worldly ways and byways(世俗之路)-第31节
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great results。 A proposition open to discussion。
It is doubtless satisfactory to designate first magistrates who have
raised themselves from humble beginnings to that proud position； and
there are times when it is proper to recall such achievements to the rising
generation。 But as youth is proverbially over…confident it might also be
well to point out； without danger of discouraging our sanguine youngsters；
that for one who has succeeded； about ten million confident American
youths； full of ambition and lofty aims； have been obliged to content
themselves with being honest men in humble positions； even as their
fathers before them。 A sad humiliation； I grant you； for a self… respecting
citizen； to end life just where his father did； often the case； nevertheless； in
this hard world； where so many fine qualities go unappreciated； … no
societies having as yet been formed to seek out 〃mute； inglorious
Miltons；〃 and ask to crown them！
To descend abruptly from the sublime； to very near the ridiculous； … I
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had need last summer of a boy to go with a lady on a trap and help about
the stable。 So I applied to a friend's coachman； a hard…working
Englishman； who was delighted to get the place for his nephew … an
American…born boy … the child of a sister； in great need。 As the boy's
clothes were hardly presentable； a simple livery was made for him； from
that moment he pined； and finally announced he was going to leave。 In
answer to my surprised inquiries； I discovered that a friend of his from the
same tenement…house in which he had lived in New York had appeared in
the village； and sooner than be seen in livery by his play…fellow he
preferred abandoning his good place； the chance of being of aid to his
mother； and learning an honorable way to earn his living。 Remonstrances
were in vain； to the wrath of his uncle； he departed。 The boy had； at his
school； heard so much about everybody being born equal and every
American being a gentleman by right of inheritance； that he had taken
himself seriously； and despised a position his uncle was proud to hold；
preferring elegant leisure in his native tenement…house to the humiliation
of a livery。
When at college I had rooms in a neat cottage owned by an American
family。 The father was a butcher； as were his sons。 The only daughter was
exceedingly pretty。 The hard…worked mother conceived high hopes for this
favorite child。 She was sent to a boarding… school； from which she
returned entirely unsettled for life； having learned little except to be
ashamed of her parents and to play on the piano。 One of these instruments
of torture was bought； and a room fitted up as a parlor for the daughter's
use。 As the family were fairly well…to…do； she was allowed to dress out of
all keeping with her parents' position； and； egged on by her mother； tried
her best to marry a rich 〃student。〃 Failing in this； she became discontented；
unhappy； and finally there was a scandal； this poor victim of a false
ambition going to swell the vast tide of a city's vice。 With a sensible
education； based on the idea that her father's trade was honorable and that
her mission in life was to aid her mother in the daily work until she might
marry and go to her husband； prepared by experience to cook his dinner
and keep his house clean； and finally bring up her children to be honest
men and women； this girl would have found a happy future waiting for her；
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and have been of some good in her humble way。
It is useless to multiply illustrations。 One has but to look about him in
this unsettled country of ours。 The other day in front of my door the
perennial ditch was being dug for some gas…pipe or other。 Two of the
gentlemen who had consented to do this labor wore frock…coats and top
hats … or what had once been those articles of attire … instead of
comfortable and appropriate overalls。 Why？ Because； like the stable…boy；
to have worn any distinctive dress would have been in their minds to
stamp themselves as belonging to an inferior class； and so interfered with
their chances of representing this country later at the Court of St。 James； or
presiding over the Senate； … positions （to judge by their criticism of the
present incumbents） they feel no doubt as to their ability to fill。
The same spirit pervades every trade。 The youth who shaves me is not
a barber； he has only accepted this position until he has time to do
something better。 The waiter who brings me my chop at a down…town
restaurant would resign his place if he were requested to shave his flowing
mustache； and is secretly studying law。 I lose all patience with my
countrymen as I think over it！ Surely we are not such a race of snobs as
not to recognize that a good barber is more to be respected than a poor
lawyer； that； as a French saying goes； IL N'Y A PAS DE SOT METIER。 It
is only the fool who is ashamed of his trade。
But enough of preaching。 I had intended … when I took up my pen to…
day … to write on quite another form of this modern folly； this eternal
struggle upward into circles for which the struggler is fitted neither by his
birth nor his education； the above was to have been but a preface to the
matter I had in mind； viz。； 〃social climbers；〃 those scourges of modern
society； the people whom no rebuffs will discourage and no cold shoulder
chill； whose efforts have done so much to make our countrymen a byword
abroad。
As many philosophers teach that trouble only is positive； happiness
being merely relative； that in any case trouble is pretty equally distributed
among the different conditions of mankind； that； excepting the destitute
and physically afflicted； all God's creatures have a share of joy in their
lives； would it not be more logical； as well as more conducive to the
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general good； if a little more were done to make the young contented with
their lot in life； instead of constantly suggesting to a race already prone to
be unsettled； that nothing short of the top is worthy of an American
citizen？
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CHAPTER 26 … The Climber
THAT form of misplaced ambition； which is the subject of the
preceding chapter； can only be regarded seriously when it occurs among
simple and sincere people； who； however derided； honestly believe that
they are doing their duty to themselves and their families when they move
heaven and earth to rise a few steps in the world。 The moment we find
ambition taking a purely social form； it becomes ridiculous。 The aim is so
paltry in comparison with the effort； and so out of proportion with the
energy…exerted to attain it； that one can only laugh and wonder！
Unfortunately； signs of this puerile spirit （peculiar to the last quarter of the
nineteenth century） can be seen on all hands and in almost every society。
That any man or woman should make it the unique aim and object of
existence to get into a certain 〃set；〃 not from any hope of profit or benefit；
nor from the belief that it is composed of brilliant and amusing people； but
simply because it passes for being exclusive and difficult of access； does
at first seem incredible。
That humble young painters or singers should long to know personally
the great lights of their professions； and should strive to be accepted
among them is easily understood； since
