The Life of the Caterpillar 



of their infinitesimal contributions, woven into 

 a common stuff, is a thick blanket capable 

 of resisting the winter. In working for 

 himself, each works for the others; and 

 these on their side work as zealously for 

 each. O lucky animals that know nothing 

 of property, the mother of strife! O en- 

 viable cenobites, who practise the strictest 

 communism ! 



These habits of the caterpillars invite a 

 few reflections. Generous minds, richer in 

 illusions than in logic, set communism before 

 us as the sovran cure for human ills. Is it 

 practicable among mankind? At all times 

 there have been, there still are and there 

 always will be, fortunately, associations in 

 which it is possible to forget in common some 

 small part of the hardships of life; but is it 

 possible to generalize? 



The caterpillars of the pine can give us 

 much valuable information in this respect. 

 Let us have no false shame : our material 

 needs are shared by the animals; they strug- 

 gle as we do to take part in the general ban- 

 quet of the living; and the manner in which 

 they solve the problem of existence is not to 

 be despised. Let us then ask ourselves what 



48 



