Excerpt from The Novels of Honore De Balzac, Vol. 1: Now for the First Time Completely Translated Into EnglishOpportunity to place his goods. How many superior qualities are there not required for the making of such a man! Do you find, in any country, many of these diplomats of the ground oor, of these con summate negotiators speaking in the name of calicoes, of jewelry, of the cloth-trade, of wines, and frequently more skilful than the ambassadors, who, for the most part, have only empty forms? No one, in France, entertains any doubt concerning the incredible ability incessantly displayed by the travel ling drummers, these intrepid affronters of negations, who, in the farthermost borough, represent the genius of civilization and the Parisian inventions grappling with the good sense, the ignorance or the routine of the provinces. Can we ever forget here those admirable manoeuvres which knead the intelligence of the populations, by treating by word of mouth the most refractory masses, and which resemble those indefatigable polishers whose files lick into smoothness the hardest porphyries! If you would wish to know the power of the tongue and the con vincing pressure brought to bear by phrases upon the most rebellious ecus, those of the small landed proprietor buried in his country mud, listen to the discourse of one of these grand dignitaries of the Parisian industry for the profit of which trot about, strike and function these intelligent pistons of the steam-engine called Speculation.About the PublisherForgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.comThis book is a reproduction of an important historical work.

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