"The master, in his character of chief, receives the monies, sells and buys, ordains reparation, allots to each his task,regulates all that concerns the houses, the vintage and the herds; in short, plays the same part in the society as the father inhis family. But this father differs from others, in that, having only a deputed authority intrusted to him, he is responsible tothose of whom he holds it, and can lose it in the same way as he received it. If be abuses his position, or administers itsaffairs badly, the community assembles again and deposes him; and there are actual examples of this severe justice.
"The internal domestic details are entrusted to a woman. Her department is the poultry-yard, the kitchen, the linen, clothes,&c. She bears the title of `mistress.' She directs the women as the `master' directs the men; like him, she is chosen by themajority of votes, and like him may be deposed. But natural good sense warns these ****** peasants, that if the `mistress'
were the wife or sister of the `master,' and these two officers lacked the honesty necessary to their administrations, the twocombined would possess a degree of power dangerous to the community. Accordingly, to avert such abuses, by one of theconstitutional laws of the miniature state, it is declared that the `mistress' shall never be chosen in the same household as the`master.' The latter officer, as his name signifies, has a general supervision, and is invested with power of giving advice oradministering reprimands. Everywhere he holds the place of honour: if he marries his son, the community gives a feast, towhich the neighbouring communes are invited. His son, however, is only like the rest, a member of the republic, and enjoysno special privilege. When his father dies, he does not succeed to his honours,unless, indeed, he is found worthy of them,and deserves to be elected in his turn.
"Another fundamental law, observed with the greatest rigour, because the preservation of the society depends upon it, is thatwhich regards property. Never, in any case, is property divided: all remains m a mass; no one takes by succession; andneither for marriage nor any other reason is there any division. Should a Guittard woman leave Pinon to be married, theygive her six hundred pounds in money; but she forfeits all further claim, and so the general patrimony is preserved entire asbefore. The same would be the case if any of the young men should go to establish himself elsewhere.....
"Whenever their work does not necessitate their being apart, they labour together. They have a common room for theirmeals, a large and spacious kitchen very well appointed.. .They have constructed a recess in it which forms a kind of chapel,and contains figures of Christ and the Virgin. Here, every night, after supper, they join together in prayer. This prayer is onlyoffered in the evening:in the morning each offers up his own privately, as the hours of rising vary with the various kinds ofwork.
"Independently of the hamlet, the Guittards are also owners of forest, garden and arable land, vineyards and largechestnut-woods. The soil is poor and produces nothing but rye; and the thirty-two mouths to be fed consume the wholecrop, so that nothing remains to be sold. Moreover, these agriculturists, whose habits and life of labour inspire respect,perform great works of charity in the place of their abode. The poor never come to their door without being received, andnever leave without being fed. There is soup and bread for them at all times. If they wish to stay the night, there is a bed forthem :in fact, there is a room in the farm-building especially set aside for this purpose. In winter, hospitality extends evenfurther. The poor then are lodged in the bake-house. They are fed and provided with a warm shelter secure from the cold.
"I shall never forget a ****** answer given me on this subject by the `master' for the time being. Curious to learn the smalldetails of the establishment under his direction, I went over the buildings with him. Passing through one court, I saw severallarge dogs, which at once began to bark. `Do not be afraid,' lie said, `they only bark to give me warning. They are notdangerous we train them not to bite.' `Why should they not bite?' I asked. `Surely, your safety depends on their doing so.'
`Oh! a beggar often comes to us in the night time. At the noise of the dogs we rise to take him in; and we would not havethem do him any harm, or prevent his entering."'
