[Footnote 3357: Compare the "Journal du sergent Fricasse," and "les Cahiers du capitaine Coignet." Fricasse is a volunteer who enlists in the defence of the country; Coignet is a conscript ambitious of distinguishing himself, and he says to his masters: "I promise to come back with the fusil d'honneur or I shall be dead."] [Footnote 3358: Marmont, I., 186, 282, 296. (In Italy, 1796.) "At this epoch, our ambition was quite secondary; we were solely concerned about our duties and amusements. The frankest and most cordial union existed amongst us all.... No sentiment of envy, no low passion found room in our breasts. (Then) what excitement, what grandeur, what hopes and what gayety!... Each had a presentiment of an illimitable future and yet entertained no idea of personal ambition or calculation."--George Sand, "Histoire de ma vie." (Correspondence of her father, Commander Dupin.)--Stendhal, "Vie de Napoléon." "At this epoch (1796), nobody in the army had any ambition. I have known officers to refuse promotion so as not to quit their regiment or their mistress."] [Footnote 3359: Roederer, III., 556. (Burgos, April 9, 1809, conversation with General Lasalle written down the same evening.) "You pass through Paris?" "Yes, it's the shortest way. I shall get there at five in the morning; I shall order a pair of boots, get my wife with child and then leave for Germany."--Roederer remarks to him that one risks one's life and fights for the sake of promotion and to profit by rising in the world. "No, not at all. One takes pleasure in it. One enjoys fighting; it is pleasure enough in itself to fight! You are in the midst of the uproar, of the action, of the smoke. And then, on acquiring reputation you have had the fun of making it. When you have got your fortune you know that your wife and children won't suffer. That is enough. As for myself, I could die to-morrow." (The details of this conversation are admirable; no document gives a better idea of the officer of the epoch.)] [Footnote 3360: Compare with the idea of an ideal Chaver (kibbutznik).: Melford E. Spiro, wrote "Kibbutz. Venture in Utopia." 60 and described how the Israeli kibbutzim as early as 1917 wanted the ideal kibbutzim to be: Loyal to his people A brother to his fellows A man of truth A helpful and dependable brother A lover of nature Obedient to the orders of his leaders Joyful and gay Economical and generous A man of courage Pure in thoughts, words, and deeds (opposition to drinking, smoking and sexual relationships).] [Footnote 3361: Balzac has closely studied and admirably portrayed this type in a "Ménage de Garçon."--See other similar characters in Mérimée ("Les Mécontens," and "les Espagnols en Danemark"); in Stendhal ("le Chasseur vert"). I knew five or six of them in my youth.]