of labour, our master said to himself, 
' There are many institutions where plans are devised, 
and rewards assigned, for improvements in the breed of 
horses, cattle, sheep, and other animals for the best con- 

129 



THE MYSTERIES OF PARIS. 

structed ploughs, and other agricultural implements. 
And I cannot help thinking that all this time we are 
not going to the fountain-head, and beginning, as we 
ought to begin, by improving the condition of the labour- 
ing classes themselves, before we give all this heed to the 
beast which perisheth. Good beasts are capital , 
but good men are better, and more difficult to meet with. 
Give your horses and cattle plenty of good food, clear 
running water ; place them either out-of-doors in a fine, 
healthy atmosphere, or give them a clean, well-managed 
stable, with good and regular attendance, and they will 
thrive to your 's content, and be capable of reaching 
any degree of excellence. But with men, look you, it is 
quite another . You cannot elevate a man's mind 
as you can fatten an ox. The animal fattens on his 
pasture because its  gratifies his palate ; he eats 
because he likes what he feeds on, and his body profits 
and thrives in proportion