Christianity and Patriotism
do well to follow the Professor's advice by removing the leaders of the Malevanists, putting some of them into madhouses and monasteries, and exiling others to remote regions, we must recognize the new epidemic that has lately broken out at Toulon and Paris, and from there has spread over the whole of France and Russia, as a far greater danger, and must regard it as far more necessary for society, if not for the Government, to take resolute measures to prevent the spreading of such epidemics.
The likeness between the two diseases is complete. There is the same extraordinary sense of happiness, that passes into causeless and joyful exaltation, the same sentimentality, exaggerated courtesy, loquacity, the same frequent tears of emotion that come and go for no reason, the same holiday mood, the same walking about and visiting one another, the same dressing up in very smart clothes, the same passion for dainty fare, the same senseless speeches, the same idleness, the same singing and music, the same prominent part played by women, and, in many instances, the same clownish phase of attitudes passionnelles which Professor Sikorsky observed in the Malevanists—that is, as I understand the words, the various unnatural attitudes assumed by people during ceremonious welcomes, receptions, and speeches delivered at banquets.
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