THE LADIES' PARADISE
BY
EMILE ZOLA
WITH AN INTRODUCTION
BY
ERNEST ALFRED VIZETELLY
From the original French:
Au bonheur des dames
LONDON 1895
HUTCHINSON & CO.
34 PATERNOSTER ROW
"Ah, it's you, mademoiselle!" he said.
CONTENTS
CHAPTER I.
CHAPTER II.
CHAPTER III.
CHAPTER IV.
CHAPTER V.
CHAPTER VI.
CHAPTER VII.
CHAPTER VIII.
CHAPTER IX.
CHAPTER X.
CHAPTER XI.
CHAPTER XII.
CHAPTER XIII.
CHAPTER XIV.
INTRODUCTION.
I certainly have no desire to frighten the female readers to whom thisfree rendering of one of M. Zola's best books so largely appeals,—itis indeed a book with a good sound moral, fit for every thoughtfulwoman to peruse—but, in endeavouring to point out its scope andpurport, I must, in the first instance, refer to some matters inwhich women, as nowadays educated, take as a rule but the scantiestof interest. Still many of them may have heard that in the opinion ofvarious fin-de-siècle seers and prophets the future of the human racelies in collectivism, a prediction which I do not intend to discuss,but respecting which I may remark that during the last half centuryin this country there has certainly been a tendency in the directionindicated, even amongst classes which profess to hold every form ofsocialism in horror.
This tendency towards collectivism has manifested itself notably incertain trades and industries by the introduction of various forms ofco-operation, by the amalgamation, too, of rival businesses, and evenby the formation of quasi-monopolies which, evil and unjust as theymay appear to some, nevertheless rejoice the heart of many Socialistswho consider that the fewer the individual interests to be overthrown,the easier will be their task of conquest when the time shall come forolden society to give up the ghost. And, further, a tendency towardscollectivism is also to be traced in the establishment of those great"universal providing" concerns which we know by the name of "stores",and which many a Socialist will tell you are but the forerunners of thecolossal "magazines of distribution" which will become necessary whencollectivism shall have attained its ends.
On all sides nowadays the small trader and the small manufacturerare assailed, and in many instances can barely hold their own; forcheapness is the god of the hour, and in cheapness they cannot hopeto compete with those who operate upon a colossal scale. Whether theywill ultimately be obliged to give up the contest, whether the passionfor individuality is destined to depart from the human