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PARTISAN REVIEW
if
they don't like their own handwriting; their wives can write the
list for the grocer on those sacred papers, their children can play with
them, and these things are enough to give the entire family a sense
of power which makes them forget the misery of their daily existence.
And they are powerful, too. Rich and poor alike will have to come
to theil· counter and be polite, because these people, the Paper Eaters,
are a privileged class: they hold the keys to the Paradise of Decla–
rations.
"The first thing they will tell you, with a terrible scowl on their
faces, is to be patient. Now, what else have you been all your life
if
not patient? Do you really think that without a long training in
patience you would have been able to reach that stage of your life
as a Declarer? Indeed not. And on top of it all you are reproached
for being impatient. So while the victims of the Beast reproach one
another for the same fate that persecutes them all, the currency of
gratitude for the received Protection keeps the credit of the State
high."
"It seems to me," said Aristide, while
his
uncle was taking a deep
breath as
if
he had really shaken the Beast off
his
chest, "I don't
know how to put it, but well ... it seems to me ... that you are what
we call in America . . . emotional."
"You are a Jesuit," shouted Tiburzio. "You know perfecdy well
I am not emotional. And lucky for you that I am calm now. You have
seen me angry before and you should know. And then, now listen to
me; and then why should I be calm at all when I say these things?
I have a right, understand? A RIGHT to be angry if I want to."
"I don't deny it, but then what would you propose to do? You
cannot hope for an end of what you call the Paper Age. It's too bad,
but that's just the way it is. People can't live without papers, like
anonymous savages."
"Why?" asked Tiburzio, resting his hands on the table.
"Now you are asking me why. Well? Because ... it's obvious.
How could they?"
"If
I wanted to be unfair I could retort that they can't live
WITH papers, because
this
cannot be called a LIFE, but I shall not
mention this. I shall limit myself to asking you: Do you imply by this
that they need protection?"
"Well, what's wrong with protection? They don't need too much
of it, it's true, but ... they cannot remain anonymous."
"Nonsense. I'll tell you how they can remain anonymous. THEY
ARE JUST BORN THAT WAY, surely more so than they are born
free and equal in your Declaration of Independence. Names are given,
