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！
debutante whom she is trying to launch； or the sitting through a
particularly dull opera in order to see her to the carriage； her
lord and master having slipped off early to his club and a quiet
game of pool。 Many people who read these lines are old enough to
remember that prehistoric period when unmarried girls went to the
theatre and parties； alone with the men they knew。 This custom
still prevails in our irrepressible West。 It was an arrangement by
which all the expenses fell on the man … theatre tickets； carriages
if it rained； and often a bit of supper after。 If a youth asked a
girl to dance the cotillion； he was expected to send a bouquet；
sure to cost between twenty and twenty…five dollars。 What a
blessed change for the impecunious swell when all this went out of
fashion！ New York is his paradise now； in other parts of the world
something is still expected of him。 In France it takes the form of
a handsome bag of bon…bons on New Year's Day； if he has accepted
hospitality during the past year。 While here he need do absolutely
nothing （unless he wishes to）； the occasional leaving of a card
having been suppressed of late by our JEUNESSE DOREE； five minutes
of their society in an opera box being estimated （by them） as ample
return for a dinner or a week in a country house。
The truth of it is； there are so few men who 〃go out〃 （it being
practically impossible for any one working at a serious profession
to sit up night after night； even if he desired）； and at the same
time so many women insist on entertaining to amuse themselves or
better their position； that the men who go about get spoiled and
almost come to consider the obligation conferred； when they dine
out。 There is no more amusing sight than poor paterfamilias
sitting in the club between six and seven P。M。 pretending to read
the evening paper； but really with his eve on the door； he has been
sent down by his wife to 〃get a man；〃 as she is one short for her
dinner this evening。 He must be one who will fit in well with the
other guests； hence papa's anxious look； and the reason the
editorial gets so little of his attention！ Watch him as young
〃professional〃 lounges in。 There is just his man … if he only
happens to be disengaged！ You will see 〃Pater〃 cross the room and
shake hands； then； after a few minutes' whispered conversation； he
will walk down to his coupe with such a relieved look on his face。
Young 〃professional；〃 who is in faultless evening dress； will ring
for a cocktail and take up the discarded evening paper to pass the
time till eight twenty…five。
Eight twenty…five； advisedly； for he will be the last to arrive；
knowing； clever dog； how much eCLAT it gives one to have a room
full of people asking each other； 〃Whom are we waiting for？〃 when
the door opens； and he is announced。 He will stay a moment after
the other guests have gone and receive the most cordial pressures
of the hand from a grateful hostess （if not spoken words of thanks）
in return for eating an exquisitely cooked dinner； seated between
two agreeable women； drinking irreproachable wine； smoking a cigar；
and washing the whole down with a glass of 1830 brandy； or some
priceless historic madeira。
There is probably a moral to be extracted from all this。 But
frankly my ethics are so mixed that I fail to see where the blame
lies； and which is the less worthy individual； the ostentatious
axe…grinding host or the interested guest。 One thing； however； I
see clearly； viz。； that life is very agreeable to him who starts in
with few prejudices； good manners； a large amount of well…concealed
〃cheek〃 and the happy faculty of taking things as they come。
CHAPTER 36 … American Society in Italy
THE phrase at the head of this chapter and other sentences； such as
〃American Society in Paris；〃 or London； are constantly on the lips
of people who should know better。 In reality these societies do
not exist。 Does my reader pause； wondering if he can believe his
eyes？ He has doubtless heard all his life of these delightful
circles； and believes in them。 He may even have dined； EN PASSANT；
at the 〃palace〃 of some resident compatriot in Rome or Florence；
under the impression that he was within its mystic limits。
Illusion！ An effect of mirage； making that which appears quite
tangible and solid when viewed from a distance dissolve into thin
air as one approaches； like the mirage； cheating the weary
traveller with a vision of what he most longs for。
Forty； even fifty years ago； there lived in Rome a group of very
agreeable people； Story and the two Greenoughs and Crawford； the
sculptor （father of the brilliant novelist of today）； Charlotte
Cushman （who divided her time between Rome and Newport）； and her
friend Miss Stebbins； the sculptress； to whose hands we owe the
bronze fountain on the Mall in our Park； Rogers； then working at
the bronze doors of our capitol； and many other cultivated and
agreeable people。 Hawthorne passed a couple of winters among them；
and the tone of that society is reflected in his 〃Marble Faun。〃 He
took Story as a model for his 〃Kenyon；〃 and was the first to note
the exotic grace of an American girl in that strange setting。 They
formed as transcendental and unworldly a group as ever gathered
about a 〃tea〃 table。 Great things were expected of them and their
influence； but they disappointed the world； and； with the exception
of Hawthorne； are being fast forgotten。
Nothing could be simpler than life in the papal capital in those
pleasant days。 Money was rare； but living as delightfully
inexpensive。 It was about that time； if I do not mistake； that a
list was published in New York of the citizens worth one hundred
thousand dollars； and it was not a long one！ The Roman colony took
〃tea〃 informally with each other； and 〃received〃 on stated evenings
in their studios （when mulled claret and cakes were the only
refreshment offered； very bad they were； too）； and migrated in the
summer to the mountains near Rome or to Sorrento。 In the winter
months their circle was enlarged by a contingent from home。 Among
wealthy New Yorkers； it was the fashion in the early fifties to
pass a winter in Rome； when； together with his other dissipations；
paterfamilias would sit to one of the American sculptors for his
bust； which accounts for the horrors one now runs across in dark
corners of country houses； … ghostly heads in 〃chin whiskers〃 and
Roman draperies。
The son of one of these pioneers； more rich than cultivated；
noticed the other day； while visiting a friend of mine； an
exquisite eighteenth…century bust of Madame de Pompadour； the pride
of his hostess's drawing…room。 〃Ah！〃 said Midas； 〃are busts the
fashion again？ I have one of my father； done in Rome in 1850。 I
will bring it down and put it in my parlor。〃
The travellers consulted