The Arcades Project - Operi

"The influence and development of Saint Simonianism, up until the end of the
"'
nineteenth century, had almost nothing to do with the working class. Saint-Simonianism
provided an impetus and an ideal for the spirit of large-scale industry and
for the realization of ambitious works. The Saint-Simonian Pereire brothers controlled
the railroad, banking, and real estate operations of the July Monarchy and
the Second Empire. The Suez Canal, for which Enfantin and Lambert-Bey would
study the plans and work out the conception at a time when Ferdinand de Lesseps
was consul in Cairo, has remained the prototype of the Saint-Simonian planetary
enterprise. We may, without hesitation, cont.rast the grand bOlU'g€ois project of
Saint-Simonianism, which is based on production and action, with the petit bourgeois
project of the Fourierist phalanstery, which is based on consumption and
pleasure." Albert Thihaudet, Les Idees politiques de La France (Paris, 1932),
pp. 61-62. 0 Secret Soc.ieties 0 [UI,6]
!'''Girardin ... founded La Presse in 1836; he invented the popular, low-priced
newspaper and the roman Jeuilleton,
Histoire de Paris (Paris, 1926), p. 391.
or serial novel." Dubech and d 'Espezel,
[UI,7]
"In the past several years, a complete revolution has occurred in the cafes of
Paris. Cigars and pipes have invaded every corner. Formerly, there was smoking
only in certain special establishments known as estaminets , which
were frequented solely by persons of low standing; today people smoke nearly
everywhere . ... There is one thing we cannot forgive the princes of the house of
Orleans-namely, for having so prodigiously increased the vogue for tohaeco, this
malodorous and nauseating plant that poisons both mind and body. All the sons of
Louis Philippe smoked like ehimneys; no one encouraged the consumption of this
nasty product more than they. Such consumption no doubt fattened the public
treasury-but at the expense of public health and human intelligence." Histoire
des cafes de Paris, extraite des memoirs d'un viveur (Paris, 1857), pp. 91-92.
[Ula,l]
I . "Symbolism is so deeply rooted . .. that it is found not just in liturgical rites. In
the previous century, didn't the disciples of Enfantin wear waistcoats that huttoned
in the back, so as to draw attent.ion to the fraternal assistance which one
man renders another?" Robert Jacquin, Notions sur Le langage d'apres les
travaltX du P Mareel Joltsse (Paris, 1929), p. 22. [UIa,2]
""In 1807, there were over 90,000 workers in Paris pract.icing 126 professions.
They were subject to strict supervision: associations were prohibited, employment
agencies were regulated, and work hours were fixed. Salaries went from 2 francs
50, to 4 francs 20, yielding an average of 3 francs 35. The worker ate a hearty
breakfast, a light lunch, and an evening supper." Lucien Dubech and Pierre
d'Espezel, Histoire de Paris (Paris, 1926), p. 335. [Ula,3]