a mortal antipathy-第55节
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when I read from my manuscript or repeat from memory the lines into
which I have transferred the thought of the men and women of two
thousand years ago； or given rhythmical expression to my own
rapturous feelings with regard to them。 I must read you my
Dedication to the Shade of Sappho。 I cannot help thinking that you
will like it better than either of my last two； The Song of the
Roses； or The Wail of the Weeds。
How I do miss you； dearest！ I want you： I want you to listen to what
I have written； I want you to hear all about my plans for the future；
I want to look at you； and think how grand it must be to feel one's
self to be such a noble and beautiful…creature； I want to wander in
the woods with you； to float on the lake； to share your life and talk
over every day's doings with you。 Alas！ I feel that we have parted
as two friends part at a port of embarkation： they embrace； they kiss
each other's cheeks； they cover their faces and weep； they try to
speak good…by to each other； they watch from the pier and from the
deck； the two forms grow less and less； fainter and fainter in the
distance； two white handkerchiefs flutter once and again； and yet
once more； and the last visible link of the chain which binds them
has parted。 Dear； dear； dearest Euthymia； my eyes are running over
with tears when I think that we may never； never meet again。
Don't you want some more items of village news？ We are threatened
with an influx of stylish people： 〃Buttons〃 to answer the door…bell；
in place of the chamber…maid； 〃butler；〃 in place of the 〃hired man；〃
footman in top…boots and breeches； cockade on hat； arms folded a la
Napoleon； tandems； 〃drags；〃 dogcarts； and go…carts of all sorts。 It
is rather amusing to look at their ambitious displays； but it takes
away the good old country flavor of the place。
I don't believe you mean to try to astonish us when you come back to
spend your summers here。 I suppose you must have a large house； and
I am sure you will have a beautiful one。 I suppose you will have
some fine horses； and who would n't be glad to？ But I do not believe
you will try to make your old Arrowhead Village friends stare their
eyes out of their heads with a display meant to outshine everybody
else that comes here。 You can have a yacht on the lake； if you like；
but I hope you will pull a pair of oars in our old boat once in a
while； with me to steer you。 I know you will be just the same dear…
Euthymia you always were and always must be。 How happy you must make
such a man as Maurice Kirkwood！ And how happy you ought to be with
him！a man who knows what is in books； and who has seen for himself；
what is in men。 If he has not seen so much of women； where could he
study all that is best in womanhood as he can in his own wife？ Only
one thing that dear Euthymia lacks。 She is not quite pronounced
enough in her views as to the rights and the wrongs of the sex。 When
I visit you； as you say I shall； I mean to indoctrinate Maurice with
sound views on that subject。 I have written an essay for the
Society； which I hope will go a good way towards answering all the
objections to female suffrage。 I mean to read it to your husband； if
you will let me； as I know you will； and perhaps you would like to
hear it；only you know my thoughts on the subject pretty well
already。
With all sorts of kind messages to your dear husband； and love to
your precious self；
I am ever your
LURIDA。
DR。 BUTTS TO MRS。 EUTHYMIA KIRKWOOD。
MY DEAR EUTHYMIA；My pen refuses to call you by any other name。
Sweet…souled you are； and your Latinized Greek name isthe one which
truly designates you。 I cannot tell you how we have followed you；
with what interest and delight through your travels； as you have told
their story in your letters to your mother。 She has let us have the
privilege of reading them； and we have been with you in steamer；
yacht； felucca； gondola； Nile…boat； in all sorts of places； from
crowded capitals to 〃deserts where no men abide；〃everywhere keeping
company with you in your natural and pleasant descriptions of your
experiences。 And now that you have returned to your home in the
great city I must write you a few lines of welcome； if nothing more。
You will find Arrowhead Village a good deal changed since you left
it。 We are discovered by some of those over…rich people who make the
little place upon which they swarm a kind of rural city。 When this
happens the consequences are striking；some of them desirable and
some far otherwise。 The effect of well…built； well…furnished； well…
kept houses and of handsome grounds always maintained in good order
about them shows itself in a large circuit around the fashionable
centre。 Houses get on a new coat of paint； fences are kept in better
order； little plots of flowers show themselves where only ragged
weeds had rioted； the inhabitants present themselves in more comely
attire and drive in handsomer vehicles with more carefully groomed
horses。 On the other hand； there is a natural jealousy on the part
of the natives of the region suddenly become fashionable。 They have
seen the land they sold at farm prices by the acre coming to be
valued by the foot； like the corner lots in a city。 Their simple and
humble modes of life look almost poverty…stricken in the glare of
wealth and luxury which so outshines their plain way of living。 It
is true that many of them have found them selves richer than in
former days； when the neighborhood lived on its own resources。 They
know how to avail themselves of their altered position； and soon
learn to charge city prices for country products； but nothing can
make people feel rich who see themselves surrounded by men whose
yearly income is many times their own whole capital。 I think it
would be better if our rich men scattered themselves more than they
do；buying large country estates； building houses and stables which
will make it easy to entertain their friends； and depending for
society on chosen guests rather than on the mob of millionaires who
come together for social rivalry。 But I do not fret myself about it。
Society will stratify itself according to the laws of social
gravitation。 It will take a generation or two more； perhaps； to
arrange the strata by precipitation and settlement； but we can always
depend on one principle to govern the arrangement of the layers。
People interested in the same things will naturally come together。
The youthful heirs of fortunes who keep splendid yachts have little
to talk about with the oarsman who pulls about on the lake or the
river。 What does young Dives； who drives his four…in…hand and keeps
a stable full of horses； care about Lazarus； who feels rich in the
possession of a horse…railroad ticket？ You know how we live at our
house； plainly； but with a certain degree of cultivated propriety。
We make no pretensions to what is called 〃style。〃 We are still in
that social stratum where the article called 〃a napkin…ring〃 is
recognized as admissible at the dinner…table。 That fact sufficiently
defines our modest pretensions。 The napkin…ring is the boundary mark
between certain classes。 But one evening Mrs。 Butts and I went out
to a party given by the lady of a worthy family； where the napkin
itself was a newly introduced luxury。 The conversation of the
hostess and her guests turned upon details of the kitchen and the
laundry； upon the best mode of raising bread； whether with 〃emptins〃
（emptyings； yeast） or baking powder； about 〃bluing〃 and starching and
crimping； and similar matters。 Poor Mrs。 Butts！ She knew nothing
more about such things than her hostess did about Shakespeare and the
musical glasses。 What was the use of trying to enforce social
intercourse under such conditions？ Incompatibility of temper has
been considered ground for a divorce； incompatibility of interests is
a sufficient warrant for social separation。 The multimillionaires
have so much that is common among themselves； and so little that they
share with us of moderate means； that they will naturally form a
specialized class； and in virtue of their palaces； their picture…
galleries； their equipages； their yachts； their large hospitality；
constitute a kind of exclusive aristocracy。 Religion； which ought to
be the great leveller； cannot reduce these elements to the same
grade。 You may read in the parable； 〃Friend； how camest thou in
hither not having a wedding garment？〃 The modern version would be；
〃How came you at Mrs。 Billion's ball not having a dress on your back
which came from Paris？〃
The little church has got a new stained window； a saint who reminds
me of Hamlet's uncle；a thing 〃of shreds and patches；〃 but rather
pretty to look at； with an inscription under it which is supposed to
be the name of the person in whose honor the window was placed in the
church。 Smith was a worthy man and a faithful churchwarden； and I
