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〃What of it？〃 he said。 〃Why this： equality is not conceded here； after
all； and the Americans are no better off than the English。 In fact
there's no difference。〃
〃Now what an idea。 There's nothing in a title except what is put into
ityou've said that yourself。 Suppose the title is 'clean；' instead of
'lady。' You get that？〃
〃I believe so。 Instead of speaking of a woman as a lady； you substitute
clean and say she's a clean person。〃
〃That's it。 In England the swell folks don't speak of the working people
as gentlemen and ladies？〃
〃Oh； no。〃
〃And the working people don't call themselves gentlemen and ladies？〃
〃Certainly not。〃
〃So if you used the other word there wouldn't be any change。 The swell
people wouldn't call anybody but themselves 'clean；' and those others
would drop sort of meekly into their way of talking and they wouldn't
call themselves clean。 We don't do that way here。 Everybody calls
himself a lady or gentleman； and thinks he is； and don't care what
anybody else thinks him； so long as he don't say it out loud。 You think
there's no difference。 You knuckle down and we don't。 Ain't that a
difference？〃
〃It is a difference I hadn't thought of； I admit that。 Stillcalling
one's self a lady doesn'ter〃
〃I wouldn't go on if I were you。〃
Howard Tracy turned his head to see who it might be that had introduced
this remark。 It was a short man about forty years old； with sandy hair；
no beard； and a pleasant face badly freckled but alive and intelligent；
and he wore slop…shop clothing which was neat but showed wear。 He had
come from the front room beyond the hall； where he had left his hat； and
he had a chipped and cracked white wash…bowl in his hand。 The girl came
and took the bowl。
〃I'll get it for you。 You go right ahead and give it to him； Mr。
Barrow。 He's the new boarderMr。 Tracyand I'd just got to where it
was getting too deep for me。〃
〃Much obliged if you will； Hattie。 I was coming to borrow of the boys。〃
He sat down at his ease on an old trunk； and said； 〃I've been listening
and got interested； and as I was saying； I wouldn't go on； if I were you。
You see where you are coming to； don't you？ Calling； yourself a lady
doesn't elect you； that is what you were going to say； and you saw that
if you said it you were going to run right up against another difference
that you hadn't thought of： to…wit； Whose right is it to do the electing？
Over there； twenty thousand people in a million elect themselves
gentlemen and ladies； and the nine hundred and eighty thousand accept
that decree and swallow the affront which it puts upon them。 Why； if
they didn't accept it； it wouldn't be an election； it would be a dead
letter and have no force at all。 Over here the twenty thousand would…be
exclusives come up to the polls and vote themselves to be ladies and
gentlemen。 But the thing doesn't stop there。 The nine hundred and
eighty thousand come and vote themselves to be ladies and gentlemen too；
and that elects the whole nation。 Since the whole million vote
themselves ladies and gentlemen； there is no question about that
election。 It does make absolute equality； and there is no fiction about
it； while over yonder the inequality； （by decree of the infinitely
feeble； and consent of the infinitely strong；） is also absoluteas real
and absolute as our equality。〃
Tracy had shrunk promptly into his English shell when this speech began；
notwithstanding he had now been in severe training several weeks for
contact and intercourse with the common herd on the common herd's terms；
but he lost no time in pulling himself out again； and so by the time the
speech was finished his valves were open once more； and he was forcing
himself to accept without resentment the common herd's frank fashion of
dropping sociably into other people's conversations unembarrassed and
uninvited。 The process was； not very difficult this time； for the man's
smile and voice and manner were persuasive and winning。 Tracy would even
have liked him on the spot； but for the factfact which he was not
really aware ofthat the equality of men was not yet a reality to him；
it was only a theory； the mind perceived； but the man failed to feel it。
It was Hattie's ghost over again； merely turned around。 Theoretically
Barrow was his equal； but it was distinctly distasteful to see him
exhibit it。 He presently said：
〃I hope in all sincerity that what you have said is true； as regards the
Americans； for doubts have crept into my mind several times。 It seemed
that the equality must be ungenuine where the sign…names of castes were
still in vogue； but those sign…names have certainly lost their offence
and are wholly neutralized； nullified and harmless if they are the
undisputed property of every individual in the nation。 I think I realize
that caste does not exist and cannot exist except by common consent of
the masses outside of its limits。 I thought caste created itself and
perpetuated itself； but it seems quite true that it only creates itself；
and is perpetuated by the people whom it despises； and who can dissolve
it at any time by assuming its mere sign…names themselves。〃
〃It's what I think。 There isn't any power on earth that can prevent
England's thirty millions from electing themselves dukes and duchesses
to…morrow and calling themselves so。 And within six months all the
former dukes and duchesses would have retired from the business。
I wish they'd try that。 Royalty itself couldn't survive such a process。
A handful of frowners against thirty million laughers in a state of
irruption： Why； it's Herculaneum against Vesuvius； it would take another
eighteen centuries to find that Herculaneum after the cataclysm。 What's
a Colonel in our South？ He's a nobody； because they're all colonels down
there。 No； Tracy〃 （shudder from Tracy） 〃nobody in England would call you
a gentleman and you wouldn't call yourself one； and I tell you it's a
state of things that makes a man put himself into most unbecoming
attitudes sometimesthe broad and general recognition and acceptance of
caste as caste does； I mean。 Makes him do it unconsciouslybeing bred
in him； you see； and never thought over and reasoned out。 You couldn't
conceive of the Matterhorn being flattered by the notice of one of your
comely little English hills； could you？〃
〃Why； no。〃
〃Well； then； let a man in his right mind try to conceive of Darwin
feeling flattered by the notice of a princess。 It's so grotesque that
itwell； it paralyzes the imagination。 Yet that Memnon was flattered by
the notice of that statuette； he says so…says so himself。 The system
that can make a god disown his godship and profane itoh； well； it's all
wrong； it's all wrong and ought to be abolished； I should say。〃
The mention of Darwin brought on a literary discussion； and this topic
roused such enthusiasm in Barrow that he took off his coat and made
himself the more free and comfortable for it； and detained him so long
that he was still at it when the noisy proprietors of the room came
shouting and skylarking in and began to romp； scuffle； wash； and
otherwise entertain themselves。 He lingered yet a lit