worldly ways and byways(世俗之路)-第11节
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our native LAISSER ALLER so much as a well…brushed hat and shining
boots。 When abroad； it is easy to spot a compatriot as soon and as far as
you can see one； by his graceless gait； a cross between a lounge and a
shuffle。 In reading…； or dining…room； he is the only man whose spine does
not seem equal to its work； so he flops and straggles until； for the honor of
your land； you long to shake him and set him squarely on his legs。
No amount of reasoning can convince me that outward slovenliness is
not a sign of inward and moral supineness。 A neglected exterior generally
means a lax moral code。 The man who considers it too much trouble to sit
erect can hardly have given much time to his tub or his toilet。 Having
neglected his clothes； he will neglect his manners； and between morals and
manners we know the tie is intimate。
In the Orient a new reign is often inaugurated by the construction of a
mosque。 Vast expense is incurred to make it as splendid as possible。 But；
once completed； it is never touched again。 Others are built by succeeding
sovereigns； but neither thought nor treasure is ever expended on the old
ones。 When they can no longer be used； they are abandoned； and fall into
decay。 The same system seems to prevail among our private owners and
corporations。 Streets are paved； lamp…posts erected； store…fronts carefully
adorned； but from the hour the workman puts his finishing touch upon
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them they are abandoned to the hand of fate。 The mud may cake up knee…
deep； wind and weather work their own sweet will； it is no one's business
to interfere。
When abroad one of my amusements has been of an early morning to
watch Paris making its toilet。 The streets are taking a bath； liveried
attendants are blacking the boots of the lamp…posts and newspaper…
KIOSQUES； the shop…fronts are being shaved and having their hair curled；
cafe's and restaurants are putting on clean shirts and tying their cravats
smartly before their many mirrors。 By the time the world is up and about；
the whole city； smiling freshly from its matutinal tub； is ready to greet it
gayly。
It is this attention to detail that gives to Continental cities their air of
cheerfulness and thrift； and the utter lack of it that impresses foreigners so
painfully on arriving at our shores。
It has been the fashion to laugh at the dude and his high collar； at the
darky in his master's cast…off clothes； aping style and fashion。 Better the
dude； better the colored dandy； better even the Bowery 〃tough〃 with his
affected carriage； for they at least are reaching blindly out after something
better than their surroundings； striving after an ideal； and are in just so
much the superiors of the foolish souls who mock them … better； even
misguided efforts； than the ignoble stagnant quagmire of slouch into
which we seem to be slowly descending。
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CHAPTER 9 … Social Suggestion
THE question of how far we are unconsciously influenced by people
and surroundings； in our likes and dislikes； our opinions； and even in our
pleasures and intimate tastes； is a delicate and interesting one； for the line
between success and failure in the world； as on the stage or in most of the
professions； is so narrow and depends so often on what humor one's
〃public〃 happen to be in at a particular moment； that the subject is worthy
of consideration。
Has it never happened to you； for instance； to dine with friends and go
afterwards in a jolly humor to the play which proved so delightful that you
insist on taking your family immediately to see it； when to your
astonishment you discover that it is neither clever nor amusing； on the
contrary rather dull。 Your family look at you in amazement and wonder
what you had seen to admire in such an asinine performance。 There was a
case of suggestion！ You had been influenced by your friends and had
shared their opinions。 The same thing occurs on a higher scale when one is
raised out of one's self by association with gifted and original people； a
communion with more cultivated natures which causes you to discover
and appreciate a thousand hidden beauties in literature； art or music that
left to yourself； you would have failed to notice。 Under these
circumstances you will often be astonished at the point and piquancy of
your own conversation。 This is but too true of a number of subjects。
We fondly believe our opinions and convictions to be original； and
with innocent conceit； imagine that we have formed them for ourselves。
The illusion of being unlike other people is a common vanity。 Beware of
the man who asserts such a claim。 He is sure to be a bore and will serve up
to you； as his own； a muddle of ideas and opinions which he has absorbed
like a sponge from his surroundings。
No place is more propitious for studying this curious phenomenon；
than behind the scenes of a theatre； the last few nights before a first
performance。 The whole company is keyed up to a point of mutual
admiration that they are far from feeling generally。 〃The piece is charming
and sure to be a success。〃 The author and the interpreters of his thoughts
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are in complete communion。 The first night comes。 The piece is a failure！
Drop into the greenroom then and you will find an astonishing change has
taken place。 The Star will take you into a corner and assert that； she
〃always knew the thing could not go； it was too imbecile； with such a
company； it was folly to expect anything else。〃 The author will abuse the
Star and the management。 The whole troupe is frankly disconcerted； like
people aroused out of a hypnotic sleep； wondering what they had seen in
the play to admire。
In the social world we are even more inconsistent； accepting with
tameness the most astonishing theories and opinions。 Whole circles will
go on assuring each other how clever Miss So…and…So is； or； how beautiful
they think someone else。 Not because these good people are any cleverer；
or more attractive than their neighbors； but simply because it is in the air
to have these opinions about them。 To such an extent does this hold good；
that certain persons are privileged to be vulgar and rude； to say
impertinent things and make remarks that would ostracize a less fortunate
individual from the polite world for ever； society will only smilingly shrug
its shoulders and say： 〃It is only Mr。 So…and…So's way。〃 It is useless to
assert that in cases like these； people are in possession of their normal
senses。 They are under influences of which they are perfectly unconscious。
Have you ever seen a piece guyed？ Few sadder sights exist； the human
being rarely getting nearer the brute than when engaged in this amusement。
Nothing the actor or actress can do will satisfy the public。 Men who under
ordinary circumstances would be incapable of insulting a woman； will
whistle and stamp and laugh； at an unfortunate girl who is doing her
utmost to amuse them。 A terrible example of this was given two winters
ago at one of our concert halls； when a family of Western singers were
subjected to absolute ill…treatment at the hands of the public。 The young
girls were perfectly sincere； in their rude way； but this did not prevent men
from offering them every insult malice could devise； and making them a
target for every missile at hand。 So little does the public think for itself in
cases like this； that at the opening of the performance had some well…
known person given the signal for applause； the whole audience would； in
all probability； have been delighted and made the wretched sisters a
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