worldly ways and byways(世俗之路)-第22节
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for their brief hour of splendor！
Cannes with its excellent harbor is the centre of interest during the
racing season when the Tsarewitsch comes on his yacht Czaritza。 At the
Battle of Flowers； one is pretty sure to see the Duke of Cambridge； his
Imperial Highness； the Grand Duke Michael； Prince Christian of Denmark；
H。R。H。 the Duke of Nassau； H。R。H。 the Archduke Ferdinand d'Este； their
Serene Highnesses of Mecklenburg… Schwerin and the Saxe…Coburg…
Gothas； also H。R。H。 Marie Valerie and the Schleswig…Holsteins； pelting
each other and the public with CONFETTI and flowers。 Indeed； half the
A1MANACH DE GOTHA； that continental 〃society list；〃 seems to be
sunning itself here and forgetting its cares； on bicycles or on board yachts。
It is said that the Crown Princess of Honolulu （whoever she may be）
honors Mentone with her presence； and the newly deposed Queen
〃Ranavalo〃 of Madagascar is EN ROUTE to join in the fun。
This crowd of royalty reminds me of a story the old sea…dogs who
gather about the 〃Admirals' corner〃 of the Metropolitan Club in
Washington； love to tell you。 An American cockswain； dazzled by a
doubly royal visit； with attending suites； on board the old 〃Constitution；〃
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came up to his commanding officer and touching his cap； said：
〃Beg pardon； Admiral； but one of them kings has tumbled down the
gangway and broke his leg。〃
It has become a much more amusing thing to wear a crown than it was。
Times have changed indeed since Marie Laczinska lived the fifty lonely
years of her wedded life and bore her many children； in one bed…room at
Versailles … a monotony only broken by visits to Fontainebleau or Marly。
Shakespeare's line no longer fits the case。
Beyond securing rich matches for their children； and keeping a sharp
lookout that the Radicals at home do not unduly cut down their civil lists；
these great ones have little but their amusements to occupy them。 Do they
ever reflect； as they rush about visiting each other and squabbling over
precedence when they meet； that some fine morning the tax…payers may
wake up； and ask each other why they are being crushed under such heavy
loads； that eight hundred or more quite useless people may pass their lives
in foreign watering…places； away from their homes and their duties？ It will
be a bad day for them when the long…suffering subjects say to them； 〃Since
we get on so exceedingly well during your many visits abroad； we think
we will try how it will work without you at all！〃
The Prince of little Monaco seems to be about the only one up to the
situation； for he at least stays at home； and in connection with two other
gentlemen runs an exceedingly good hotel and several restaurants on his
estates； doing all he can to attract money into the place； while making the
strictest laws to prevent his subjects gambling at the famous tables。 Now if
other royalties instead of amusing themselves all the year round would go
in for something practical like this； they might become useful members of
the community。 This idea of Monaco's Prince strikes one as most timely；
and as opening a career for other indigent crowned heads。 Hotels are
getting so good and so numerous； that without some especial 〃attraction〃 a
new one can hardly succeed； but a 〃Hohenzollern House〃 well situated in
Berlin； with William II。 to receive the tourists at the door； and his fat wife
at the desk； would be sure to prosper。 It certainly would be pleasanter for
him to spend money so honestly earned than the millions wrested from
half…starving peasants which form his present income。 Besides there is
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almost as much gold lace on a hotel employee's livery as on a court
costume！
The numerous crowned heads one meets wandering about； can hardly
lull themselves over their 〃games〃 with the flattering unction that they are
of use； for； have they not France before them （which they find so much to
their taste） stronger； richer； more respected than ever since she shook
herself free of such incumbrances？ Not to mention our own democratic
country； which has managed to hold its own； in spite of their many gleeful
predictions to the contrary。
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CHAPTER 18 … A Rock Ahead
HAVING had occasion several times during this past season； to pass
by the larger stores in the vicinity of Twenty…third Street； I have been
struck more than ever； by the endless flow of womankind that beats
against the doors of those establishments。 If they were temples where a
beneficent deity was distributing health； learning； and all the good things
of existence； the rush could hardly have been greater。 It saddened me to
realize that each of the eager women I saw was； on the contrary；
dispensing something of her strength and brain； as well as the wearily
earned stipend of the men of her family （if not her own）； for what could be
of little profit to her。
It occurred to me that； if the people who are so quick to talk about the
elevating and refining influences of women； could take an hour or two and
inspect the centres in question； they might not be so firm in their beliefs。
For； reluctant as I am to acknowledge it； the one great misfortune in this
country； is the unnatural position which has been （from some mistaken
idea of chivalry） accorded to women here。 The result of placing them on
this pedestal； and treating them as things apart； has been to make women
in America poorer helpmeets to their husbands than in any other country
on the face of the globe； civilized or uncivilized。
Strange as it may appear； this is not confined to the rich； but permeates
all classes； becoming more harmful in descending the social scale； and it
will bring about a disintegration of our society； sooner than could be
believed。 The saying on which we have all been brought up； viz。； that you
can gauge the point of civilization attained in a nation by the position it
accords to woman； was quite true as long as woman was considered man's
inferior。 To make her his equal was perfectly just； all the trouble begins
when you attempt to make her man's superior； a something apart from his
working life； and not the companion of his troubles and cares； as she was
intended to be。
When a small shopkeeper in Europe marries； the next day you will see
his young wife taking her place at the desk in his shop。 While he serves his
customers； his smiling spouse keeps the books； makes change； and has an
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eye on the employees。 At noon they dine together； in the evening； after the
shop is closed； are pleased or saddened together over the results of the day。
The wife's DOT almost always goes into the business； so that there is a
community of interest to unite them； and their lives are passed together。 In
this country； what happens？ The husband places his new wife in a small
house； or in two or three furnished rooms； generally so far away that all
idea of dining with her is impossible。 In consequence； he has a 〃quick
lunch〃 down town； and does not see his wife between eight o'clock in the
morning and seven in the evening。 His business is a closed book to her； in
which she can have no interest； for her weary husband naturally revolts
from talking 〃shop；〃 even if she is in a position to understand him。
His false sense of shielding her from the rude world makes him keep
his troubles to himself； so she rarely knows his financial position and sulks
over his 〃meanness〃 to her； in regard to pin…money； and being a perfectly
idle person； her days are apt to be passed in a way especially devised by
Satan for unoccupied hands。 She has learned no cooking from her mother；
〃going to market〃 has become a thing of the past。 So she falls a victim to
the allurements of the ba
