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physical antipathies； which were not perceived at first； give rise to in
families； and then Roger de Salnis； who was still looking at Madame de
Mascaret through his opera glasses； said： 〃It is almost incredible that
that woman can have had seven children！〃
〃Yes； in eleven years； after which； when she was thirty； she refused to
have any more； in order to take her place in society； which she seems
likely to do for many years。〃
〃Poor women！〃
〃Why do you pity them？〃
〃Why？ Ah！ my dear fellow； just consider！ Eleven years in a condition of
motherhood for such a woman！ What a hell！ All her youth； all her
beauty； every hope of success； every poetical ideal of a brilliant life
sacrificed to that abominable law of reproduction which turns the normal
woman into a mere machine for bringing children into the world。〃
〃What would you have？ It is only Nature！〃
〃Yes； but I say that Nature is our enemy； that we must always fight
against Nature； for she is continually bringing us back to an animal
state。 You may be sure that God has not put anything on this earth that
is clean； pretty； elegant or accessory to our ideal； the human brain has
done it。 It is man who has introduced a little grace； beauty； unknown
charm and mystery into creation by singing about it； interpreting it； by
admiring it as a poet； idealizing it as an artist and by explaining it
through science； doubtless making mistakes； but finding ingenious
reasons； hidden grace and beauty； unknown charm and mystery in the
various phenomena of Nature。 God created only coarse beings； full of the
germs of disease； who； after a few years of bestial enjoyment； grow old
and infirm； with all the ugliness and all the want of power of human
decrepitude。 He seems to have made them only in order that they may
reproduce their species in an ignoble manner and then die like ephemeral
insects。 I said reproduce their species in an ignoble manner and I
adhere to that expression。 What is there as a matter of fact more
ignoble and more repugnant than that act of reproduction of living
beings； against which all delicate minds always have revolted and always
will revolt？ Since all the organs which have been invented by this
economical and malicious Creator serve two purposes； why did He not
choose another method of performing that sacred mission； which is the
noblest and the most exalted of all human functions？ The mouth； which
nourishes the body by means of material food； also diffuses abroad speech
and thought。 Our flesh renews itself of its own accord； while we are
thinking about it。 The olfactory organs； through which the vital air
reaches the lungs； communicate all the perfumes of the world to the
brain： the smell of flowers； of woods； of trees； of the sea。 The ear；
which enables us to communicate with our fellow men； has also allowed us
to invent music； to create dreams； happiness； infinite and even physical
pleasure by means of sound！ But one might say that the cynical and
cunning Creator wished to prohibit man from ever ennobling and idealizing
his intercourse with women。 Nevertheless man has found love； which is
not a bad reply to that sly Deity； and he has adorned it with so much
poetry that woman often forgets the sensual part of it。 Those among us
who are unable to deceive themselves have invented vice and refined
debauchery； which is another way of laughing at God and paying homage；
immodest homage； to beauty。
〃But the normal man begets children just like an animal coupled with
another by law。
〃Look at that woman！ Is it not abominable to think that such a jewel；
such a pearl； born to be beautiful； admired； feted and adored； has spent
eleven years of her life in providing heirs for the Comte de Mascaret？〃
Bernard Grandin replied with a laugh： 〃There is a great deal of truth in
all that； but very few people would understand you。〃
Salnis became more and more animated。 〃Do you know how I picture God
myself？〃 he said。 〃As an enormous； creative organ beyond our ken； who
scatters millions of worlds into space； just as one single fish would
deposit its spawn in the sea。 He creates because it is His function as
God to do so； but He does not know what He is doing and is stupidly
prolific in His work and is ignorant of the combinations of all kinds
which are produced by His scattered germs。 The human mind is a lucky
little local； passing accident which was totally unforeseen； and
condemned to disappear with this earth and to recommence perhaps here or
elsewhere the same or different with fresh combinations of eternally new
beginnings。 We owe it to this little lapse of intelligence on His part
that we are very uncomfortable in this world which was not made for us；
which had not been prepared to receive us； to lodge and feed us or to
satisfy reflecting beings； and we owe it to Him also that we have to
struggle without ceasing against what are still called the designs of
Providence； when we are really refined and civilized beings。〃
Grandin； who was listening to him attentively as he had long known the
surprising outbursts of his imagination； asked him： 〃Then you believe
that human thought is the spontaneous product of blind divine
generation？〃
〃Naturally！ A fortuitous function of the nerve centres of our brain；
like the unforeseen chemical action due to new mixtures and similar also
to a charge of electricity； caused by friction or the unexpected
proximity of some substance； similar to all phenomena caused by the
infinite and fruitful fermentation of living matter。
〃But； my dear fellow； the truth of this must be evident to any one who
looks about him。 If the human mind； ordained by an omniscient Creator；
had been intended to be what it has become； exacting； inquiring；
agitated； tormentedso different from mere animal thought and
resignationwould the world which was created to receive the beings
which we now are have been this unpleasant little park for small game；
this salad patch； this wooded； rocky and spherical kitchen garden where
your improvident Providence had destined us to live naked； in caves or
under trees； nourished on the flesh of slaughtered animals； our brethren；
or on raw vegetables nourished by the sun and the rain？
〃But it is sufficient to reflect for a moment； in order to understand
that this world was not made for such creatures as we are。 Thought；
which is developed by a miracle in the nerves of the cells in our brain；
powerless； ignorant and confused as it is； and as it will always remain；
makes all of us who are intellectual beings eternal and wretched exiles
on earth。
〃Look at this earth； as God has given it to those who inhabit it。 Is it
not visibly and solely made； planted and covered with forests for the
sake of animals？ What is there for us？ Nothing。 And for them；
everything； and they have nothing to do but to eat or go hunting and eat
each other； according to their instincts； for God never foresaw
gentleness and peaceable manners； He only foresaw the death of creatures
which were bent on destroying and devouring each other。 Are not the
quail； the pigeon and the partridge the natural prey of the hawk？ the
sheep； the stag