As we have more than once intimated, we believe that
the return to Paris is a mere question of time ; but the highly sentimental character of the arguments in favour of this return, is not in itself a consideration that would in-
duce a, sagacious politician to support it. Thus M. Victor Hugo argued for the return, on the ground that only two other cities in the world had exerted the kind of influence which Paris now exerts,—namely, Athens and Rome ; that Paris had been an insurmountable obstacle to the spread of barbarism ;—and that this great Babylon of civilisation and pleasure had converted itself in a moment into a Sparta, to resist the invasion of the foe. To the strength of Rome, Paris had added the heroism of Lacethemon. As for the Commune, it was a mere " terrible and horrible fate." Now, if all this were strictly true, we do not see that it should affect the question. Roman strength and Lacedm- monian heroism may be very grand qualities, but when they are liable, in their combination even, to such " terrible and horrible " strokes of " fate," they do not promise very much peace and de- tachment of mind. Nobody ever thought of arguing against the return to Paris on the ground that Paris is too insignificant. On the contrary, it is just Victor Hugo's conception that it is a great tragic stage, which deters canny Senators from voting the return thither. They do not want to play a fine tragic
part, on a grand classic stage. They want to talk about schools and roads and bridges and commercial treaties, in a quiet and ,even sleepy calm of judgment. And they have their doubts whether this will be always possible in Paris.
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