Page 194 - madame-bovary

vides our means of subsistence? Is it not the agriculturist?
The agriculturist, gentlemen, who, sowing with laborious
hand the fertile furrows of the country, brings forth the
corn, which, being ground, is made into a powder by means
of ingenious machinery, comes out thence under the name
of flour, and from there, transported to our cities, is soon
delivered at the baker’s, who makes it into food for poor and
rich alike. Again, is it not the agriculturist who fattens, for
our clothes, his abundant flocks in the pastures? For how
should we clothe ourselves, how nourish ourselves, with-
out the agriculturist? And, gentlemen, is it even necessary
to go so far for examples? Who has not frequently reflected
on all the momentous things that we get out of that modest
animal, the ornament of poultry-yards, that provides us at
once with a soft pillow for our bed, with succulent flesh for
our tables, and eggs? But I should never end if I were to enu-
merate one after the other all the different products which
the earth, well cultivated, like a generous mother, lavishes
upon her children. Here it is the vine, elsewhere the apple
tree for cider, there colza, farther on cheeses and flax. Gen-
tlemen, let us not forget flax, which has made such great
strides of late years, and to which I will more particularly
call your attention.’
He had no need to call it, for all the mouths of the multi-
tude were wide open, as if to drink in his words. Tuvache by
his side listened to him with staring eyes. Monsieur Deroz-
erays from time to time softly closed his eyelids, and farther
on the chemist, with his son Napoleon between his knees,
put his hand behind his ear in order not to lose a syllable.

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