise at small cost. But anxious minds, once having found God, make Him their God. Each one has his own, whom he has brought down to his own level, so that he may understand Him; each defends his idol, and attacks his neighbour’s. This has given rise to a countless mass of books, to an endless subject for heated discussions; the manner of being of Him who is, the best method for worshipping Him, His manifestation on earth, the final end He has in view. Heaven preserve me from popularising such a science as that. I care too much for my sanity.”

Médéric ceased speaking; he was saddened by those thousand truths he had been heaving up. Sidoine, no longer hearing him, took a stride and landed in China. The inhabitants, their towns, and civilisation, greatly astonished him. He determined to ask a question.

“Brother Médéric,” he said, “here is a nation which makes me wish to hear you popularise history. Surely this empire holds an important place in the annals of mankind?”

“My beauty,” answered Médéric, “since you do not appear to tire of being taught, I will give you a course of universal history in a few words. My method is only simple; one of these days I mean to adapt it throughout. It rests on the insubstantiality of man. When the historian questions the centuries of the past, he beholds communities sprung from primeval simplicity, rise to the highest state of civilisation, and then relapse into ancient barbarism. Thus empires rise and fall by turn. Whenever a nation fancies it has reached the height of science, that very science causes its downfall, and the world is brought back to its first state of ignorance. At the beginning of time Egypt erected her pyramids, and built her cities along the banks of the Nile. Within the shadow of her temples she solved the deep problems which humanity is still seeking to understand now. She was the first to have the idea of the unity of God and the immortality of the soul; then she expired at the close of Cleopatra’s revels, carrying with her the secrets of eighteen centuries.

“Greece was then smiling, perfumed and harmonious; her name comes down to us amid shouts of liberty and sublime melodies; she peopled the heavens with her dreams, she deified marble with her chisel; soon weary of glory, weary of love, she became effaced, leaving nought but ruins to bear witness to her past glories.

“Then Rome arises, grown great on the spoils of the world. The warrior subjugates other nations, rules by written law, and loses liberty on acquiring power; she inherited the wealth of Egypt, the courage and poetry of Greece; she was all voluptuousness and splendour; but when the warrior became a courtesan, a hurricane from the north burst over the eternal city, and scattered art and civilisation to the four winds.”

If ever a speech made Sidoine yawn it was the one Médéric thus delivered.

“And China?” he modestly inquired.

“China!” exclaimed Médéric, “devil take you! Here my treatise on Universal History is incomplete, I have lost the spirit required for such a task. Does China exist? You think you see it, and I admit that appearances are in your favour; but open the first book on history you may come across, you will not find ten pages dealing with that empire, which those roguish geographers assert to be so extensive. Half the world has always absolutely ignored the history of the other half.”

“Yet the world is not so large,” remarked Sidoine. “Moreover, my beauty, without popularising further, I hold China in great esteem, I even fear it a little, like all that is unknown. I think I see in her the great nation of the future. In a little time when our civilisation collapses, as all previous civilisations have done, the extreme East will no doubt inherit the science of the West, and will in its turn become the courteous and learned country above all others. This is a mathematical deduction of my historical method.”

“Mathematical!” said Sidoine, who had just regretfully left China. “That is it, I wish to study mathematics.”