The history of mankind was passing by. And almost as if
communing with himself, he said: "So you do not fear the Yellow Peril,
that terrible swarming of Asiatic barbarians who, it was said, would at
some fatal moment sweep down on our Europe, ravage it, and people it
afresh? In past ages, history always began anew in that fashion, by the
sudden shifting of oceans, the invasion of fierce rough races coming to
endow weakened nations with new blood. And after each such occurrence
civilization flowered afresh, more broadly and freely than ever. How was
it that Babylon, Nineveh, and Memphis fell into dust with their
populations, who seem to have died on the spot? How is it that Athens and
Rome still agonize to-day, unable to spring afresh from their ashes and
renew the splendor of their ancient glory? How is it that death has
already laid its hand upon Paris, which, whatever her splendor, is but
the capital of a France whose virility is weakened? You may argue as you
please and say that, like the ancient capitals of the world, Paris is
dying of an excess of culture, intelligence, and civilization; it is none
the less a fact that she is approaching death, the turn of the tide which
will carry splendor and power to some new nation.
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