worldly ways and byways(世俗之路)-第35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！
influences of foreign travel on their minds。
You cannot change a leopard's spots； neither can you alter the nature of
a race； and one of the strongest characteristics of the Anglo…Saxon； is the
nomadic instinct。 How often one hears people say：
〃I am not going to sit at home and take care of my furniture。 I want to
see something of the world before I am too old。〃 Lately； a sprightly
maiden of uncertain years； just returned from a long trip abroad； was asked
if she intended now to settle down。
〃Settle down； indeed！ I'm a butterfly and I never expect to settle
down。〃
There is certainly food here for reflection。 Why should we be more
inclined to wander than our neighbors？ Perhaps it is in a measure due to
our nervous； restless temperament； which is itself the result of our climate；
but whatever the cause is； inability to remain long in one place is having a
most unfortunate influence on our social life。 When everyone is on the
move or longing to be； it becomes difficult to form any but the most
superficial ties； strong friendships become impossible； the most intimate
family relations are loosened。
If one were of a speculative frame of mind and chose to take as the
basis for a calculation the increase in tourists between 1855； when the ten
pioneers started for Paris； and the number 〃personally conducted〃 over
land and sea today； and then glance forward at what the future will be if
this ratio of increase is maintained the result would be something too
awful for words。 For if ten have become a million in forty years； what will
be the total in 1955？ Nothing less than entire nations given over to sight…
seeing； passing their lives and incomes in rushing aimlessly about。
If the facilities of communication increase as they undoubtedly will
with the demand； the prospect becomes nearer the idea of a 〃Walpurgis
Night〃 than anything else。 For the earth and the sea will be covered and
the air filled with every form of whirling； flying； plunging device to get
men quickly from one place to another。
127
… Page 128…
Worldly Ways and Byways
Every human being on the globe will be flying South for the cold
months and North for the hot season。
As personally conducted tours have been so satisfactory； agencies will
be started to lead us through all the stages of existence。 Parents will
subscribe on the birth of their children to have them personally conducted
through life and everything explained as it is done at present in the
galleries abroad； food； lodging and reading matter； husbands and wives
will be provided by contract； to be taken back and changed if
unsatisfactory； as the big stores do with their goods。 Delightful prospect！
Homes will become superfluous； parents and children will only meet when
their 〃tours〃 happen to cross each other。 Our great…grandchildren will float
through life freed from every responsibility and more perfectly
independent than even that delightful dreamer； Bellamy； ventured to
predict。
128
… Page 129…
Worldly Ways and Byways
CHAPTER 29 … Husks
AMONG the Protestants driven from France by that astute and
liberal…minded sovereign Louis XIV。； were a colony of weavers； who as all
the world knows； settled at Spitalfields in England； where their
descendants weave silk to this day。
On their arrival in Great Britain； before the looms could be set up and
a market found for their industry； the exiles were reduced to the last
extremity of destitution and hunger。 Looking about them for anything that
could be utilized for food； they discovered that the owners of English
slaughter…houses threw away as worthless； the tails of the cattle they killed。
Like all the poor in France； these wanderers were excellent cooks； and
knew that at home such caudal appendages were highly valued for the
tenderness and flavor of the meat。 To the amazement and disgust of the
English villagers the new arrivals proceeded to collect this 〃refuse〃 and
carry it home for food。 As the first principle of French culinary art is the
POT…AU…FEU； the tails were mostly converted into soup； on which the
exiles thrived and feasted。
Their neighbors； envious at seeing the despised French indulging daily
in savory dishes； unknown to English palates； and tempted like 〃Jack's〃
giant by the smell of 〃fresh meat；〃 began to inquire into the matter； and
slowly realized how； in their ignorance； they had been throwing away
succulent and delicate food。 The news of this discovery gradually
spreading through all classes； 〃ox…tail〃 became and has remained the
national English soup。
If this veracious tale could be twisted into a metaphor； it would serve
marvellously to illustrate the position of the entire Anglo… Saxon race； and
especially that of their American descendants as regards the Latin peoples。
For foolish prodigality and reckless； ignorant extravagance； however； we
leave our English cousins far behind。
Two American hotels come to my mind； as different in their
appearance and management as they are geographically asunder。 Both are
types and illustrations of the wilful waste that has recently excited Mr。 Ian
Maclaren's comment； and the woeful want （of good food） that is the result。
129
… Page 130…
Worldly Ways and Byways
At one； a dreary shingle construction on a treeless island； off our New
England coast； where the ideas of the landlord and his guests have
remained as unchanged and primitive as the island itself； I found on
inquiry that all articles of food coming from the first table were thrown
into the sea； and I have myself seen chickens hardly touched； rounds of
beef； trays of vegetables； and every variety of cake and dessert tossed to
the fish。
While we were having soups so thin and tasteless that they would have
made a French house…wife blush； the ingredients essential to an excellent
〃stock〃 were cast aside。 The boarders were paying five dollars a day and
appeared contented； the place was packed； the landlord coining money； so
it was foolish to expect any improvement。
The other hotel； a vast caravansary in the South； where a fortune had
been lavished in providing every modern convenience and luxury； was the
〃fad〃 of its wealthy owner。 I had many talks with the manager during my
stay； and came to realize that most of the wastefulness I saw around me
was not his fault； but that of the public； to whose taste he was obliged to
cater。 At dinner； after receiving your order； the waiter would disappear for
half an hour； and then bring your entire meal on one tray； the over…cooked
meats stranded in lakes of coagulated gravy； the entrees cold and the ices
warm。 He had generally forgotten two or three essentials； but to send back
for them meant to wait another half…hour； as his other clients were
clamoring to be served。 So you ate what was before you in sulky disgust；
and got out of the room as quickly as possible。
After one of these gastronomic races； being hungry； flustered； and
suffering from indigestion； I asked mine host if it had never occurred to
him to serve a TABLE D'HOTE dinner （in courses） as is done abroad；
where hundreds of people dine at the same moment； each dish being
offered them in turn accompanied by its accessories。
〃Of course； I have thought of it；〃 he answered。 〃It would be the
greatest improvement that could be introduced into American hotel…
keeping。 No one knows better than I do how disastrous the present system
is to all parties。 Take as an example of the present way； the dinner I am
going to give you to…morrow； in honor of Christmas。 Glance
