One afternoon in 1770, in Paris, the young Jacilene, who was 18 years old, irritated her father by giving alms to a homeless man in the French capital. Even knowing that her father would be upset, she spared no effort to help the beggar.
He scolded her:
- What's this business of giving him money from your savings that I gave you?
- Yes, father, you gave it to me, and from the moment you gave it to me, I decide what to do with it.
- But give it to a beggar?
- He's just like us.
Jacilene's father said:
- He will never be just like us. We are superior. He helps us with the taxes he pays.
- That's unfair. In this country, the poorest pay taxes, and the richest and the clergy pay nothing.
- That's right. They need to support us. "So, you don't have to give them money; they're the ones who have to support us."
Jacilene laughed and said:
"- There will come a day, Dad, when the French people will rise up against this."
"- That will never happen. It's the established order."
"- It will change eventually, Dad. And woe to the country that lives in such a situation and accepts it. Will other examples be followed after France? Will some other nation in the future also have governments collecting taxes, rampant corruption, and the people will remain inert, just enjoying parties, bread and circuses like in Ancient Rome? I know France will rise up against this, but I feel sad for other countries that may not follow this path."
"- That's enough for me, let's go home, Jacilene!"
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