530 THE MASS OF THE ATHEIST. 



this melropolis are more unhealthy than the central parts of the city, 

 from (he same causes. The evil consequences of inattention to these 

 circumstances are experienced in all classes of habitations, from the 

 palace to the cottage." 



We should have felt inclined to give copious extracts from this 

 part of the work, pai'ticularly on the subject of suckling, the hygienic 

 management of public seminaries, and the various kinds of exercise 

 recommended by our author; but the article has already extended it- 

 self to such a length that we must refrain, and we do so with the less 

 reluctance, as we trust we have said enough to induce the members of 

 every family predisposed to the disease to seek for information from 

 the work itself. We cannot conclude without earnestly recommend- 

 ing it in a special manner to the attention of parents, and all who 

 have the direction of youth. 



THE MASS OF THE ATHEIST. 



(Concluded from page ^44.) "^ 



A coNsioERABLE time passed without the doctor Bianchon, although 

 the friend of Desplein, finding himself so situated as to be able to 

 speak to him relative to this extraordinary singularity in his private 

 life. Thouorh the" met each other in consultations and in the world, 

 it was difficult to find one of those moments of confidence and of so- 

 litude where, with their feet upon the fender, and their heads re- 

 clining against the backs of their arm-chairs, two men give a loose to 

 their feelings, and unbosom themselves to each other. At length, 

 after an interval of six years, and after the revolution of 1830, when 

 the people fell upon the archbishop's palace, when republican enthu- 

 siasm pushed them on to the destruction of the golden crosses which 

 glittered as they seemed to soar on high, like the forked lightning in 

 a sultry evening in summer, from among the immensity of houses, 

 and that unbelief, side by side with sedition, strutted boldly through 

 the streets, Bianchon surprised Desplein entering, as before, the 

 church of St. Sulpice. The doctor followed him there, and placed 

 himself by his side without his friend's making him the least sign of 

 recognition, or testifying the smallest surprise ; and botli heard the 

 mass which owed its foundation to one of them. 



"Will you tell me, my dear friend," said Bianchon to Desplein, 

 when they Mere quitting the church, " the reason of this capvcinade ? 

 I have before now caught you three times going to mass, you! Be- 

 hold the fourth ! You will account to me for this mystery, and give 

 me an explanation as to this flagrant want of unison between your 

 opinions and your conduct. You do not even believe in a God, and 

 you go to hear mass !" 



*' I resemble a pretty considerable class of devotees, men deeply 

 imbued with religion according to all appearance, but all of them as 

 downright atheists as you or I can be, for our lives." 



