soul a precocious maturity which
enables me to judge of many things; besides my faith is so firmly
established and so deeply rooted in my being, that I can look about me
without danger. I do not fear for my own salvation, but I am shocked
when I think of the future of our modern society, and I pray the
Lord fervently, from a heart untainted by sin, not to turn away His
countenance in wrath from our unhappy country. Even here, at the seat of
my cousin, the Marchioness K------de C------, where I am at the
present moment, I can discover nothing but frivolity among the men, and
dangerous coquetry among the women. The pernicious atmosphere of the
period seems to pervade even the highest rank of the French aristocracy.
Sometimes discussions occur on matters pertaining to science and morals,
which aim a kind of indirect blow at religion itself, of which our Holy
Father the Pope should alone be called on to decide. In this way God
permits, at the present day, certain petty savants, flat-headed men
of science, to explain in a novel fashion the origin of humanity, and,
despite the excommunication which will certainly overtake them, to throw
down a wild and impious challenge at the most venerable traditions.

I have not myself desired to be enlightened in regard to such base
depravity, but I have heard with poignant grief men with great minds and
illustrious names attach some importance to it.

As to manners and customs, they are, without being immoral, which would
be out of the question in our society, distinguished by a frivolity and
a faculty for being carried away with allurements which are shocking in
the extreme. I will only give you a single example of this, although it
is one that has struck me most forcibly.

Ten minutes' walk from the house there is a charming little stream
overshadowed by spreading willows; the current is slight, the water
pellucid, and the bed covered with sand so fine that one's feet sink
into it like a carpet. Now, would you believe it, dear friend, that, in
this hot weather, all those staying at the house go at the same time,
together, and, without distinction of sex, bathe in it? A simple
garment of thin stuff, and very tight, somewhat imperfectly screens the
strangely daring modesty of the ladies. Forgive me, my pious friend, for
entering into all these details, and for troubling the peacefulness of
your soul by this picture of worldly scenes, but I promised to share
with you my impressions, as