Out of which strange fall of Formulas, tumbling there in confused welter, betrampled by the Patriotic dance, is it not passing strange to see a new Formula arise?  For the human tongue is not adequate to speak what ‘triviality run distracted’ there is in human nature.  Black Mumbo-Jumbo of the woods, and most Indian Wau-waus, one can understand:  but this of Procureur Anaxagoras whilom John-Peter Chaumette?  We will say only:  Man is a born idol-worshipper, sight-worshipper, so sensuous-imaginative is he; and also partakes much of the nature of the ape.

For the same day, while this brave Carmagnole dance has hardly jigged itself out, there arrive Procureur Chaumette and Municipals and Departmentals, and with them the strangest freightage:  a New Religion!  Demoiselle Candeille, of the Opera; a woman fair to look upon, when well rouged:  she, borne on palanquin shoulder-high; with red woolen nightcap; in azure mantle; garlanded with oak; holding in her hand the Pike of the Jupiter-Peuple, sails in; heralded by white young women girt in tricolor.  Let the world consider it!  This, O National Convention wonder of the universe, is our New Divinity; Goddess of Reason, worthy, and alone worthy of revering.  Nay, were it too much to ask of an august National Representation that it also went with us to the ci-devant Cathedral called of Notre-Dame, and executed a few strophes in worship of her?

President and Secretaries give Goddess Candeille, borne at due height round their platform, successively the fraternal kiss; whereupon she, by decree, sails to the right-hand of the President and there alights.  And now, after due pause and flourishes of oratory, the Convention, gathering its limbs, does get under way in the required procession towards Notre-Dame;—­Reason, again in her litter, sitting in the van of them, borne, as one judges, by men in the Roman costume; escorted by wind-music, red nightcaps, and the madness of the world.  And so straightway, Reason taking seat on the high-altar of Notre-Dame, the requisite worship or quasi-worship is, say the Newspapers, executed; National Convention chanting ’the Hymn to Liberty, words by Chenier, music by Gossec.’  It is the first of the Feasts of Reason; first communion-service of the New Religion of Chaumette.

‘The corresponding Festival in the Church of Saint-Eustache,’ says Mercier, ’offered the spectacle of a great tavern.  The interior of the choir represented a landscape decorated with cottages and boskets of trees.  Round the choir stood tables over-loaded with bottles, with sausages, pork-puddings, pastries and other meats.  The guests flowed in and out through all doors:  whosoever presented himself took part of the good things:  children of eight, girls as well as boys, put hand to plate, in sign of Liberty; they drank also of the bottles, and their prompt intoxication created laughter.  Reason sat in azure mantle aloft, in a serene manner; Cannoneers, pipe in mouth, serving her as acolytes.