worldly ways and byways(世俗之路)-第14章
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Worldly Ways and Byways
expatriated； and the social life it offers is a poor substitute for the circle
which most families leave to go there。
That； however； is not the most important side of the question。 Go to
any great lawyer of either New York or Chicago； and propose sending him
to Congress or the Senate。 His answer is sure to be； 〃I cannot afford it。 I
know it is an honor； but what is to replace the hundred thousand dollars a
year which my profession brings me in； not to mention that all my practice
would go to pieces during my absence？〃 Or again； 〃How should I dare to
propose to my family to leave one of the great centres of the country to go
and vegetate in a little provincial city like Washington？ No； indeed！ Public
life is out of the question for me！〃
Does any one suppose England would have the class of men she gets
in Parliament； if that body sat at Bristol？
Until recently the man who occupied the position of Lord Chancellor
made thirty thousand pounds a year by his profession without interfering
in any way with his public duties； and at the present moment a
recordership in London in no wise prevents private practice。 Were these
gentlemen Americans； they would be obliged to renounce all hope of
professional income in order to serve their country at its Capital。
Let us glance for a moment at the other reason。 Owing to our laws
（doubtless perfectly reasonable； and which it is not my intention to
criticise；） a man must reside in the place he represents。 Here again we
differ from all other constitutional countries。 Unfortunately； our clever
young men leave the small towns of their birth and flock up to the great
centres as offering wider fields for their advancement。 In consequence； the
local elector finds his choice limited to what is left … the intellectual
skimmed milk； of which the cream has been carried to New York or other
big cities。 No country can exist without a metropolis； and as such a centre
by a natural law of assimilation absorbs the best brains of the country； in
other nations it has been found to the interests of all parties to send down
brilliant young men to the 〃provinces；〃 to be； in good time； returned by
them to the national assemblies。
As this is not a political article the simple indication of these two
causes will suffice； without entering into the question of their
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reasonableness or of their justice。 The social bearing of such a condition is
here the only side of the question under discussion； it is difficult to over…
rate the influence that a man's family exert over his decisions。
Political ambition is exceedingly rare among our women of position；
when the American husband is bitten with it； the wife submits to； rather
than abets； his inclinations。 In most cases our women are not cosmopolitan
enough to enjoy being transplanted far away from their friends and
relations； even to fill positions of importance and honor。 A New York
woman of great frankness and intelligence； who found herself recently in a
Western city under these circumstances； said； in answer to a flattering
remark that 〃the ladies of the place expected her to become their social
leader；〃 〃I don't see anything to lead；〃 thus very plainly expressing her
opinion of the situation。 It is hardly fair to expect a woman accustomed to
the life of New York or the foreign capitals； to look forward with
enthusiasm to a term of years passed in Albany； or in Washington。
In France very much the same state of affairs has been reached by
quite a different route。 The aristocracy detest the present government； and
it is not considered 〃good form〃 by them to sit in the Chamber of Deputies
or to accept any but diplomatic positions。 They condescend to fill the latter
because that entails living away from their own country； as they feel more
at ease in foreign courts than at the Republican receptions of the Elysee。
There is a deplorable tendency among our self…styled aristocracy to
look upon their circle as a class apart。 They separate themselves more each
year from the life of the country； and affect to smile at any of their number
who honestly wish to be of service to the nation。 They； like the French
aristocracy； are perfectly willing； even anxious； to fill agreeable diplomatic
posts at first…class foreign capitals； and are naively astonished when their
offers of service are not accepted with gratitude by the authorities in
Washington。 But let a husband propose to his better half some humble
position in the machinery of our government； and see what the lady's
answer will be。
The opinion prevails among a large class of our wealthy and cultivated
people； that to go into public life is to descend to duties beneath them。
They judge the men who occupy such positions with insulting severity；
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classing them in their minds as corrupt and self…seeking； than which
nothing can be more childish or more imbecile。 Any observer who has
lived in the different grades of society will quickly renounce the puerile
idea that sporting or intellectual pursuits are alone worthy of a gentleman's
attention。 This very political life； which appears unworthy of their
attention to so many men； is； in reality； the great field where the nations of
the world fight out their differences； where the seed is sown that will ripen
later into vast crops of truth and justice。 It is （if rightly regarded and
honestly followed） the battle…ground where man's highest qualities are put
to their noblest use … that of working for the happiness of others。
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CHAPTER 14 … The Small Summer
Hotel
WE certainly are the most eccentric race on the surface of the globe
and ought to be a delight to the soul of an explorer； so full is our
civilization of contradictions； unexplained habits and curious customs。 It is
quite unnecessary for the inquisitive gentlemen who pass their time prying
into other people's affairs and then returning home to write books about
their discoveries； to risk their lives and digestions in long journeys into
Central Africa or to the frozen zones； while so much good material lies
ready to their hands in our own land。 The habits of the 〃natives〃 in New
England alone might occupy an active mind indefinitely； offering as
interesting problems as any to be solved by penetrating Central Asia or
visiting the man…eating tribes of Australia。
Perhaps one of our scientific celebrities； before undertaking his next
long voyage； will find time to make observations at home and collect
sufficient data to answer some questions that have long puzzled my
unscientific brain。 He would be doing good work。 Fame and honors await
the man who can explain why； for instance； sane Americans of the better
class； with money enough to choose their surroundings； should pass so
much of their time in hotels and boarding houses。 There must be a reason
for the vogue of these retreats … every action has a cause； however remote。
I shall await with the deepest interest a paper on this subject from one of
our great explorers； untoward circumstances having some time ago forced
me to pass a few days in a popular establishment of this class。
During my visit I amused myself by observing the inmates and trying
to discover why they had come there。 So far as I could find out； the greater
part of them belonged to our well…to…do class； and when at home doubtless
lived in luxurious houses and were waited on by trained servants。 In the
small summer hotel where I met them； they were living in dreary little ten
by twelve foot rooms； containing only the absolute necessities of existence；
a wash…stand； a bureau； two chairs and a bed。 And such a bed！ One
mattress about four inches thick over squeaking slats； cotton sheets； so
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nicely calculated to the size of the bed that the slightest move on the part
of the sleeper would detach them from their moorings and undo the
housemaid's work； two limp； discouraged pillows that had evidently been
〃banting；〃 and a few towels a foot long with a surface like sand…paper；
completed the fittings of the room。 Baths were unknown； and hot water
was a luxury distributed sparingly by a capricious handmaiden。 It is only
fair to add that everything in the room was perfectly clean； as was the
coarse table linen in the dining room。
The meals were in harmony with the rooms and furniture； consisting
only of the strict necessities； cooked with a Spartan disregard for such
sybarite foibles as seasoning or dressing。 I believe there was a substantial
meal somewhere in the early morning hours； but I never succeeded in
getting down in time to inspect it。 By successful bribery； I induced one of
the village belles； who served at table； to bring a cup of coffee to my room。
The first morning it appeared already poured out in the cup； with sugar
and cold milk added at her discretion。 At one o'clock a dinner was served；
consisting of soup （occasionally）； one meat dish and attendant vegetables；
a meagre dessert； and nothing else。 At half…past six there was an equally
rudimentary meal； called 〃tea；〃 after which no further food was distributed
