But in these scenes of farewell there was needed little energy of repression; the real struggle had occurred many generations before in their history. They had once had a most elaborate symbolism not merely of feelings but of almost every human thought and spiritual attitude. But when the great national repentance was leading to the series of exilings that ultimately purified the race, they became uneasy about this vast system of symbolism; it covered their whole existence from birth to death, from toothache to the salvation of the soul, and seemed to be nature her very self. They had long known it to be the nesting-place of all hypocrisies and untruth. Under its shelter mean things and falsity and even grossness and cruelty could flourish fearless of harm. Everything could masquerade in the guise of anything else it pleased. Of course there were painful revelations and scandals at times; but they were soon hushed up. The system was too much the interest of all who had power or reputation or prosperity, the best of what was then life, to let it get into disrepute, or into risk of revolution or reform. There were various professions which were deeply involved in the retention of it, and they were recruited chiefly from the highest social classes. The lawyers battened on the ambiguity of the symbols, whether expressed in word or deed; the doctors would have lost half their hysterical and hypochondriac patients if it had been abolished; without it the life and pretensions of the military during time of peace would have been a farce and a mockery; and the occupation of the priests would have vanished altogether. Ceremony seemed the very life-blood of an aristocratic state, and especially of its army and its church. It kept the mere workers and plodders at a respectful distance, it fenced off criticism, and supplied topics for the tongue of fame. To abolish ceremony would have been to strike at the heart of all existing institutions.