友情提示:如果本网页打开太慢或显示不完整,请尝试鼠标右键“刷新”本网页!阅读过程发现任何错误请告诉我们,谢谢!! 报告错误
热门书库 返回本书目录 我的书架 我的书签 TXT全本下载 进入书吧 加入书签

worldly ways and byways-第9章

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!




you are quite sure you like the effect of her latest acquisition … 

some eighteenth…century statuette or screen (flotsam; probably; 

from the great shipwreck of Versailles); and listen earnestly to 

your verdict。  The good soul who has just furnished her house by 

contract; with the latest 〃Louis Fourteenth Street〃 productions; 

conducts you complacently through her chambers of horrors; wreathed 

in tranquil smiles; born of ignorance and that smug assurance 

granted only to the … small。



When a small intellect goes in for cultivating itself and improving 

its mind; you realize what the poet meant in asserting that a 

little learning was a dangerous thing。  For Mediocrity is apt; when 

it dines out; to get up a subject beforehand; and announce to an 

astonished circle; as quite new and personal discoveries; that the 

Renaissance was introduced into France from Italy; or that Columbus 

in his day made important 〃finds。〃



When the incompetent advance another step and write or paint … 

which; alas! is only too frequent … the world of art and literature 

is flooded with their productions。  When White Waistcoat; for 

example; takes to painting; late in life; and comes to you; canvas 

in hand; for criticism (read praise); he is apt to remark modestly:



〃Corot never painted until he was fifty; and I am only forty…eight。  

So I feel I should not let myself be discouraged。〃



The problem of life is said to be the finding of a happiness that 

is not enjoyed at the expense of others; and surely this class have 

solved that Sphinx's riddle; for they float through their days in a 

dream of complacency disturbed neither by corroding doubt nor 

harassed by jealousies。



Whole families of feeble…minded people; on the strength of an 

ancestor who achieved distinction a hundred years ago; live in 

constant thanksgiving that they 〃are not as other men。〃  None of 

the great man's descendants have done anything to be particularly 

proud of since their remote progenitor signed the Declaration of 

Independence or governed a colony。  They have vegetated in small 

provincial cities and inter…married into other equally fortunate 

families; but the sense of superiority is ever present to sustain 

them; under straitened circumstances and diminishing prestige。  The 

world may move on around them; but they never advance。  Why should 

they?  They have reached perfection。  The brains and enterprise 

that have revolutionized our age knock in vain at their doors。  

They belong to that vast 〃majority that is always in the wrong;〃 

being so pleased with themselves; their ways; and their feeble 

little lines of thought; that any change or advancement gives their 

system a shock。



A painter I know was once importuned for a sketch by a lady of this 

class。  After many delays and renewed demands he presented her one 

day; when she and some friends were visiting his studio; with a 

delightful open…air study simply framed。  She seemed confused at 

the offering; to his astonishment; as she had not lacked APLOMB in 

asking for the sketch。  After much blushing and fumbling she 

succeeded in getting the painting loose; and handing back the 

frame; remarked:



〃I will take the painting; but you must keep the frame。  My husband 

would never allow me to accept anything of value from you!〃 … and 

smiled on the speechless painter; doubtless charmed with her own 

tact。



Complacent people are the same drag on a society that a brake would 

be to a coach going up hill。  They are the 〃eternal negative〃 and 

would extinguish; if they could; any light stronger than that to 

which their weak eyes have been accustomed。  They look with 

astonishment and distrust at any one trying to break away from 

their tiresome old ways and habits; and wonder why all the world is 

not as pleased with their personalities as they are themselves; 

suggesting; if you are willing to waste your time listening to 

their twaddle; that there is something radically wrong in any 

innovation; that both 〃Church and State〃 will be imperilled if 

things are altered。  No blight; no mildew is more fatal to a plant 

than the 〃complacent〃 are to the world。  They resent any progress 

and are offended if you mention before them any new standards or 

points of view。  〃What has been good enough for us and our parents 

should certainly be satisfactory to the younger generations。〃  It 

seems to the contented like pure presumption on the part of their 

acquaintances to wander after strange gods; in the shape of new 

ideals; higher standards of culture; or a perfected refinement of 

surroundings。



We are perhaps wrong to pity complacent people。  It is for another 

class our sympathy should be kept; for those who cannot refrain 

from doubting of themselves and the value of their work … those 

unfortunate gifted and artistic spirits who descend too often the 

VIA DOLOROSA of discontent and despair; who have a higher ideal 

than their neighbors; and; in struggling after an unattainable 

perfection; fall by the wayside。









CHAPTER 7 … The Discontent of Talent





THE complacency that buoys up self…sufficient souls; soothing them 

with the illusion that they themselves; their towns; country; 

language; and habits are above improvement; causing them to 

shudder; as at a sacrilege; if any changes are suggested; is 

fortunately limited to a class of stay…at…home nonentities。  In 

proportion as it is common among them; is it rare or delightfully 

absent in any society of gifted or imaginative people。



Among our globe…trotting compatriots this defect is much less 

general than in the older nations of the world; for the excellent 

reason; that the moment a man travels or takes the trouble to know 

people of different nationalities; his armor of complacency 

receives so severe a blow; that it is shattered forever; the 

wanderer returning home wiser and much more modest。  There seems to 

be something fatal to conceit in the air of great centres; 

professionally or in general society a man so soon finds his level。



The 〃great world〃 may foster other faults; human nature is sure to 

develop some in every walk of life。  Smug contentment; however; 

disappears in its rarefied atmosphere; giving place to a craving 

for improvement; a nervous alertness that keeps the mind from 

stagnating and urges it on to do its best。



It is never the beautiful woman who sits down in smiling serenity 

before her mirror。  She is tireless in her efforts to enhance her 

beauty and set it off to the best advantage。  Her figure is never 

slender enough; nor her carriage sufficiently erect to satisfy。  

But the 〃frump〃 will let herself and all her surroundings go to 

seed; not from humbleness of mind or an overwhelming sense of her 

own unworthiness; but in pure complacent conceit。



A criticism to which the highly gifted lay themselves open from 

those who do not understand them; is their love 
返回目录 上一页 下一页 回到顶部 0 0
未阅读完?加入书签已便下次继续阅读!
温馨提示: 温看小说的同时发表评论,说出自己的看法和其它小伙伴们分享也不错哦!发表书评还可以获得积分和经验奖励,认真写原创书评 被采纳为精评可以获得大量金币、积分和经验奖励哦!