worldly ways and byways(世俗之路)-第10章
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success。
In my youth it was the fashion to affect admiration for the Italian
school of painting and especially for the great masters of the Renaissance。
Whole families of perfectly inartistic English and Americans might then
he heard conscientiously admiring the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel or
Leonardo's Last Supper （Botticelli had not been invented then） in the
choicest guide…book language。
When one considers the infinite knowledge of technique required to
understand the difficulties overcome by the giants of the Renaissance and
to appreciate the intrinsic qualities of their creations； one asks one's self in
wonder what our parents admired in those paintings； and what tempted
them to bring home and adorn their houses with such dreadful copies of
their favorites。 For if they appreciated the originals they never would have
bought the copies； and if the copies pleased them； they must have been
incapable of enjoying the originals。 Yet all these people thought
themselves perfectly sincere。 To…day you will see the same thing going on
before the paintings of Claude Monet and Besnard； the same admiration
expressed by people who； you feel perfectly sure； do not realize why these
works of art are superior and can no more explain to you why they think
as they do than the sheep that follow each other through a hole in a wall；
can give a reason for their actions。
Dress and fashion in clothes are subjects above all others； where the
ineptitude of the human mind is most evident。 Can it be explained in any
other way； why the fashions of yesterday always appear so hideous to us； …
almost grotesque？ Take up an old album of photographs and glance over
the faded contents。 Was there ever anything so absurd？ Look at the top
hats men wore； and at the skirts of the women！
The mother of a family said to me the other day： 〃When I recall the
way in which girls were dressed in my youth； I wonder how any of us ever
got a husband。〃
Study a photograph of the Empress Eugenie； that supreme arbiter of
elegance and grace。 Oh！ those bunchy hooped skirts！ That awful India
shawl pinned off the shoulders； and the bonnet perched on a roll of hair in
the nape of the neck！ What were people thinking of at that time？ Were
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they lunatics to deform in this way the beautiful lines of the human body
which it should be the first object of toilet to enhance； or were they only
lacking in the artistic sense？ Nothing of the kind。 And what is more； they
were convinced that the real secret of beauty in dress had been discovered
by them； that past fashions were absurd； and that the future could not
improve on their creations。 The sculptors and painters of that day （men of
as great talent as any now living）； were enthusiastic in reproducing those
monstrosities in marble or on canvas； and authors raved about the ideal
grace with which a certain beauty draped her shawl。
Another marked manner in which we are influenced by circumambient
suggestion； is in the transient furore certain games and pastimes create。 We
see intelligent people so given over to this influence as barely to allow
themselves time to eat and sleep； begrudging the hours thus stolen from
their favorite amusement。
Ten years ago； tennis occupied every moment of our young people's
time； now golf has transplanted tennis in public favor； which does not
prove； however； that the latter is the better game； but simply that
compelled by the accumulated force of other people's opinions； youths and
maidens； old duffers and mature spinsters are willing to pass many hours
daily in all kinds of weather； solemnly following an indian…rubber ball
across ten…acre lots。
If you suggest to people who are laboring under the illusion they are
amusing themselves that the game； absorbing so much of their attention； is
not as exciting as tennis nor as clever in combinations as croquet； that in
fact it would be quite as amusing to roll an empty barrel several times
around a plowed field； they laugh at you in derision and instantly put you
down in their profound minds as a man who does not understand 〃sport。〃
Yet these very people were tennis…mad twenty years ago and had night
come to interrupt a game of croquet would have ordered lanterns lighted in
order to finish the match so enthralling were its intricacies。
Everybody has known how to play BEZIQUE in this country for years；
yet within the last eighteen months； whole circles of our friends have been
seized with a midsummer madness and willingly sat glued to a card…table
through long hot afternoons and again after dinner until day dawned on
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their folly。
Certain MEMOIRES of Louis Fifteenth's reign tell of an 〃unravelling〃
mania that developed at his court。 It began by some people fraying out old
silks to obtain the gold and silver threads from worn…out stuffs； this
occupation soon became the rage； nothing could restrain the delirium of
destruction； great ladies tore priceless tapestries from their walls and
brocades from their furniture； in order to unravel those materials and as
the old stock did not suffice for the demand thousands were spent on new
brocades and velvets； which were instantly destroyed； entertainments were
given where unravelling was the only amusement offered； the entire court
thinking and talking of nothing else for months。
What is the logical deduction to be drawn from all this？ Simply that
people do not see with their eyes or judge with their understandings； that
an all…pervading hypnotism； an ambient suggestion； at times envelops us
taking from people all free will； and replacing it with the taste and
judgment of the moment。
The number of people is small in each generation； who are strong
enough to rise above their surroundings and think for themselves。 The rest
are as dry leaves on a stream。 They float along and turn gayly in the eddies；
convinced all the time （as perhaps are the leaves） that they act entirely
from their own volition and that their movements are having a profound
influence on the direction and force of the current。
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CHAPTER 10 … Bohemia
LUNCHING with a talented English comedian and his wife the other
day； the conversation turned on Bohemia； the evasive no…man's…land that
Thackeray referred to； in so many of his books； and to which he looked
back lovingly in his later years； when； as he said； he had forgotten the road
to Prague。
The lady remarked： 〃People have been more than kind to us here in
New York。 We have dined and supped out constantly； and have met with
gracious kindness； such as we can never forget。 But so far we have not met
a single painter； or author； or sculptor； or a man who has explored a corner
of the earth。 Neither have we had the good luck to find ourselves in the
same room with Tesla or Rehan； Edison or Drew。 We shall regret so much
when back in England and are asked about your people of talent； being
obliged to say； 'We never met any of them。' Why is it？ We have not been in
any one circle； and have pitched our tents in many cities； during our tours
over here； but always with the same result。 We read your American
authors as much as； if not more than； our own。 The names of dozens of
your discoverers and painters are household words in England。 When my
husband planned his first tour over here my one idea was； 'How nice it will
be！ Now I shall meet those delightful people of whom I have heard so
much。' The disappointment has been complete。 Never one have I seen。〃
I could not but feel how all too true were the remarks of this intelligent
visitor； remembering how quick the society of London is to welcome a
new celebrity or original character； how a place is at once made for him at
every hospitable board； a permanent one to which he is expected to return；
and how no Continental entertainment is considered complete without
some bright particular star to shine in the firmament。
〃Lion…hunting；〃 I hear my reader say with a sneer。 That may be； but it
makes society worth the candle； which it rarely is over here。 I realized
what I had often vaguely felt before； that the Bohemia the English lady
was looking for was not to be found in this country； more's the pity。 Not
that the elements are lacking。 Far from it； （for even more than in London
should we be able to combine such a society）； but perhaps from a
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misconception of the true idea of such a society； due probably to Henry
Murger's dreary book SCENES DE LA VIE DE BOHEME which is
chargeable with the fact that a circle of this kind evokes in the mind of
most Americans visions of a scrubby； poorly…fed and less…washed
community； a world they would hardly dare ask to their tables for fear of
some embarrassing unconventionality of conduct or dress。
Yet that can hardly be the reason； for even in Murger or Paul de Kock；
at their worst； the hero is still a gentleman； and even when he borrows a
friend's coat； it is to go to a great house and among people of rank。 Besides；
we are becoming too cosmopolitan； and wander too constantly over this
little globe； not to have learned that the Bohemia of 1830 is as completely
a thing of the past as a GRISETTE or a glyphisodon。 It disappeared with
Gavarni and the authors who described it。 Althoug
