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lost； as in the other capitals。 The fair metropolis of France； in
spite of many transformations； still holds her admirers with a
dominating sway。 She pours out for them a strong elixir that once
tasted takes the flavor out of existence in other cities and makes
her adorers； when in exile； thirst for another draught of the
subtle nectar。
CHAPTER 25 … Contentment
AS the result of certain ideal standards adopted among us when this
country was still in long clothes； a time when the equality of man
was the new 〃fad〃 of many nations； and the prizes of life first
came within the reach of those fortunate or unscrupulous enough to
seize them； it became the fashion （and has remained so down to our
day） to teach every little boy attending a village school to look
upon himself as a possible future President； and to assume that
every girl was preparing herself for the position of first lady in
the land。 This is very well in theory； and practice has shown
that； as Napoleon said； 〃Every private may carry a marshal's baton
in his knapsack。〃 Alongside of the good such incentive may
produce； it is only fair； however； to consider also how much harm
may lie in this way of presenting life to a child's mind。
As a first result of such tall talking we find in America； more
than in any other country； an inclination among all classes to
leave the surroundings where they were born and bend their energies
to struggling out of the position in life occupied by their
parents。 There are not wanting theorists who hold that this is a
quality in a nation； and that it leads to 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 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；
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；〃 thos