worldly ways and byways(世俗之路)-第33节
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gentleman。 With his head of silvery hair； his eye…glass and his wonderful
waistcoats； he held the first place in the 〃high life〃 of the French capital。
No first night or ball was complete without him； Sagan。 The very
mention of his name in their articles must have kept the wolf from the
door of needy reporters。 No DEBUTANTE； social or theatrical； felt sure of
her success until it had received the hall…mark of his approval。 When he
assisted at a dress rehearsal； the actors and the managers paid him more
attention than Sarcey or Sardou； for he was known to be the real arbiter of
their fate。 His word was law； the world bowed before it as before the will
of an autocrat。 Mature matrons received his dictates with the same
reverence that the Old Guard evinced for Napoleon's orders。 Had he not
led them on to victory in their youth？
On the boulevards or at a race…course； he was the one person always
known by sight and pointed out。 〃There goes Sagan！〃 He had become an
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institution。 One does not know exactly how or why he achieved the
position； which made him the most followed； flattered； and copied man of
his day。 It certainly was unique！
The Prince of Sagan is descended from Maurice de Saxe （the natural
son of the King of Saxony and Aurora of Koenigsmark）； who in his day
shone brilliantly at the French court and was so madly loved by Adrienne
Lecouvreur。 From his great ancestor； Sagan inherited the title of Grand
Duke Of Courland （the estates have been absorbed into a neighboring
empire）。 Nevertheless； he is still an R。H。； and when crowned heads visit
Paris they dine with him and receive him on a footing of equality。 He
married a great fortune； and the daughter of the banker Selliere。 Their
house on the Esplanade des Invalides has been for years the centre of
aristocratic life in Paris； not the most exclusive circle； but certainly the
gayest of this gay capital； and from the days of Louis Philippe he has
given the keynote to the fast set。
Oddly enough； he has always been a great favorite with the lower
classes （a popularity shared by all the famous dandies of history）。 The
people appear to find in them the personification of all aspirations toward
the elegant and the ideal。 Alcibiades； Buckingham； the Duc de Richelieu；
Lord Seymour； Comte d'Orsay； Brummel； Grammont…Caderousse； shared
this favor； and have remained legendary characters； to whom their disdain
for everything vulgar； their worship of their own persons； and many costly
follies gave an ephemeral empire。 Their power was the more arbitrary and
despotic in that it was only nominal and undefined； allowing them to rule
over the fashions； the tastes； and the pastimes of their contemporaries with
undivided sway； making them envied； obeyed； loved； but rarely
overthrown。
It has been asserted by some writers that dandies are necessary and
useful to a nation （Thackeray admired them and pointed out that they have
a most difficult and delicate role to play； hence their rarity）； and that these
butterflies； as one finds them in the novels of that day； the de Marsys； the
Pelhams； the Maxime de Trailles； are indispensable to the perfection of
society。 It is a great misfortune to a country to have no dandies； those
supreme virtuosos of taste and distinction。 Germany； which glories in
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Mozart and Kant； Goethe and Humboldt； the country of deep thinkers and
brave soldiers； never had a great dandy； and so has remained behind
England or France in all that constitutes the graceful side of life； the
refinements of social intercourse； and the art of living。 France will
perceive too late； after he has disappeared； the loss she has sustained when
this Prince； Grand Seigneur； has ceased to embellish by his presence her
race…courses and 〃first nights。〃 A reputation like his cannot be improvised
in a moment； and he has no pupils。
Never did the aristocracy of a country stand in greater need of such a
representation； than in these days of tramcars and 〃fixed… price〃
restaurants。 An entire 〃art〃 dies with him。 It has been whispered that he
has not entirely justified his reputation； that the accounts of his exploits as
a HAUT VIVEUR have gained in the telling。 Nevertheless he dominated
an epoch； rising above the tumultuous and levelling society of his day； a
tardy Don Quixote； of the knighthood of pleasures； FETES； loves and
prodigalities； which are no longer of our time。 His great name； his grand
manner； his elderly graces； his serene carelessness； made him a being by
himself。 No one will succeed this master of departed elegances。 If he does
not recover from his attack； if the paralysis does not leave that poor brain；
worn out with doing nothing； we can honestly say that he is the last of his
kind。
An original and independent thinker has asserted that civilizations；
societies； empires； and republics go down to posterity typified for the
admiration of mankind； each under the form of some hero。 Emerson would
have given a place in his Pantheon to Sagan。 For it is he who sustained the
traditions and became the type of that distinguished and frivolous society；
which judged that serious things were of no importance； enthusiasm a
waste of time； literature a bore； that nothing was interesting and worthy of
occupying their attention except the elegant distractions that helped to pass
their days…and nights！ He had the merit （？） in these days of the practical
and the commonplace； of preserving in his gracious person all the
charming uselessness of a courtier in a country where there was no longer
a court。
What a strange sight it would be if this departing dandy could； before
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he leaves for ever the theatre of so many triumphs； take his place at some
street corner； and review the shades of the companions his long life had
thrown him with； the endless procession of departed belles and beaux；
who； in their youth； had； under his rule； helped to dictate the fashions and
lead the sports of a world。
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CHAPTER 28 … A Nation on the
Wing
ON being taken the other day through a large and costly residence；
with the thoroughness that only the owner of a new house has the cruelty
to inflict on his victims； not allowing them to pass a closet or an electric
bell without having its particular use and convenience explained； forcing
them to look up coal…slides； and down air…shafts and to visit every secret
place； from the cellar to the fire…escape； I noticed that a peculiar
arrangement of the rooms repeated itself on each floor； and several times
on a floor。 I remarked it to my host。
〃You observe it；〃 he said； with a blush of pride； 〃it is my wife's idea！
The truth is； my daughters are of a marrying age； and my sons starting out
for themselves； this house will soon be much too big for two old people to
live in alone。 We have planned it so that at any time it can be changed into
an apartment house at a nominal expense。 It is even wired and plumbed
with that end in view！〃
This answer positively took my breath away。 I looked at my host in
amazement。 It was hard to believe that a man past middle age； who after
years of hardest toil could afford to put half a million into a house for
himself and his children； and store it with beautiful things； would have the
courage to look so far into the future as to see all his work undone； his
home turned to another use and himself and his wife afloat in the world
without a roof over their wealthy old heads。
Surely this was the Spirit of the Age in its purest expression； the more
