worldly ways and byways(世俗之路)-第14节
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day。
We have changed so radically that even a casual observer cannot help
being struck by the difference。 Among other most significant
〃phenomena〃 has appeared a phase of life that not only neither of these
great men observed （for the very good reason that it had not appeared in
their time）； but which seems also to have escaped the notice of the writers
of our own day； close observers as they are of any new development。 I
mean the class of Social Exiles； pitiable wanderers from home and country；
who haunt the Continent； and are to be found （sad little colonies） in out…
of…the…way corners of almost every civilized country。
To know much of this form of modern life； one must have been a
wanderer； like myself； and have pitched his tent in many queer places； for
they are shy game and not easily raised； frequenting mostly quiet old cities
like Versailles and Florence； or inexpensive watering…places where their
meagre incomes become affluence by contrast。 The first thought on
dropping in on such a settlement is； 〃How in the world did these people
ever drift here？〃 It is simple enough and generally comes about in this
way：
The father of a wealthy family dies。 The fortune turns out to be less
than was expected。 The widow and children decide to go abroad for a year
or so； during their period of mourning； partially for distraction； and
partially （a fact which is not spoken of） because at home they would be
forced to change their way of living to a simpler one； and that is hard to do；
just at first。 Later they think it will be quite easy。 So the family emigrates；
and after a little sight…seeing； settles in Dresden or Tours； casually at first；
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in a hotel。 If there are young children they are made the excuse。 〃The
languages are so important！〃 Or else one of the daughters develops a taste
for music； or a son takes up the study of art。 In a year or two； before a
furnished apartment is taken； the idea of returning is discussed； but
abandoned 〃for the present。〃 They begin vaguely to realize how difficult it
will be to take life up again at home。 During all this time their income
（like everything else when the owners are absent） has been slowly but
surely disappearing； making the return each year more difficult。 Finally；
for economy； an unfurnished apartment is taken。 They send home for bits
of furniture and family belongings； and gradually drop into the great army
of the expatriated。
Oh； the pathos of it！ One who has not seen these poor stranded waifs
in their self…imposed exile； with eyes turned towards their native land；
cannot realize all the sadness and loneliness they endure； rarely adopting
the country of their residence but becoming more firmly American as the
years go by。 The home papers and periodicals are taken； the American
church attended； if there happens to be one； the English chapel； if there is
not。 Never a French church！ In their hearts they think it almost irreverent
to read the service in French。 The acquaintance of a few fellow… exiles is
made and that of a half…dozen English families； mothers and daughters and
a younger son or two； whom the ferocious primogeniture custom has cast
out of the homes of their childhood to economize on the Continent。
I have in my mind a little settlement of this kind at Versailles； which
was a type。 The formal old city； fallen from its grandeur； was a singularly
appropriate setting to the little comedy。 There the modest purses of the
exiles found rents within their reach； the quarters vast and airy。 The
galleries and the park afforded a diversion； and then Paris； dear Paris； the
American Mecca； was within reach。 At the time I knew it； the colony was
fairly prosperous； many of its members living in the two or three principal
PENSIONS； the others in apartments of their own。 They gave feeble little
entertainments among themselves； card…parties and teas； and dined about
with each other at their respective TABLES D'HOTE； even knowing a
stray Frenchman or two； whom the quest of a meal had tempted out of
their native fastnesses as it does the wolves in a hard winter。 Writing and
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receiving letters from America was one of the principal occupations； and
an epistle descriptive of a particular event at home went the rounds； and
was eagerly read and discussed。
The merits of the different PENSIONS also formed a subject of vital
interest。 The advantages and disadvantages of these rival establishments
were； as a topic； never exhausted。 MADAME UNE TELLE gave five
o'clock tea； included in the seven francs a day； but her rival gave one more
meat course at dinner and her coffee was certainly better； while a third
undoubtedly had a nicer set of people。 No one here at home can realize the
importance these matters gradually assume in the eyes of the exiles。 Their
slender incomes have to be so carefully handled to meet the strain of even
this simple way of living； if they are to show a surplus for a little trip to
the seashore in the summer months； that an extra franc a day becomes a
serious consideration。
Every now and then a family stronger…minded than the others； or with
serious reasons for returning home （a daughter to bring out or a son to put
into business）； would break away from its somnolent surroundings and re…
cross the Atlantic； alternating between hope and fear。 It is here that a sad
fate awaits these modern Rip Van Winkles。 They find their native cities
changed beyond recognition。 （For we move fast in these days。） The
mother gets out her visiting list of ten years before and is thunderstruck to
find that it contains chiefly names of the 〃dead； the divorced； and
defaulted。〃 The waves of a decade have washed over her place and the
world she once belonged to knows her no more。 The leaders of her day on
whose aid she counted have retired from the fray。 Younger； and alas！
unknown faces sit in the opera boxes and around the dinner tables where
before she had found only friends。 After a feeble little struggle to get again
into the 〃swim；〃 the family drifts back across the ocean into the quiet back
water of a continental town； and goes circling around with the other twigs
and dry leaves； moral flotsam and jetsam； thrown aside by the great rush
of the outside world。
For the parents the life is not too sad。 They have had their day； and are；
perhaps； a little glad in their hearts of a quiet old age； away from the heat
and sweat of the battle； but for the younger generation it is annihilation。
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Each year their circle grows smaller。 Death takes away one member after
another of the family； until one is left alone in a foreign land with no ties
around her； or with her far…away 〃home；〃 the latter more a name now than
a reality。
A year or two ago I was taking luncheon with our consul at his
primitive villa； an hour's ride from the city of Tangier； a ride made on
donkey…back； as no roads exist in that sunny land。 After our coffee and
cigars； he took me a half…hour's walk into the wilderness around him to
call on his nearest neighbors； whose mode of existence seemed a source of
anxiety to him。 I found myself in the presence of two American ladies； the
younger being certainly not less than seventy…five。 To my astonishment I
found they had been living there some thirty years； since the death of their
parents； in an isolation and remoteness impossible to describe； in an Arab
house； with native servants； 〃the world forgetting； by the world forgot。〃
Yet these ladies had names well known in New York fifty years ago。
The glimpse I had of their existence made me thoughtful as I rode
home in the twilight； across a suburb none too safe for strangers。 What had
the future in store for those two？ Or； worse still； for
