worldly ways and byways(世俗之路)-第13节
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visitor； remembering how quick the society of London is to welcome a
new celebrity or original character； how a place is at once made for him at
every hospitable board； a permanent one to which he is expected to return；
and how no Continental entertainment is considered complete without
some bright particular star to shine in the firmament。
〃Lion…hunting；〃 I hear my reader say with a sneer。 That may be； but it
makes society worth the candle； which it rarely is over here。 I realized
what I had often vaguely felt before； that the Bohemia the English lady
was looking for was not to be found in this country； more's the pity。 Not
that the elements are lacking。 Far from it； （for even more than in London
should we be able to combine such a society）； but perhaps from a
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misconception of the true idea of such a society； due probably to Henry
Murger's dreary book SCENES DE LA VIE DE BOHEME which is
chargeable with the fact that a circle of this kind evokes in the mind of
most Americans visions of a scrubby； poorly…fed and less…washed
community； a world they would hardly dare ask to their tables for fear of
some embarrassing unconventionality of conduct or dress。
Yet that can hardly be the reason； for even in Murger or Paul de Kock；
at their worst； the hero is still a gentleman； and even when he borrows a
friend's coat； it is to go to a great house and among people of rank。 Besides；
we are becoming too cosmopolitan； and wander too constantly over this
little globe； not to have learned that the Bohemia of 1830 is as completely
a thing of the past as a GRISETTE or a glyphisodon。 It disappeared with
Gavarni and the authors who described it。 Although we have kept the word；
its meaning has gradually changed until it has come to mean something
difficult to define； a will…o'…the…wisp； which one tries vainly to grasp。 With
each decade it has put on a new form and changed its centre； the one
definite fact being that it combines the better elements of several social
layers。
Drop in； if you are in Paris and know the way； at one of Madeleine
Lemaire's informal evenings in her studio。 There you may find the Prince
de Ligne； chatting with Rejane or Coquelin； or Henri d'Orleans； just back
from an expedition into Africa。 A little further on； Saint…Saens will be
running over the keys； preparing an accompaniment for one of Madame de
Tredern's songs。 The Princess Mathilde （that passionate lover of art） will
surely be there； and … but it is needless to particularize。
Cross the Channel； and get yourself asked to one of Irving's choice
suppers after the play。 You will find the bar； the stage； and the pulpit
represented there； a 〃happy family〃 over which the 〃Prince〃 often presides；
smoking cigar after cigar； until the tardy London daylight appears to break
up the entertainment。
For both are centres where the gifted and the travelled meet the great
of the social world； on a footing of perfect equality； and where； if any
prestige is accorded； it is that of brains。 When you have seen these places
and a dozen others like them； you will realize what the actor's wife had in
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her mind。
Now； let me whisper to you why I think such circles do not exist in
this country。 In the first place； we are still too provincial in this big city of
ours。 New York always reminds me of a definition I once heard of
California fruit： 〃Very large； with no particular flavor。〃 We are like a boy；
who has had the misfortune to grow too quickly and look like a man； but
whose mind has not kept pace with his body。 What he knows is undigested
and chaotic； while his appearance makes you expect more of him than he
can give … hence disappointment。
Our society is yet in knickerbockers； and has retained all sorts of
littlenesses and prejudices which older civilizations have long since
relegated to the mental lumber room。 An equivalent to this point of view
you will find in England or France only in the smaller 〃cathedral〃 cities；
and even there the old aristocrats have the courage of their opinions。 Here；
where everything is quite frankly on a money basis； and 〃positions〃 are
made and lost like a fortune； by a turn of the market； those qualities which
are purely mental； and on which it is hard to put a practical value； are
naturally at a discount。 We are quite ready to pay for the best。 Witness our
private galleries and the opera； but we say； like the parvenu in Emile
Augier's delightful comedy LE GENDRE DE M。 POIRIER； 〃Patronize art？
Of course！ But the artists？ Never！〃 And frankly； it would be too much；
would it not； to expect a family only half a generation away from an iron
foundry； or a mine； to be willing to receive Irving or Bernhardt on terms of
perfect equality？
As it would be unjust to demand a mature mind in the overgrown boy；
it is useless to hope for delicate tact and social feeling from the parvenu。
To be gracious and at ease with all classes and professions； one must be
perfectly sure of one's own position； and with us few feel this security； it
being based on too frail a foundation； a crisis in the 〃street〃 going a long
way towards destroying it。
Of course I am generalizing and doubt not that in many cultivated
homes the right spirit exists； but unfortunately these are not the centres
which give the tone to our 〃world。〃 Lately at one of the most splendid
houses in this city a young Italian tenor had been engaged to sing。 When
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he had finished he stood alone； unnoticed； unspoken to for the rest of the
evening。 He had been paid to sing。 〃What more； in common sense； could
he want？〃 thought the 〃world；〃 without reflecting that it was probably not
the TENOR who lost by that arrangement。 It needs a delicate hand to hold
the reins over the backs of such a fine…mouthed community as artists and
singers form。 They rarely give their best when singing or performing in a
hostile atmosphere。
A few years ago when a fancy…dress ball was given at the Academy of
Design； the original idea was to have it an artists' ball； the community of
the brush were； however； approached with such a complete lack of tact
that； with hardly an exception； they held aloof； and at the ball shone
conspicuous by their absence。
At present in this city I know of but two hospitable firesides where you
are sure to meet the best the city holds of either foreign or native talent。
The one is presided over by the wife of a young composer； and the other；
oddly enough； by two unmarried ladies。 An invitation to a dinner or a
supper at either of these houses is as eagerly sought after and as highly
prized in the great world as it is by the Bohemians； though neither 〃salon〃
is open regularly。
There is still hope for us； and I already see signs of better things。
Perhaps； when my English friend returns in a few years； we may be able to
prove to her that we have found the road to Prague。
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CHAPTER 11 … Social Exiles
BALZAC； in his COMEDIE HUMAINE； has reviewed with a
master…hand almost every phase of the Social World of Paris down to 1850
and Thackeray left hardly a corner of London High Life unexplored； but
so great have been the changes （progress； its admirers call it；） since then；
that； could Balzac come back to his beloved Paris； he would feel like a
foreigner there； and Thackeray； who was among us but yesterday； would
have difficulty in finding his bearings in the sea of the London world to…
day。
We have changed so radically that even a casual observer cannot help
being struck
