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settling satisfactorily his standing in the Orient！
Climbing； like every other habit； soon takes possession of the
whole nature。 To abstain from it is torture。 Napoleon； we are
told； found it impossible to rest contented on his successes； but
was impelled onward by a force stronger than his volition。 In some
such spirit the ambitious souls here referred to； after 〃the
Conquest of America〃 and the discovery that the fruit of their
struggles was not worth very much； victory having brought the
inevitable satiety in its wake； sail away in search of new fields
of adventure。 They have long ago left behind the friends and
acquaintances of their childhood。 Relations they apparently have
none； which accounts for the curious phenomenon that a parvenu is
never in mourning。 As no friendships bind them to their new
circle； the ties are easily loosened。 Why should they care for one
city more than for another； unless it offer more of the sport they
love？ This continent has become tame； since there is no longer any
struggle； while over the sea vast hunting grounds and game worthy
of their powder； form an irresistible temptation … old and
exclusive societies to be besieged； and contests to be waged
compared to which their American experiences are but light
skirmishes。 As the polo pony is supposed to pant for the fray； so
the hearts of social conquerors warm within them at the prospect of
more brilliant victories。
The pleasure of following them on their hunting parties abroad will
have to be deferred； so vast is the subject； so full of thrilling
adventure and； alas！ also of humiliating defeat。
CHAPTER 27 … The Last of the Dandies
SO completely has the dandy disappeared from among us； that even
the word has an old…time look （as if it had strayed out of some
half…forgotten novel or 〃keepsake〃）； raising in our minds the
picture of a slender； clean…shaven youth； in very tight
unmentionables strapped under his feet； a dark green frock…coat
with a collar up to the ears and a stock whose folds cover his
chest； butter…colored gloves； and a hat … oh！ a hat that would
collect a crowd in two minutes in any neighborhood！ A gold…headed
stick； and a quizzing glass； with a black ribbon an inch wide；
complete the toilet。 In such a rig did the swells of the last
generation stroll down Pall Mall or drive their tilburys in the
Bois。
The recent illness of the Prince de Sagan has made a strange and
sad impression in many circles in Paris； for he has always been a
favorite； and is the last surviving type of a now extinct species。
He is the last Dandy！ No understudy will be found to fill his role
… the dude and the swell are whole generations away from the dandy；
of which they are but feeble reflections … the comedy will have to
be continued now； without its leading 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 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
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。 A