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the real amateur of Paris and the country around； which is full of
charming corners where one can dine at quiet little restaurants；
overhanging the water or buried among trees。 You are sure of
getting the best of attention from the waiters； and the dishes you
order receive all the cook's attention。 Of an evening the Bois is
alive with a myriad of bicycles； their lights twinkling among the
trees like many…colored fire…flies。 To any one who knows how to
live there； Paris is at its best in the last half of June and July。
Nevertheless； in a couple of days there will not be an American in
Paris； London being the objective point； for we love to be 〃in at
the death；〃 and a coronation； a musical festival； or a big race is
sure to attract all our floating population。
The Americans who have the hardest time in Paris are those who try
to 〃run with the deer and hunt with the hounds；〃 as the French
proverb has it； who would fain serve God and Mammon。 As anything
especially amusing is sure to take place on Sunday in this wicked
capital； our friends go through agonies of indecision； their
consciences pulling one way； their desire to amuse themselves the
other。 Some find a middle course； it seems； for yesterday this
conversation was overheard on the steps of the American Church：
FIRST AMERICAN LADY： 〃Are you going to stop for the sermon？〃
SECOND AMERICAN LADY： 〃I am so sorry I can't； but the races begin
at one！〃
CHAPTER 20 … 〃The Treadmill。〃
A HALF…HUMOROUS； half…pathetic epistle has been sent to me by a
woman； who explains in it her particular perplexity。 Such letters
are the windfalls of our profession！ For what is more attractive
than to have a woman take you for her lay confessor； to whom she
comes for advice in trouble？ opening her innocent heart for your
inspection！
My correspondent complains that her days are not sufficiently long；
nor is her strength great enough； for the thousand and one duties
and obligations imposed upon her。 〃If；〃 she says； 〃a woman has
friends and a small place in the world … and who has not in these
days？ … she must golf or 'bike' or skate a bit； of a morning； then
she is apt to lunch out； or have a friend or two in； to that meal。
After luncheon there is sure to be a 'class' of some kind that she
has foolishly joined； or a charity meeting； matinee； or reception；
but above all； there are her 'duty' calls。 She must be home at
five to make tea； that she has promised her men friends； and they
will not leave until it is time for her to dress for dinner； 'out'
or at home； with often the opera； a supper； or a ball to follow。
It is quite impossible；〃 she adds； 〃under these circumstances to
apply one's self to anything serious； to read a book or even open a
periodical。 The most one can accomplish is a glance at a paper。〃
Indeed； it would require an exceptional constitution to carry out
the above programme； not to mention the attention that a woman must
（however reluctantly） give to her house and her family。 Where are
the quiet hours to be found for self…culture； the perusal of a
favorite author； or； perhaps； a little timid 〃writing〃 on her own
account？ Nor does this treadmill round fill a few months only of
her life。 With slight variations of scene and costume； it
continues through the year。
A painter； I know； was fortunate enough to receive； a year or two
ago； the commission to paint a well…known beauty。 He was delighted
with the idea and convinced that he could make her portrait the
best work of his life； one that would be the stepping…stone to fame
and fortune。 This was in the spring。 He was naturally burning to
begin at once； but found to his dismay that the lady was just about
starting for Europe。 So he waited； and at her suggestion installed
himself a couple of months later at the seaside city where she had
a cottage。 No one could be more charming than she was； inviting
him to dine and drive daily； but when he broached the subject of
〃sitting；〃 was 〃too busy just that day。〃 Later in the autumn she
would be quite at his disposal。 In the autumn； however； she was
visiting； never ten days in the same place。 Early winter found her
〃getting her house in order；〃 a mysterious rite apparently attended
with vast worry and fatigue。 With cooling enthusiasm； the painter
called and coaxed and waited。 November brought the opera and the
full swing of a New York season。 So far she has given him half a
dozen sittings； squeezed in between a luncheon； which made her
〃unavoidably late；〃 for which she is charmingly 〃sorry；〃 and a
reception that she was forced to attend； although 〃it breaks my
heart to leave just as you are beginning to work so well； but I
really must； or the tiresome old cat who is giving the tea will be
saying all sorts of unpleasant things about me。〃 So she flits off；
leaving the poor； disillusioned painter before his canvas； knowing
now that his dream is over； that in a month or two his pretty
sitter will be off again to New Orleans for the carnival； or
abroad； and that his weary round of waiting will recommence。 He
will be fortunate if some day it does not float back to him； in the
mysterious way disagreeable things do come to one； that she has
been heard to say； 〃I fear dear Mr。 Palette is not very clever； for
I have been sitting to him for over a year； and he has really done
nothing yet。〃
He has been simply the victim of a state of affairs that neither of
them were strong enough to break through。 It never entered into
Beauty's head that she could lead a life different from her
friends。 She was honestly anxious to have a successful portrait of
herself； but the sacrifice of any of her habits was more than she
could make。
Who among my readers （and I am tempted to believe they are all more
sensible than the above young woman） has not； during a summer
passed with agreeable friends； made a thousand pleasant little
plans with them for the ensuing winter； … the books they were to
read at the same time； the 〃exhibitions〃 they were to see； the
visits to our wonderful collections in the Metropolitan Museum or
private galleries； cosy little dinners； etc。？ And who has not
found； as the winter slips away； that few of these charming plans
have been carried out？ He and his friends have unconsciously
fallen back into their ruts of former years； and the pleasant
things projected have been brushed aside by that strongest of
tyrants； habit。
I once asked a very great lady； whose gracious manner was never
disturbed； who floated through the endless complications of her
life with smiling serenity； how she achieved this Olympian calm。
She was good enough to explain。 〃I make a list of what I want to
do each day。 Then； as I find my day passing； or I get behind； or
tired； I throw over every other engagement。 I could have done them