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point of view you will find in England or France only in the
smaller 〃cathedral〃 cities； and even there the old aristocrats have
the courage of their opinions。 Here； where everything is quite
frankly on a money basis； and 〃positions〃 are made and lost like a
fortune； by a turn of the market； those qualities which are purely
mental； and on which it is hard to put a practical value； are
naturally at a discount。 We are quite ready to pay for the best。
Witness our private galleries and the opera； but we say； like the
parvenu in Emile Augier's delightful comedy LE GENDRE DE M。
POIRIER； 〃Patronize art？ Of course！ But the artists？ Never！〃
And frankly； it would be too much； would it not； to expect a family
only half a generation away from an iron foundry； or a mine； to be
willing to receive Irving or Bernhardt on terms of perfect
equality？
As it would be unjust to demand a mature mind in the overgrown boy；
it is useless to hope for delicate tact and social feeling from the
parvenu。 To be gracious and at ease with all classes and
professions； one must be perfectly sure of one's own position； and
with us few feel this security； it being based on too frail a
foundation； a crisis in the 〃street〃 going a long way towards
destroying it。
Of course I am generalizing and doubt not that in many cultivated
homes the right spirit exists； but unfortunately these are not the
centres which give the tone to our 〃world。〃 Lately at one of the
most splendid houses in this city a young Italian tenor had been
engaged to sing。 When he had finished he stood alone； unnoticed；
unspoken to for the rest of the evening。 He had been paid to sing。
〃What more； in common sense； could he want？〃 thought the 〃world；〃
without reflecting that it was probably not the TENOR who lost by
that arrangement。 It needs a delicate hand to hold the reins over
the backs of such a fine…mouthed community as artists and singers
form。 They rarely give their best when singing or performing in a
hostile atmosphere。
A few years ago when a fancy…dress ball was given at the Academy of
Design； the original idea was to have it an artists' ball； the
community of the brush were； however； approached with such a
complete lack of tact that； with hardly an exception； they held
aloof； and at the ball shone conspicuous by their absence。
At present in this city I know of but two hospitable firesides
where you are sure to meet the best the city holds of either
foreign or native talent。 The one is presided over by the wife of
a young composer； and the other； oddly enough； by two unmarried
ladies。 An invitation to a dinner or a supper at either of these
houses is as eagerly sought after and as highly prized in the great
world as it is by the Bohemians； though neither 〃salon〃 is open
regularly。
There is still hope for us； and I already see signs of better
things。 Perhaps； when my English friend returns in a few years； we
may be able to prove to her that we have found the road to Prague。
CHAPTER 11 … Social Exiles
BALZAC； in his COMEDIE HUMAINE； has reviewed with a master…hand
almost every phase of the Social World of Paris down to 1850 and
Thackeray left hardly a corner of London High Life unexplored； but
so great have been the changes （progress； its admirers call it；）
since then； that； could Balzac come back to his beloved Paris； he
would feel like a foreigner there； and Thackeray； who was among us
but yesterday； would have difficulty in finding his bearings in the
sea of the London world to…day。
We have changed so radically that even a casual observer cannot
help being struck by the difference。 Among other most significant
〃phenomena〃 has appeared a phase of life that not only neither of
these great men observed （for the very good reason that it had not
appeared in their time）； but which seems also to have escaped the
notice of the writers of our own day； close observers as they are
of any new development。 I mean the class of Social Exiles；
pitiable wanderers from home and country； who haunt the Continent；
and are to be found （sad little colonies） in out…of…the…way corners
of almost every civilized country。
To know much of this form of modern life； one must have been a
wanderer； like myself； and have pitched his tent in many queer
places； for they are shy game and not easily raised； frequenting
mostly quiet old cities like Versailles and Florence； or
inexpensive watering…places where their meagre incomes become
affluence by contrast。 The first thought on dropping in on such a
settlement is； 〃How in the world did these people ever drift here？〃
It is simple enough and generally comes about in this way：
The father of a wealthy family dies。 The fortune turns out to be
less than was expected。 The widow and children decide to go abroad
for a year or so； during their period of mourning； partially for
distraction； and partially （a fact which is not spoken of） because
at home they would be forced to change their way of living to a
simpler one； and that is hard to do； just at first。 Later they
think it will be quite easy。 So the family emigrates； and after a
little sight…seeing； settles in Dresden or Tours； casually at
first； in a hotel。 If there are young children they are made the
excuse。 〃The languages are so important！〃 Or else one of the
daughters develops a taste for music； or a son takes up the study
of art。 In a year or two； before a furnished apartment is taken；
the idea of returning is discussed； but abandoned 〃for the
present。〃 They begin vaguely to realize how difficult it will be
to take life up again at home。 During all this time their income
（like everything else when the owners are absent） has been slowly
but surely disappearing； making the return each year more
difficult。 Finally； for economy； an unfurnished apartment is
taken。 They send home for bits of furniture and family belongings；
and gradually drop into the great army of the expatriated。
Oh； the pathos of it！ One who has not seen these poor stranded
waifs in their self…imposed exile； with eyes turned towards their
native land； cannot realize all the sadness and loneliness they
endure； rarely adopting the country of their residence but becoming
more firmly American as the years go by。 The home papers and
periodicals are taken； the American church attended； if there
happens to be one； the English chapel； if there is not。 Never a
French church！ In their hearts they think it almost irreverent to
read the service in French。 The acquaintance of a few fellow…
exiles is made and that of a half…dozen English families； mothers
and daughters and a younger son or two； whom the ferocious
primogeniture custom has cast out of the homes of their childhood
to economize on the Continent。
I have in my mind a little settlement of this kind at Vers