worldly ways and byways(世俗之路)-第15节
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
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 the survivor of those
two？ In contrast； I saw a certain humble 〃home〃 far away in America；
where two old ladies were ending their lives surrounded by loving friends
and relations； honored and cherished and guarded tenderly from the rude
world。
In big cities like Paris and Rome there is another class of the
expatriated； the wealthy who have left their homes in a moment of pique
after the failure of some social or political ambition； and who find in these
centres the recognition refused them at home and for which their souls
thirsted。
It is not to these I refer； although it is curious to see a group of people
living for years in a country of which they； half the time； do not speak the
language （beyond the necessities of house… keeping and shopping）；
knowing but few of its inhabitants； and seeing none of the society of the
place； their acquaintance rarely going beyond that equivocal； hybrid class
that surrounds rich 〃strangers〃 and hangs on to the outer edge of the
GRAND MONDE。 One feels for this latter class merely contempt； but
52
… Page 53…
Worldly Ways and Byways
one's pity is reserved for the former。 What object lessons some lives on the
Continent would be to impatient souls at home； who feel discontented with
their surroundings； and anxious to break away and wander abroad！ Let
them think twice before they cut the thousand ties it has taken a lifetime to
form。 Better monotony at your own fireside； my friends； where at the
worst； you are known and have your place； no matter how small； than an
old age among strangers。
53
… Page 54…
Worldly Ways and Byways
CHAPTER 12 … 〃Seven Ages〃 of
Furniture
THE progress through life of active…minded Americans is apt to be a
series of transformations。 At each succeeding phase of mental
development； an old skin drops from their growing intelligence； and they
assimilate the ideas and tastes of their new condition； with a facility and
completeness unknown to other nations。
One series of metamorphoses particularly amusing to watch is； that of
an observant； receptive daughter of Uncle Sam who； aided and followed
（at a distance） by an adoring husband； gradually develops her excellent
brain； and rises through fathoms of self…culture and purblind experiment；
to the surface of dilettantism and connoisseurship。 One can generally
detect the exact stage of evolution such a lady has reached by the bent of
her conversation； the books she is reading； and； last but not least； by her
material surroundings； no outward and visible signs reflecting inward and
spiritual grace so clearly as the objects people collect around them for the
adornment of their rooms； or the way in which those rooms are decorated。
A few years ago； when a young man and his bride set up housekeeping
on their own account； the 〃old people〃 of both families seized the
opportunity to unload on the beginners （under the pretence of helping
them along） a quantity of furniture and belongings that had （as the
shopkeepers say） 〃ceased to please〃 their original owners。 The narrow
quarters of the tyros are encumbered by ungainly sofas and arm…chairs；
most probably of carved rosewood。 ETAGERES OF the same lugubrious
material grace the corners of their tiny drawing… room； the bits of mirror
inserted between the shelves distorting the image of the owners into
headless or limbless phantoms。 Half of their little dining…room is filled
with a black…walnut sideboard； ingeniously contrived to take up as much
space as possible and hold nothing； its graceless top adorned with a stag's
head carved in wood and imitation antlers。
The novices in their innocence live contented amid their hideous
surroundings for a year or two； when the wife enters her second epoch；
54
… Page 55…
Worldly Ways and Byways
which； for want of a better word； we will call the Japanese period。 The
grim furniture gradually disappears under a layer of silk and gauze
draperies； the bare walls blossom with paper umbrellas； fans are nailed in
groups promiscuously； wherever an empty space offends her eye。 Bows of
ribbon are attached to every possible protuberance of the furniture。 Even
the table service is not spared。 I remember dining at a house in this stage
of its artistic development； where the marrow bones that formed one
course of the dinner appeared each with a coquettish little bow…knot of
pink ribbon around its neck。
Once launched on this sea of adornment； the housewife soon loses her
bearings and decorates indiscriminately。 Her old evening dresses serve to
drape the mantelpieces； and she passes every spare hour embroidering；
braiding； or fringing some material to adorn her rooms。 At Christmas her
friends contribute specimens of their handiwork to the collection。
The view of other houses and other decorations before long introduces
the worm of discontent into the blossom of our friend's contentment。 The
fruit of her labors becomes tasteless on her lips。 As the finances of the
family are satisfactory； the re… arrangement of the parlor floor is （at her
suggestion） confided to a firm of upholsterers； who make a clean sweep of
the rosewood and the bow…knots； and retire； after some months of labor；
leaving the delighted wife in possession of a suite of rooms glittering with
every monstrosity that an imaginative tradesman； spurred on by unlimited
credit； could devise。
The wood work of the doors and mantels is an intricate puzzle of
inlaid woods； the ceilings are panelled and painted in complicated designs。
The 〃parlor〃 is provided with a complete set of neat； old…gold satin
furniture； puffed at its angles with peacock…colored plush。
The monumental folding doors between the long； narrow rooms are
draped with the same chaste combination of stuffs。
The dining…room blazes with a gold and purple wall paper； set off by
ebonized wood work and furniture。 The conscientious contractor has
neglected no corner。 Every square inch of the ceilings； walls； and floors
has been carved； embossed； stencilled； or gilded into a bewildering
monotony。
55
… Page 56…
Worldly Ways and Byways
The husband； whose affairs are rapidly increasing on his hands； has no
time to attend to such insignificant details as house decoration； the wife
has perfect confidence in the taste of the firm employed。 So at the
suggestion of the latter； and in order to complete the beauty of the rooms；
a Bouguereau； a Toulmouche and a couple of Schreyers are bought； and a
number of modern French bronzes scattered about on the multicolored
cabinets。 Then； at last； the happy owners of all this splendor open their
doors to the admiration of their friends。
About the time the peacock plush and the gilding begin to show signs
of wear and tear； rumors of a fresh fashion in decoration float across from
England； and the new gospel of the beautiful according to Clarence Cook
is first preached to an astonished nation。
The fortune of our couple continuing to develop with pleasing rapidity；
the building of a country house is next decided upon。 A friend of the
husband； who has recently started out as an architect； designs them a
picturesque residence without a straight line on its exterior or a square
room inside。 This house is done up in strict obedience to the teachings of
the new sect。 The dining…room is made about as cheerful as the entrance to
a family vault。 The rest of the house bears a close resembla
