Todescendabruptlyfromthesublime,toveryneartheridiculous,-Ihadneedlastsummerofaboytogowithaladyonatrapandhelpaboutthestable。SoIappliedtoafriend\'scoachman,ahard-workingEnglishman,whowasdelightedtogettheplaceforhisnephew-anAmerican-bornboy-thechildofasister,ingreatneed。Astheboy\'sclotheswerehardlypresentable,asimpleliverywasmadeforhim;fromthatmomenthepined,andfinallyannouncedhewasgoingtoleave。Inanswertomysurprisedinquiries,Idiscoveredthatafriendofhisfromthesametenement-houseinwhichhehadlivedinNewYorkhadappearedinthevillage,andsoonerthanbeseeninliverybyhisplay-fellowhepreferredabandoninghisgoodplace,thechanceofbeingofaidtohismother,andlearninganhonorablewaytoearnhisliving。
Remonstranceswereinvain;tothewrathofhisuncle,hedeparted。
Theboyhad,athisschool,heardsomuchabouteverybodybeingbornequalandeveryAmericanbeingagentlemanbyrightofinheritance,thathehadtakenhimselfseriously,anddespisedapositionhisunclewasproudtohold,preferringelegantleisureinhisnativetenement-housetothehumiliationofalivery。
WhenatcollegeIhadroomsinaneatcottageownedbyanAmericanfamily。Thefatherwasabutcher,aswerehissons。Theonlydaughterwasexceedinglypretty。Thehard-workedmotherconceivedhighhopesforthisfavoritechild。Shewassenttoaboarding-
school,fromwhichshereturnedentirelyunsettledforlife,havinglearnedlittleexcepttobeashamedofherparentsandtoplayonthepiano。Oneoftheseinstrumentsoftorturewasbought,andaroomfittedupasaparlorforthedaughter\'suse。Asthefamilywerefairlywell-to-do,shewasallowedtodressoutofallkeepingwithherparents\'position,and,eggedonbyhermother,triedherbesttomarryarich\"student。\"Failinginthis,shebecamediscontented,unhappy,andfinallytherewasascandal,thispoorvictimofafalseambitiongoingtoswellthevasttideofacity\'svice。Withasensibleeducation,basedontheideathatherfather\'stradewashonorableandthathermissioninlifewastoaidhermotherinthedailyworkuntilshemightmarryandgotoherhusband,preparedbyexperiencetocookhisdinnerandkeephishouseclean,andfinallybringupherchildrentobehonestmenandwomen,thisgirlwouldhavefoundahappyfuturewaitingforher,andhavebeenofsomegoodinherhumbleway。
Itisuselesstomultiplyillustrations。Onehasbuttolookabouthiminthisunsettledcountryofours。Theotherdayinfrontofmydoortheperennialditchwasbeingdugforsomegas-pipeorother。Twoofthegentlemenwhohadconsentedtodothislaborworefrock-coatsandtophats-orwhathadoncebeenthosearticlesofattire-insteadofcomfortableandappropriateoveralls。Why?Because,likethestable-boy,tohavewornanydistinctivedresswouldhavebeenintheirmindstostampthemselvesasbelongingtoaninferiorclass,andsointerferedwiththeirchancesofrepresentingthiscountrylaterattheCourtofSt。James,orpresidingovertheSenate,-positionstojudgebytheircriticismofthepresentincumbentstheyfeelnodoubtastotheirabilitytofill。
Thesamespiritpervadeseverytrade。Theyouthwhoshavesmeisnotabarber;hehasonlyacceptedthispositionuntilhehastimetodosomethingbetter。Thewaiterwhobringsmemychopatadown-townrestaurantwouldresignhisplaceifhewererequestedtoshavehisflowingmustache,andissecretlystudyinglaw。IloseallpatiencewithmycountrymenasIthinkoverit!Surelywearenotsucharaceofsnobsasnottorecognizethatagoodbarberismoretoberespectedthanapoorlawyer;that,asaFrenchsayinggoes,ILN\'YAPASDESOTMETIER。Itisonlythefoolwhoisashamedofhistrade。
Butenoughofpreaching。Ihadintended-whenItookupmypento-day-towriteonquiteanotherformofthismodernfolly,thiseternalstruggleupwardintocirclesforwhichthestrugglerisfittedneitherbyhisbirthnorhiseducation;theabovewastohavebeenbutaprefacetothematterIhadinmind,viz。,\"socialclimbers,\"thosescourgesofmodernsociety,thepeoplewhomnorebuffswilldiscourageandnocoldshoulderchill,whoseeffortshavedonesomuchtomakeourcountrymenabywordabroad。
Asmanyphilosophersteachthattroubleonlyispositive,happinessbeingmerelyrelative;thatinanycasetroubleisprettyequallydistributedamongthedifferentconditionsofmankind;that,exceptingthedestituteandphysicallyafflicted,allGod\'screatureshaveashareofjoyintheirlives,woulditnotbemorelogical,aswellasmoreconducivetothegeneralgood,ifalittlemoreweredonetomaketheyoungcontentedwiththeirlotinlife,insteadofconstantlysuggestingtoaracealreadypronetobeunsettled,thatnothingshortofthetopisworthyofanAmericancitizen?
CHAPTER26-TheClimberTHATformofmisplacedambition,whichisthesubjectoftheprecedingchapter,canonlyberegardedseriouslywhenitoccursamongsimpleandsincerepeople,who,howeverderided,honestlybelievethattheyaredoingtheirdutytothemselvesandtheirfamilieswhentheymoveheavenandearthtoriseafewstepsintheworld。Themomentwefindambitiontakingapurelysocialform,itbecomesridiculous。Theaimissopaltryincomparisonwiththeeffort,andsooutofproportionwiththeenergy-exertedtoattainit,thatonecanonlylaughandwonder!Unfortunately,signsofthispuerilespiritpeculiartothelastquarterofthenineteenthcenturycanbeseenonallhandsandinalmosteverysociety。
Thatanymanorwomanshouldmakeittheuniqueaimandobjectofexistencetogetintoacertain\"set,\"notfromanyhopeofprofitorbenefit,norfromthebeliefthatitiscomposedofbrilliantandamusingpeople,butsimplybecauseitpassesforbeingexclusiveanddifficultofaccess,doesatfirstseemincredible。
Thathumbleyoungpaintersorsingersshouldlongtoknowpersonallythegreatlightsoftheirprofessions,andshouldstrivetobeacceptedamongthemiseasilyunderstood,sincetheaspirantscanreapbutbenefit,presentandfuture,fromsuchcompanionship。
Thatarisingpoliticianshoulddeemitall-importanttobeonfriendlytermswiththe\"bosses\"isnotastonishing,forthosemagnateshaveitintheirpowertomakeormarhisfortune。ButinaMILIEUasfluctuatingasanysocialcirclemustnecessarilybe,shadingoffonallsidesandchangingasconstantlyaslightonwater,theendcanneverbeconsideredasachievedorthegoalattained。
Neitherdoesanyparticularresultaccompanysuccess,moresubstantialthanthemoralonewhichliesinself-congratulation。
That,however,isenoughforaclimberifsheisbittenwiththe\"ascending\"madness。Isay\"she,\"becausethisformofambitionismorefrequentamongwomen,althoughbynomeansunknowntothesternersex。
ItamusesmevastlytositinmycornerandwatchoneoftheseFIN-
DE-SIECLEdiplomatistsworkoutherlittleproblem。Shegenerallycomesplungingintoourcityfromoutside,hotforconquest,makingacquaintancesrightandleft,indiscriminately;thusfallinganeasypreytothewolvesthatprowlaroundtheedgesofsociety,waitingforjustsuchlambstodevour。Herfirstentertainmentsareworthattendingforshehasingeniouslycontrivedtogettogetherallthepeoplesheshouldhaveleftout,andfailedtoattractthesociallightsandpowersofthemoment。Ifshebeaquick-wittedlady,shesoonseestheerrorofherwaysandbeginsaprocessof\"weeding\"-asdifficultasitisunwise,eachrejected\"weed\"instantlybecominganenemyforlife,nottospeakoftheriskshe,inherignorance,runsofmistakingfor\"detrimentals\"
theFINESFLEURSoftheworldlyparterre。Ah!thewayoftheClimberishard;shenowbeginstoseethatherpathisnotstrewnwithflowers。
Onetactfulpersonofthiskind,whosegradual\"unfolding\"waswatchedwithmuchamusementandwonderbyheracquaintances,avoidedalltheseerrorsbygoinginearlyfora\"dearfriend。\"
Having,aftermaturereflection,chosenherguideamongthemostexclusiveoftheyoungmatrons,sheproceededquietlytopayhercourtENREGLE。Flatteringlittlenotes,boxesofcandy,andbunchesofflowerswereamongtheformsherdevotiontook。Asanaturalresult,thesetwoladiesbecameinseparable,andthemosthermeticallysealeddoorsopenedbeforethenewarrival。
Atalentformusicoractingisanotheraid。Afewyearsagoanentirefamilywerefloatedintothedesiredhavenonthewavesofthesister\'svoice,andoneyoungcoupleachievedsuccessbythehusband\'saptitudeforgamesandsports。Inthelattercaseitwasthemanofthefamilywhodidthework,dragginghiswifeupafterhim。Apoloponyishardlyone\'sideaofabattle-horse,butinthiscaseitboreitsriderontosuccess。
Onceclimbershavesucceededininstallingthemselvesinthestrongholdoftheirambitions,theybecomemoreexclusivethantheirnewfriendseverdreamedofbeing,andittriesone\'sself-
restrainttohearthesenewarrivalsdeploring\"thelevellingtendenciesoftheage,\"orwondering\"hownicepeoplecanbebeginningtocallonthosehorridSo-and-Sos。Theirfathersoldshoes,youknow。\"Thisultra-exclusivenessisnottobewonderedat。Theonlyattractionthecircletheyhavejustenteredhasfortheclimbersisitsexclusiveness,andtheydonotintendthatitshallloseitsmarketvalueintheirhands。LikeBaudelaire,theybelievethat\"itisonlythesmallnumbersavedthatmakesthecharmofParadise。\"Havingspenthardcashinthisinvestment,theyhaveeveryintentionofgettingtheirmoney\'sworth。
Inordertogiveoutsidersavividimpressionofthefootingonwhichtheystandwiththegreatoftheworld,allthewomentheyhavejustmetbecomeNellysandJennys,andallthemenDicksandFreds-behindtheirbacks,BIENENTENDU-forMrs。\"Newcome\"hasnotyetreachedthatpointofintimacywhichwarrantsusingsuchabbreviationsdirectlytotheowners。
Anotheramiableweaknesscommontotheclimberisthatofknowingeverybody。NonamecanbementionedathomeorabroadbutParvenuhappenstobeonthemostintimatetermswiththeowner,andwhenheisconversing,greatnamesdropoutofhismouthasplentifullyasdidthepearlsfromtheprettylipsofthegirlinthefairystory。Alltheworldknowshowsuchagentleman,beingaskedonhisreturnfromtheEastifhehadseen\"theDardanelles,\"
answered,\"Oh,dear,yes!Idinedwiththemseveraltimes!\"thussettlingsatisfactorilyhisstandingintheOrient!
Climbing,likeeveryotherhabit,soontakespossessionofthewholenature。Toabstainfromitistorture。Napoleon,wearetold,founditimpossibletorestcontentedonhissuccesses,butwasimpelledonwardbyaforcestrongerthanhisvolition。Insomesuchspirittheambitioussoulsherereferredto,after\"theConquestofAmerica\"andthediscoverythatthefruitoftheirstruggleswasnotworthverymuch,victoryhavingbroughttheinevitablesatietyinitswake,sailawayinsearchofnewfieldsofadventure。Theyhavelongagoleftbehindthefriendsandacquaintancesoftheirchildhood。Relationstheyapparentlyhavenone,whichaccountsforthecuriousphenomenonthataparvenuisneverinmourning。Asnofriendshipsbindthemtotheirnewcircle,thetiesareeasilyloosened。Whyshouldtheycareforonecitymorethanforanother,unlessitoffermoreofthesporttheylove?Thiscontinenthasbecometame,sincethereisnolongeranystruggle,whileovertheseavasthuntinggroundsandgameworthyoftheirpowder,formanirresistibletemptation-oldandexclusivesocietiestobebesieged,andconteststobewagedcomparedtowhichtheirAmericanexperiencesarebutlightskirmishes。Asthepoloponyissupposedtopantforthefray,sotheheartsofsocialconquerorswarmwithinthemattheprospectofmorebrilliantvictories。
Thepleasureoffollowingthemontheirhuntingpartiesabroadwillhavetobedeferred,sovastisthesubject,sofullofthrillingadventureand,alas!alsoofhumiliatingdefeat。
CHAPTER27-TheLastoftheDandiesSOcompletelyhasthedandydisappearedfromamongus,thateventhewordhasanold-timelookasifithadstrayedoutofsomehalf-forgottennovelor\"keepsake\",raisinginourmindsthepictureofaslender,clean-shavenyouth,inverytightunmentionablesstrappedunderhisfeet,adarkgreenfrock-coatwithacollaruptotheearsandastockwhosefoldscoverhischest,butter-coloredgloves,andahat-oh!ahatthatwouldcollectacrowdintwominutesinanyneighborhood!Agold-headedstick,andaquizzingglass,withablackribbonaninchwide,completethetoilet。InsucharigdidtheswellsofthelastgenerationstrolldownPallMallordrivetheirtilburysintheBois。
TherecentillnessofthePrincedeSaganhasmadeastrangeandsadimpressioninmanycirclesinParis,forhehasalwaysbeenafavorite,andisthelastsurvivingtypeofanowextinctspecies。
HeisthelastDandy!Nounderstudywillbefoundtofillhisrole-thedudeandtheswellarewholegenerationsawayfromthedandy,ofwhichtheyarebutfeeblereflections-thecomedywillhavetobecontinuednow,withoutitsleadinggentleman。Withhisheadofsilveryhair,hiseye-glassandhiswonderfulwaistcoats,heheldthefirstplaceinthe\"highlife\"oftheFrenchcapital。
Nofirstnightorballwascompletewithouthim,Sagan。Theverymentionofhisnameintheirarticlesmusthavekeptthewolffromthedoorofneedyreporters。NoDEBUTANTE,socialortheatrical,feltsureofhersuccessuntilithadreceivedthehall-markofhisapproval。Whenheassistedatadressrehearsal,theactorsandthemanagerspaidhimmoreattentionthanSarceyorSardou,forhewasknowntobetherealarbiteroftheirfate。Hiswordwaslaw,theworldbowedbeforeitasbeforethewillofanautocrat。
MaturematronsreceivedhisdictateswiththesamereverencethattheOldGuardevincedforNapoleon\'sorders。Hadhenotledthemontovictoryintheiryouth?
Ontheboulevardsoratarace-course,hewastheonepersonalwaysknownbysightandpointedout。\"TheregoesSagan!\"Hehadbecomeaninstitution。Onedoesnotknowexactlyhoworwhyheachievedtheposition,whichmadehimthemostfollowed,flattered,andcopiedmanofhisday。Itcertainlywasunique!
ThePrinceofSaganisdescendedfromMauricedeSaxethenaturalsonoftheKingofSaxonyandAuroraofKoenigsmark,whoinhisdayshonebrilliantlyattheFrenchcourtandwassomadlylovedbyAdrienneLecouvreur。Fromhisgreatancestor,SaganinheritedthetitleofGrandDukeOfCourlandtheestateshavebeenabsorbedintoaneighboringempire。Nevertheless,heisstillanR。H。,andwhencrownedheadsvisitParistheydinewithhimandreceivehimonafootingofequality。Hemarriedagreatfortune,andthedaughterofthebankerSelliere。TheirhouseontheEsplanadedesInvalideshasbeenforyearsthecentreofaristocraticlifeinParis;notthemostexclusivecircle,butcertainlythegayestofthisgaycapital,andfromthedaysofLouisPhilippehehasgiventhekeynotetothefastset。
Oddlyenough,hehasalwaysbeenagreatfavoritewiththelowerclassesapopularitysharedbyallthefamousdandiesofhistory。
Thepeopleappeartofindinthemthepersonificationofallaspirationstowardtheelegantandtheideal。Alcibiades,Buckingham,theDucdeRichelieu,LordSeymour,Comted\'Orsay,Brummel,Grammont-Caderousse,sharedthisfavor,andhaveremainedlegendarycharacters,towhomtheirdisdainforeverythingvulgar,theirworshipoftheirownpersons,andmanycostlyfolliesgaveanephemeralempire。Theirpowerwasthemorearbitraryanddespoticinthatitwasonlynominalandundefined,allowingthemtoruleoverthefashions,thetastes,andthepastimesoftheircontemporarieswithundividedsway,makingthemenvied,obeyed,loved,butrarelyoverthrown。
IthasbeenassertedbysomewritersthatdandiesarenecessaryandusefultoanationThackerayadmiredthemandpointedoutthattheyhaveamostdifficultanddelicateroletoplay,hencetheirrarity,andthatthesebutterflies,asonefindstheminthenovelsofthatday,thedeMarsys,thePelhams,theMaximedeTrailles,areindispensabletotheperfectionofsociety。Itisagreatmisfortunetoacountrytohavenodandies,thosesupremevirtuososoftasteanddistinction。Germany,whichgloriesinMozartandKant,GoetheandHumboldt,thecountryofdeepthinkersandbravesoldiers,neverhadagreatdandy,andsohasremainedbehindEnglandorFranceinallthatconstitutesthegracefulsideoflife,therefinementsofsocialintercourse,andtheartofliving。Francewillperceivetoolate,afterhehasdisappeared,thelossshehassustainedwhenthisPrince,GrandSeigneur,hasceasedtoembellishbyhispresenceherrace-coursesand\"firstnights。\"Areputationlikehiscannotbeimprovisedinamoment,andhehasnopupils。
Neverdidthearistocracyofacountrystandingreaterneedofsucharepresentation,thaninthesedaysoftramcarsand\"fixed-
price\"restaurants。Anentire\"art\"dieswithhim。Ithasbeenwhisperedthathehasnotentirelyjustifiedhisreputation,thattheaccountsofhisexploitsasaHAUTVIVEURhavegainedinthetelling。Neverthelesshedominatedanepoch,risingabovethetumultuousandlevellingsocietyofhisday,atardyDonQuixote,oftheknighthoodofpleasures,FETES,lovesandprodigalities,whicharenolongerofourtime。Hisgreatname,hisgrandmanner,hiselderlygraces,hisserenecarelessness,madehimabeingbyhimself。Noonewillsucceedthismasterofdepartedelegances。
Ifhedoesnotrecoverfromhisattack,iftheparalysisdoesnotleavethatpoorbrain,wornoutwithdoingnothing,wecanhonestlysaythatheisthelastofhiskind。
Anoriginalandindependentthinkerhasassertedthatcivilizations,societies,empires,andrepublicsgodowntoposteritytypifiedfortheadmirationofmankind,eachundertheformofsomehero。EmersonwouldhavegivenaplaceinhisPantheontoSagan。Foritishewhosustainedthetraditionsandbecamethetypeofthatdistinguishedandfrivoloussociety,whichjudgedthatseriousthingswereofnoimportance,enthusiasmawasteoftime,literatureabore;thatnothingwasinterestingandworthyofoccupyingtheirattentionexcepttheelegantdistractionsthathelpedtopasstheirdays-andnights!Hehadthemerit?inthesedaysofthepracticalandthecommonplace,ofpreservinginhisgraciouspersonallthecharminguselessnessofacourtierinacountrywheretherewasnolongeracourt。
Whatastrangesightitwouldbeifthisdepartingdandycould,beforeheleavesforeverthetheatreofsomanytriumphs,takehisplaceatsomestreetcorner,andreviewtheshadesofthecompanionshislonglifehadthrownhimwith,theendlessprocessionofdepartedbellesandbeaux,who,intheiryouth,had,underhisrule,helpedtodictatethefashionsandleadthesportsofaworld。
CHAPTER28-ANationontheWingONbeingtakentheotherdaythroughalargeandcostlyresidence,withthethoroughnessthatonlytheownerofanewhousehasthecrueltytoinflictonhisvictims,notallowingthemtopassaclosetoranelectricbellwithouthavingitsparticularuseandconvenienceexplained,forcingthemtolookupcoal-slides,anddownair-shaftsandtovisiteverysecretplace,fromthecellartothefire-escape,Inoticedthatapeculiararrangementoftheroomsrepeateditselfoneachfloor,andseveraltimesonafloor。I
remarkedittomyhost。
\"Youobserveit,\"hesaid,withablushofpride,\"itismywife\'sidea!Thetruthis,mydaughtersareofamarryingage,andmysonsstartingoutforthemselves;thishousewillsoonbemuchtoobigfortwooldpeopletoliveinalone。Wehaveplanneditsothatatanytimeitcanbechangedintoanapartmenthouseatanominalexpense。Itisevenwiredandplumbedwiththatendinview!\"
Thisanswerpositivelytookmybreathaway。Ilookedatmyhostinamazement。Itwashardtobelievethatamanpastmiddleage,whoafteryearsofhardesttoilcouldaffordtoputhalfamillionintoahouseforhimselfandhischildren,andstoreitwithbeautifulthings,wouldhavethecouragetolooksofarintothefutureastoseeallhisworkundone,hishometurnedtoanotheruseandhimselfandhiswifeafloatintheworldwithoutaroofovertheirwealthyoldheads。
SurelythiswastheSpiritoftheAgeinitspurestexpression,themorestrikinglysothatheseemedtofeelprideratherthananythingelseinhisingeniouscombination。
Helikedthecityhehadbuiltinwellenoughnow,butnothingprovedtohimthathewouldlikeitlater。HeandhiswifehadlivedintwentycitiessincetheybegantheirbravefightwithFortune,farawayinalittleEasterntown。Theyhadsincechangedtheirabodewitheachascendingrungoftheladderofsuccess,andbeyondafadeddaguerreotypeortwooftheirchildrenandafewmodestpiecesofjewelry,storedawayincotton,itisdoubtfuliftheyownedasingleobjectbelongingtotheirearlylife。
Anothercaseoccurstome。NearthevillagewhereIpassmysummers,therelivedanelderly,childlesscoupleonasplendidestatecombiningeverythingafastidioustastecoulddemand。Onefinemorningthisplacewassold,theimportantlibrarydividedbetweenthevillageandtheirnativecity,thefurnituresoldorgivenaway,-everythingwent;attheendthethingsnoonewantedweremadeintoabon-fireandburned。
Aneighboraskingwhyallthiswasbeingdonewastoldbythelady,\"Weweretiredofitallandhavedecidedtobe\'Bohemians\'fortherestofourlives。\"ThiscouplearenowwanderingaboutEuropeandhalfadozentrunkscontaintheirbelongings。
Theseare,ofcourse,extremecasesandmustbetakenforwhattheyareworth;neverthelesstheyarestrawsshowingwhichwaythewindblows,signsofthetimesthathewhorunsmayread。Idonotrun,butIoftensaunterupourprincipalavenue,andalwaysfindmyselfwonderingwhatwillbethefutureofthesplendidresidencesthatgracethatthoroughfareasitnearsthePark;theascendingtideoftradeisalreadycirclingroundthemandeachyearseesoneormorecrumbleawayanddisappear。
Thefinerbuildingsmayremain,turnedintoclubsorrestaurants,butthegreaterpartoftheneweronesaresoill-adaptedtoanyotherusethanthatforwhichtheyarebuiltthattheirfutureseemsobscure。
Thatfashionwillflitawayfromitspresenthauntstherecanbelittledoubt;thecitybelowtheParkissuretobegivenuptobusiness,andeventhefinefrontageonthatgreenspacewillsoonerorlaterbeoccupiedbyhotels,ifnotstores;andhewhobuildswithanybeliefinthepermanencyofhissurroundingsmustindeedbeofahopefuldisposition。
Agoodladyoccupyingadelightfulcorneronthissameavenue,oppositeaone-storyflorist\'sshop,said:
\"Ishallremainhereuntiltheybuildacrosstheway;thenI
supposeIshallhavetomove。\"
Soafterallthemanwhoiscontentedtoliveinafutureapartmenthouse,maynotbesoveryfarwrong。
Acaseoftheoppositekindisthatofagreatmillionaire,who,dying,lefthishouseanditscollectionstohiseldestsonandhisgrandsonafterhim,ontheconditionthattheyshouldcontinuetoliveinit。
Herewasanattempttokeeptogetherahomewithitsmemoriesandassociations。Whathasbeentheresult?Thestreetthatwasacharmingcentreforresidencestwentyyearsagohasbecomea\"slum;\"theunfortunateheirsfindthemselveswithahouseontheirhandsthattheycannotliveinandareforbiddentorentorsell。
Asafinalresultthewillmustinallprobabilitybebrokenandthematterended。
Ofcoursethereasonforagreatdealofthisisthephenomenalgrowthofourlargercities。Hundredsoffamilieswhowouldgladlyremainintheiroldhomesarefairlypushedoutofthembythegrowthofbusiness。
EverythinghasitslimitsandatimemustcomewhenourcitieswillceasetoexpandorwhencentreswillbeformedasinLondonorParis,wheregenerationsmaysucceedeachotherinthesamehomes。
Sofar,Iseenoindicationsofanysuchcrystallizationinthisourbigcity;weseemtobecondemnedlikethe\"WanderingJew\"orpoorlittle\"Joe\"tobeperpetually\"movingon。\"
AtadinnerofyoungpeoplenotlongagoaFrenchmanvisitingourcountry,expressedhissurpriseonhearingagirlspeakof\"notrememberingthehouseshewasbornin。\"Piquedbyhismannertheyoungladyanswered:
\"Wearetwenty-fouratthistable。Idonotbelievethereisonepersonherelivinginthehouseinwhichheorshewasborn。\"Thisassertionraisedamurmurofdissentaroundthetable;onacensusbeingtakenitproved,however,tobetrue。
Howcanoneexpect,undercircumstanceslikethese,tofindanygreatrespectamongyoungpeopleforhomelifeortheconservativesideofexistence?Theyarebornasitwereonthewing,andonthewingwilltheylive。
Theconditionsoflifeinthiscountry,althoughcontributinglargelytosuchastateofaffairs,mustnotbeheld,however,entirelyresponsible。Underlyingourcivilizationandculture,thereisstillstronginusawildnomadicstraininheritedfromathousandgenerationsofwanderingancestors,whichbreaksoutsosoonasmanisfreedfromtherestraintincumbentonbread-winningforhisfamily。Themomentthereiswealthorevenamodestincomeinsured,comestheinclinationtocutloosefromthedullroutineofbusinessandduty,returninginstinctivelytothemigratoryhabitsofprimitiveman。
Wearenottheonlynationthathasgivenitselfuptoglobe-
trotting;itisstrongintheEnglish,inspiteoftheirconservativeeducation,anditissurprisingtoseethenumberofformerlystay-at-homeFrenchandGermansonemeetswanderinginforeignlands。
In1855,aLondoneradvertisedtheplanhehadconceivedoftakingsomepeopleovertovisittheInternationalExhibitioninParis。
Forafixedsumpaidinadvanceheofferedtoprovideeverythingandactascouriertotheparty,andsucceededwiththegreatestdifficultyingettingtogethertenpeople。Fromthismodestbeginninghasgrownthevastundertakingthatto-daycoverstheglobewithtourists,fromthefrozenseaswherethey\"do\"themidnightsun,tothedesertsthreethousandmilesuptheNile。
AsIwasreturningacoupleofyearsagoVIAViennafromConstantinople,thetrainwasfilledwithapartyofourcompatriotsconductedbyanagencyofthiskind-simplepeopleofsmallmeanswho,twentyyearsago,wouldassoonhavethoughtofleavingtheirhomesforatripintheEastastheywouldofstartingoffinballoonsenroutefortheinter-stellarspaces。
Idoubtedatthetimeastotheamountofinformationandappreciationtheybroughttobearontheirtravels,soItookoccasiontodrawoneofthethin,unsmilingwomenintoconversation,askingherwheretheyintendedstoppingnext。
\"AtBuda-Pesth,\"sheanswered。Isaidinsomeamusement:
\"ButthatwasBuda-Pesthwevisitedsocarefullyyesterday。\"
\"Oh,wasit,\"shereplied,withoutanyvisiblechangeonherface,\"Ithoughtwehadnotgotthereyet。\"Apparentlyitwasenoughforhertobetravelling;therestwasoflittleimportance。Laterintheday,whenaskedifshehadvisitedacertainoldcityinGermany,shetoldmeshehadbutwouldnevergothereagain:\"Theygaveussuchpoorcoffeeatthehotel。\"Againlaterinspeakingtoherhusband,whoseemedatriflevagueastowhetherhehadseenNurembergornot,shesaid:
\"Why,yourememberitverywell;itwasthereyouboughtthoseniceovershoes!\"
Allofwhichleftmewithsomedoubtsinmymindastothecultivatinginfluencesofforeigntravelontheirminds。
Youcannotchangealeopard\'sspots,neithercanyoualterthenatureofarace,andoneofthestrongestcharacteristicsoftheAnglo-Saxon,isthenomadicinstinct。Howoftenonehearspeoplesay:
\"Iamnotgoingtositathomeandtakecareofmyfurniture。I
wanttoseesomethingoftheworldbeforeIamtooold。\"Lately,asprightlymaidenofuncertainyears,justreturnedfromalongtripabroad,wasaskedifsheintendednowtosettledown。
\"Settledown,indeed!I\'mabutterflyandIneverexpecttosettledown。\"
Thereiscertainlyfoodhereforreflection。Whyshouldwebemoreinclinedtowanderthanourneighbors?Perhapsitisinameasureduetoournervous,restlesstemperament,whichisitselftheresultofourclimate;butwhateverthecauseis,inabilitytoremainlonginoneplaceishavingamostunfortunateinfluenceonoursociallife。Wheneveryoneisonthemoveorlongingtobe,itbecomesdifficulttoformanybutthemostsuperficialties;strongfriendshipsbecomeimpossible,themostintimatefamilyrelationsareloosened。
Ifonewereofaspeculativeframeofmindandchosetotakeasthebasisforacalculationtheincreaseintouristsbetween1855,whenthetenpioneersstartedforParis,andthenumber\"personallyconducted\"overlandandseatoday,andthenglanceforwardatwhatthefuturewillbeifthisratioofincreaseismaintainedtheresultwouldbesomethingtooawfulforwords。Foriftenhavebecomeamillioninfortyyears,whatwillbethetotalin1955?
Nothinglessthanentirenationsgivenovertosight-seeing,passingtheirlivesandincomesinrushingaimlesslyabout。
Ifthefacilitiesofcommunicationincreaseastheyundoubtedlywillwiththedemand,theprospectbecomesnearertheideaofa\"WalpurgisNight\"thananythingelse。Fortheearthandtheseawillbecoveredandtheairfilledwitheveryformofwhirling,flying,plungingdevicetogetmenquicklyfromoneplacetoanother。
EveryhumanbeingontheglobewillbeflyingSouthforthecoldmonthsandNorthforthehotseason。
Aspersonallyconductedtourshavebeensosatisfactory,agencieswillbestartedtoleadusthroughallthestagesofexistence。
Parentswillsubscribeonthebirthoftheirchildrentohavethempersonallyconductedthroughlifeandeverythingexplainedasitisdoneatpresentinthegalleriesabroad;food,lodgingandreadingmatter,husbandsandwiveswillbeprovidedbycontract,tobetakenbackandchangedifunsatisfactory,asthebigstoresdowiththeirgoods。Delightfulprospect!Homeswillbecomesuperfluous,parentsandchildrenwillonlymeetwhentheir\"tours\"happentocrosseachother。Ourgreat-grandchildrenwillfloatthroughlifefreedfromeveryresponsibilityandmoreperfectlyindependentthaneventhatdelightfuldreamer,Bellamy,venturedtopredict。
CHAPTER29-HusksAMONGtheProtestantsdrivenfromFrancebythatastuteandliberal-mindedsovereignLouisXIV。,wereacolonyofweavers,whoasalltheworldknows,settledatSpitalfieldsinEngland,wheretheirdescendantsweavesilktothisday。
OntheirarrivalinGreatBritain,beforetheloomscouldbesetupandamarketfoundfortheirindustry,theexileswerereducedtothelastextremityofdestitutionandhunger。Lookingaboutthemforanythingthatcouldbeutilizedforfood,theydiscoveredthattheownersofEnglishslaughter-housesthrewawayasworthless,thetailsofthecattletheykilled。LikeallthepoorinFrance,thesewandererswereexcellentcooks,andknewthatathomesuchcaudalappendageswerehighlyvaluedforthetendernessandflavorofthemeat。TotheamazementanddisgustoftheEnglishvillagersthenewarrivalsproceededtocollectthis\"refuse\"andcarryithomeforfood。AsthefirstprincipleofFrenchculinaryartisthePOT-AU-FEU,thetailsweremostlyconvertedintosoup,onwhichtheexilesthrivedandfeasted。
Theirneighbors,enviousatseeingthedespisedFrenchindulgingdailyinsavorydishes,unknowntoEnglishpalates,andtemptedlike\"Jack\'s\"giantbythesmellof\"freshmeat,\"begantoinquireintothematter,andslowlyrealizedhow,intheirignorance,theyhadbeenthrowingawaysucculentanddelicatefood。Thenewsofthisdiscoverygraduallyspreadingthroughallclasses,\"ox-tail\"
becameandhasremainedthenationalEnglishsoup。
Ifthisveracioustalecouldbetwistedintoametaphor,itwouldservemarvellouslytoillustratethepositionoftheentireAnglo-
Saxonrace,andespeciallythatoftheirAmericandescendantsasregardstheLatinpeoples。Forfoolishprodigalityandreckless,ignorantextravagance,however,weleaveourEnglishcousinsfarbehind。
TwoAmericanhotelscometomymind,asdifferentintheirappearanceandmanagementastheyaregeographicallyasunder。BotharetypesandillustrationsofthewilfulwastethathasrecentlyexcitedMr。IanMaclaren\'scomment,andthewoefulwantofgoodfoodthatistheresult。Atone,adrearyshingleconstructiononatreelessisland,offourNewEnglandcoast,wheretheideasofthelandlordandhisguestshaveremainedasunchangedandprimitiveastheislanditself,Ifoundoninquirythatallarticlesoffoodcomingfromthefirsttablewerethrownintothesea;andIhavemyselfseenchickenshardlytouched,roundsofbeef,traysofvegetables,andeveryvarietyofcakeanddesserttossedtothefish。
WhilewewerehavingsoupssothinandtastelessthattheywouldhavemadeaFrenchhouse-wifeblush,theingredientsessentialtoanexcellent\"stock\"werecastaside。Theboarderswerepayingfivedollarsadayandappearedcontented,theplacewaspacked,thelandlordcoiningmoney,soitwasfoolishtoexpectanyimprovement。
Theotherhotel,avastcaravansaryintheSouth,whereafortunehadbeenlavishedinprovidingeverymodernconvenienceandluxury,wasthe\"fad\"ofitswealthyowner。Ihadmanytalkswiththemanagerduringmystay,andcametorealizethatmostofthewastefulnessIsawaroundmewasnothisfault,butthatofthepublic,towhosetastehewasobligedtocater。Atdinner,afterreceivingyourorder,thewaiterwoulddisappearforhalfanhour,andthenbringyourentiremealononetray,theover-cookedmeatsstrandedinlakesofcoagulatedgravy,theentreescoldandtheiceswarm。Hehadgenerallyforgottentwoorthreeessentials,buttosendbackforthemmeanttowaitanotherhalf-hour,ashisotherclientswereclamoringtobeserved。Soyouatewhatwasbeforeyouinsulkydisgust,andgotoutoftheroomasquicklyaspossible。
Afteroneofthesegastronomicraces,beinghungry,flustered,andsufferingfromindigestion,IaskedminehostifithadneveroccurredtohimtoserveaTABLED\'HOTEdinnerincoursesasisdoneabroad,wherehundredsofpeopledineatthesamemoment,eachdishbeingofferedtheminturnaccompaniedbyitsaccessories。
\"Ofcourse,Ihavethoughtofit,\"heanswered。\"ItwouldbethegreatestimprovementthatcouldbeintroducedintoAmericanhotel-
keeping。NooneknowsbetterthanIdohowdisastrousthepresentsystemistoallparties。Takeasanexampleofthepresentway,thedinnerIamgoingtogiveyouto-morrow,inhonorofChristmas。
GlanceoverthisMENU。Youwillseethatitenumerateseverycostlyanddelicatearticleoffoodpossibletoprocureandalonglistofotherdishes,thegreaterpartofwhichwillnotevenbecalledfor。AsnonumberofCHEFScouldpossiblyoverseetheproperpreparationofsuchavarietyofmeatsandsauces,allwillbecarelesslycooked,andasyouknowbyexperience,poorlyserved。
\"Peoplewhoexactuselessvariety,\"headded,\"aresureinsomewaytobethesufferers;intheiranxietytotryeverything,theywillgetnothingwortheating。Yetthatmealwillcostmeconsiderablymorethanmyguestspayfortheirtwenty-fourhours\'boardandlodging。\"
\"Whydoit,youask?Becauseitisthecustom,andbecauseitwillbeanadvertisement。Thesebillsoffarewillbesownbroadcastoverthecountryinletterstofriendsandkeptassouvenirs。If,insteadofallthissenselesssuperfluity,IwereallowedtogiveaTABLED\'HOTEmealto-morrow,withtheCHEFIhave,Icouldprovideanexquisitedinner,perfectineverydetail,servedatlittletablesasdeftlyandsilentlyasinaprivatehouse。Icouldalsodischargehalfofmywaiters,andchargetwodollarsadayinsteadoffivedollars,andthehotelwouldbecomewhatithasneverbeenyetapayinginvestment,sogreatwouldhethesaving。\"
\"Onlythismorning,\"hecontinued,warmingtohissubject,\"whilestandinginthediningroom,IsawayoungmanorderandthensendawayhalfthedishesontheMENU。Achickenwasbroiledforhimandrejected;asteakandanomelettefarednobetter。Howmuchdoyousupposeahotelgainsfromaguestlikethat?\"
\"ThereasonAmericansputupwithsuchpoorviandsinhotelsis,thathomecookinginthiscountryissorudimentary,consistingprincipallyoffrieddishes,andhotbreads。Solittleisknownabouttheproperpreparationoffoodthattomorrow\'sdinnerwillappeartomanyastheNEPLUSULTRAofdelicateliving。Oneofthecharmsofahotelforpeoplewholivepoorlyathome,liesinthispowertoorderexpensivedishestheyrarelyorneverseeontheirowntables。\"
\"TobeservedwithaquantityoffoodthathehasbutlittledesiretoeatisoneofanAmericancitizen\'sdearestprivileges,andarighthewillmostunwillinglyrelinquish。HemayknowaswellasyouandIdo,thatwhathecallsforwillnotbewortheating;thatisofsecondaryimportance,hehasitbeforehim,andiscontented。\"
\"ThehotelthatattemptedlimitingthelibertyofitsgueststotheextentofservingthemaTABLED\'HOTEdinner,wouldbeemptiedinaweek。\"
\"Acrowningincongruity,asmostpeoplearedelightedtodinewithfriends,oratpublicfunctions,wherethemealisinvariablyservedALARUSSEanothernameforaTABLED\'HOTE,andontheseoccasionsareonlytoogladtohavetheirMENUchosenforthem。
Thepresentway,however,isaremnantof\'oldtimes\'andtheaverageAmerican,withallhisloveofchangeandnovelty,isveryconservativewhenitcomestohistable。\"
Whatthismanagerdidnotconfidetome,butwhatIdiscoveredlaterformyself,wasthattofacilitatetheservice,andavoidconfusioninthekitchens,ithadbecomethecustomatallthelargeandmostofthesmallhotelsinthiscountry,tocarvethejoints,cutupthegame,andportionoutvegetables,anhourortwobeforemealtime。Thefood,thusarranged,isplacedinvaststeamclosets,whereitsimmersgaylyforhours,initsown,andfiftyothervapors。
Anyonewhoknowstherudimentsofcookery,willrecognizethatwiththissystemnoviandcanhaveanyparticularflavor,thepartridgeshavingatasteoftheirneighbortheroastbeef,whichinturnsuggeststheplumpuddingithasbeen\"chumming\"with。
Itisnotaloneinahotelthatwemissthegoodingraspingafterthebetter。Smallhousekeepingisapparentlyrunonthesamelines。
AyoungFrenchman,whowasworkinginmyrooms,toldmeinreplytoaquestionregardingprices,thateverykindoffoodwascheaperherethanabroad,buttheprejudiceagainstcertaindisheswassostronginthiscountrythatmanyofthebestthingsinthemarketswerenevercalledfor。Ournationisnolongerinits\"teens\"andshouldceasetoactlikeafoolishboywhohasinheritedwhatappearstohimalimitlessfortune;notforfearofhiscoming,likehisprototypeintheparable,toliveon\"husks\"forheisdoingthatalready,butlestlikethedogofthefable,ingraspingaftertheshadowofabanquethemissthesimplemealthatiswithinhisreach。
Oneofthereasonsforthisdeplorablestateofaffairsliesinthefoolisheducationourgirlsreceive。Theylearnsolittlehousekeepingathome,thatwhenmarriedtheyareobligedtobeginalloveragain,unlesstheyprefer,likeamajorityoftheirfriends,toletthingsasgoatthewillanddiscretionofthe\"lady\"belowstairs。
AtbothhotelsIhavereferredto,thefamiliesofthemeninterestedconsidereditbeneaththemtoknowwhatwastakingplace。The\"daughter\"oftheNewEnglandhousewentsemi-weeklytoBostontotakeviolinlessonsattendollarseach,althoughshehadnointentionofbecomingaprofessional,whilethewifewrotepoetryandignoredthehotelsideofherlifeentirely。
The\"betterhalf\"oftheFloridaestablishmenthiredapalaceinRomeandentertainedambassadors。Hotelsdividedagainstthemselvesareapttobeestablishmentswhereyoupayforriotouslivingandareservedonlywithhusks。
Wehavemanyhardlessonsaheadofus,andoneofthehardestwillbeforournationtolearnhumblyfromthethriftyemigrantsonourshores,thegreatartofutilizingthe\"tails\"thatareatthismomentbeingsorecklesslythrownaway。
Asitis,inspiteofmarketsoverflowingwitheveryfish,vegetable,andtemptingviand,wecontinuetobetheworstfed,mostmeagrelynourishedofallthewealthynationsonthefaceoftheearth。
WehaveasayingforanexcellentreasonunknownontheContinentthatProvidenceprovidesuswithfoodandthedevilsendsthecooks!Itwouldbetruertosaythatthepoorerthefoodresourcesofanation,themorerestrictedthechoiceofmaterial,thebetterthecooks;asmalllatitudewhenprovidingforthetableforcingthemtoahundredclevercombinationsandmysteriousdevicestovarythemonotonyoftheircuisineandtemptapalate,bycustomstaled。
Ourheedlesspeople,withgreatvarietyattheirdisposition,areunequaltothesituation,wastinganddiscardingthebest,andmakingabsolutelynothingoftheiradvantages。
Ifwewereenjoyingourprodigalitybylivingonthefatoftheland,therewouldbelessreasontoreproachourselves,foreveryonehasarighttoliveashepleases。Butasitis,ourfoolishprodigalsarespendingtheirsubstance,whileeatingthehusks!
CHAPTER30-TheFaubourgofSt。GermainTHEREhasbeentoomuchsaidandwritteninthelastdozenyearsaboutbreakingdownthe\"greatwall\"behindwhichthearistocratsofthefamousFaubourg,liketheCelestials,theirprototypes,haveensconcedthemselves。TheChinesespeakofoutsidersas\"barbarians。\"TheFrenchladiesrefertosuchunfortunatesasbeing\"beyondthepale。\"Almostallthathasbeenwrittenisarrantnonsense;thatimaginarybarrierexiststo-dayonasfirmafoundation,andisguardedbysentinelsasvigilantaswhen,fortyyearsago,NapoleonthirdofthenameandhisSpanishspousemountedtoitsassault。
TheirrepulsewasabitterhumiliationtothePARVENUEEmpress,whoseresentmenttooktheformalongwithmanyothercuriousresultsofopeningthepresentBoulevardSt。Germain,itslinebeingintentionallycarriedthroughtheheartofthatquarter,teemingwithhistoric\"Hotels\"oftheoldaristocracy,wherebeautifulconstructionsweremercilesslytorndowntomakewayforthenewavenue。ThecajolerieswhichEugeniefirsttriedandtheblowsthatfollowedwerealikeunavailing。EvenherworshipofMarieAntoinette,betweenwhomandherselfshefoundimaginaryresemblances,failedtowarmthestonyheartsoftheproudoldladies,towhomitwasasgallandwormwoodtoseeanobodycrownedinthepalaceoftheirkings。Likereligiouscommunities,persecutiononlydrewthisoldsocietymorefirmlytogetherandmadethemstandbyeachotherintheirdistress。WhentheBoiswasremodelledbyNapoleonandthelakewithitswindingdrivelaidout,thenewCourtdroveofanafternoonalongthiswaterfront。
Thatwasenoughfortheoldswells!Theyretiredtotheremote\"AlleeoftheAcacias,\"andsolemnlytooktheirairingawayfromthebustleofthenewworld,incidentallysettingafashionthathasheldgoodtothisday;thelakesidebeingnowdeserted,andthe\"Acacias\"crowdedofanafternoon,byallthatParisholdsofelegantandinelegant。
WherethebrilliantSecondEmpirefailed,theRepublichadlittlechanceofsuccess。Witheachsucceedingyearthe\"OldFaubourg\"