the ways of men-第21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！


ERGERS　　（treating　of　that　perilous　subject；　the　〃strikes〃）；　which　　Sarah　Bernhardt　had　just　had　the　courage　to　produce　before　the　　Paris　public。　　In　the　third　act；　when　the　owner　of　the　factory　　receives　the　disaffected　hands；　and　listens　to　their　　complaints；　the　leader　of　the　strike　（an　intelligent　young　　workman）；　besides　shorter　hours　and　increased　pay；　demands　　that　recreation　rooms　be　built　where　the　toilers；　their　wives；　　and　their　children　may　pass　unoccupied　hours　in　the　enjoyment　　of　attractive　surroundings；　and　cries　in　conclusion：　〃We；　the　　poor；　need　some　poetry　and　some　art　in　our　lives；　man　does　not　　live　by　bread　alone。　　He　has　a　right；　like　the　rich；　to　things　　of　beauty！〃

In　commending　the　use　of　decoration　as　a　means　of　bringing　　pleasure　into　dull；　cramped　lives；　one　is　too　often　met　by　the　　curious　argument　that　taste　is　innate。　　〃Either　people　have　it　　or　they　haven't；〃　like　a　long　nose　or　a　short　one；　and　it　is　　useless　to　waste　good　money　in　trying　to　improve　either。　　〃It　　would　be　much　more　to　the　point　to　spend　your　money　in　giving　　the　poor　children　a　good　roast…beef　dinner　at　Christmas　than　　in　placing　the　bust　of　Clytie　before　them。〃　　That　argument　has　　crushed　more　attempts　to　elevate　the　poor　than　any　other　ever　　advanced。　　If　it　were　listened　to；　there　would　never　be　any　　progress　made；　because　there　are　always　thousands　of　people　　who　are　hungry。

When　we　reflect　how　painfully　ill…arranged　rooms　or　ugly　　colors　affect　our　senses；　and　remember　that　less　fortunate　　neighbors　suffer　as　much　as　we　do　from　hideous　environments；　　it　seems　like　keeping　sunlight　from　a　plant；　or　fresh　air　out　　of　a　sick…room；　to　refuse　glimpses　of　the　beautiful　to　the　　poor　when　it　is　in　our　power　to　give　them　this　satisfaction　　with　a　slight　effort。　　Nothing　can　be　more　encouraging　to　　those　who　occasionally　despair　of　human　nature　than　the　good　　results　already　obtained　by　this　small　attempt　in　the　schools。

We　fall　into　the　error　of　imagining　that　because　the　Apollo　　Belvedere　and　the　Square　of　St。　Mark's　have　become　stale　to　us　　by　reproduction　they　are　necessarily　so　to　others。　　The　great　　and　the　wealthy　of　the　world　form　no　idea　of　the　longing　the　　poor　feel　for　a　little　variety　in　their　lives。　　They　do　not　　know　what　they　want。　　They　have　no　standards　to　guide　them；　　but　the　desire　is　there。　　Let　us　offer　ourselves　the　　satisfaction；　as　we　start　off　for　pleasure　trips　abroad　or　to　　the　mountains；　of　knowing　that　at　home　the　routine　of　study　is　　lightened　for　thousands　of　children　by　the　counterfeit　　presentment　of　the　scenes　we　are　enjoying；　that；　as　we　float　　up　the　Golden　Horn　or　sit　in　the　moonlight　by　the　Parthenon；　　far　away　at　home　some　child　is　dreaming　of　those　fair　scenes　　as　she　raises　her　eyes　from　her　task；　and　is　unconsciously　　imbibing　a　love　of　the　beautiful；　which　will　add　a　charm　to　　her　humble　life；　and　make　the　present　labors　lighter。　　If　the　　child　never　lives　to　see　the　originals；　she　will　be　happier　　for　knowing　that　somewhere　in　the　world　domed　mosques　mirror　　themselves　in　still　waters；　and　marble　gods；　the　handiwork　of　　long…dead　nations；　stand　in　the　golden　sunlight　and　silently　　preach　the　gospel　of　the　beautiful。




Chapter　21　…　Seven　Small　Duchesses


SINCE　those　〃precious〃　days　when　the　habitues　of　the　Hotel　　Rambouillet　first　raised　social　intercourse　to　the　level　of　a　　fine　art；　the　morals　and　manners；　the　amusements　and　intrigues　　of　great　French　ladies　have　interested　the　world　and　　influenced　the　ways　of　civilized　nations。　　Thanks　to　Memoirs　　and　Maxims；　we　are　able　to　reconstruct　the　life　of　a　　seventeenth　or　eighteenth　century　noblewoman　as　completely　as　　German　archeologists　have　rebuilt　the　temple　of　the　Wingless　　Victory　on　the　Acropolis　from　surrounding　debris。

Interest　in　French　society　has；　however；　diminished　during　　this　century；　ceasing　almost　entirely　with　the　Second　Empire；　　when　foreign　women　gave　the　tone　to　a　parvenu　court　from　which　　the　older　aristocracy　held　aloof　in　disgust　behind　the　closed　　gates　of　their　〃hotels〃　and　historic　chateaux。

With　the　exception　of　Balzac；　few　writers　have　drawn　authentic　　pictures　of　nineteenth…century　noblewomen　in　France；　and　his　　vivid　portrayals　are　more　the　creations　of　genius　than　correct　　descriptions　of　a　caste。

During　the　last　fifty　years　French　aristocrats　have　ceased　to　　be　factors　even　in　matters　social；　the　sceptre　they　once　held　　having　passed　into　alien　hands；　the　daughters　of　Albion　to　a　　great　extent　replacing　their　French　rivals　in　influencing　the　　ways　of　the　〃world；〃　…　a　change；　be　it　remarked　in　passing；　　that　has　not　improved　the　tone　of　society　or　contributed　to　　the　spread　of　good　manners。

People　like　the　French　nobles；　engaged　in　sulking　and　　attempting　to　overthrow　or　boycott　each　succeeding　regime；　　must　naturally　lose　their　influence。　　They　have　held　aloof　so　　long　…　fearing　to　compromise　themselves　by　any　advances　to　the　　powers　that　be；　and　restrained　by　countless　traditions　from　　taking　an　active　part　in　either　the　social　or　political　strife　　…　that　little　by　little　they　have　been　passed　by　and　ignored；　　which　is　a　pity；　for　amid　the　ruin　of　many　hopes　and　ambitions　　they　have　remained　true　to　their　caste　and　handed　down　from　　generation　to　generation　the　secret　of　that　gracious　urbanity　　and　tact　which　distinguished　the　Gallic　noblewoman　in　the　last　　century　from　the　rest　of　her　kind　and　made　her　so　deft　in　the　　difficult　art　of　pleasing　…　and　being　pleased。

Within　the　last　few　years　there　have；　however；　been　signs　of　a　　change。　　Young　members　of　historic　houses　show　an　amusing　　inclination　to　escape　from　their　austere　surroundings　and　　resume　the　place　their　grandparents　abdicated。　　If　it　is　　impossible　to　rule　as　formerly；　they　at　any　rate　intend　to　get　　some　fun　out　of　existence。

This　joyous　movement　to　the　front　is　being　made　by　the　young　　matrons　enlisted　under　the　〃Seven　little　duchesses'〃　banner。　　　Oddly　enough；　a　baker's　half…dozen　of　ducal　coronets　are　worn　　at　this　moment；　in　France；　by　small　and　sprightly　women；　who　　have　shaken　the　dust　of　centuries　from　those　ornaments　and　　sport　them　with　a　decidedly　modern　air！

It　is　the　members　of　this　clique　who；　in　Paris　during　the　　spring；　at　their　chateaux　in　the　summer　and　autumn；　and　on　the　　Riviera　after　Christmas；　lead　the　amusements　and　strike　the　　key　for　the　modern　French　world。

No　one　of　these　light…hearted　ladies　takes　any　particular　　precedence　over　the　others。　　All　are　young；　and　some　are　　wonderfully　nice　to　look　at。　　The　Duchesse　d'Uzes　is；　perhaps；　　the　handsomest；　good　looks　being　an　inheritance　from　her　　mother；　the　beautiful　and　wayward　Duchesse　de　Chaulme。

There　is　a　vivid　grace　about　the　daughter；　an　intense　vitality　　that　suggests　some　beautiful　being　of　the　forest。　　As　she　　moves　and　speaks　one　almost　expects　to　hear　the　quick　breath　　coming　and　going　through　her　quivering　nostrils；　and　see　foam　　on　her　full　lips。　　Her　mother's　tragic　death　has　thrown　a　　glamor　of　romance　around　the　daughter's　life　that　heightens　　the　witchery　of　her　beauty。

Next　in　good　looks　comes　an　American；　the　Duchesse　de　la　　Rochefoucauld；　although　marriage　（which；　as　de　Maupassant　　remarked；　is　rarely　becoming）　has　not　been　propitious　to　that　　gentle　lady。　　By　rights　she　should　have　been　mentioned　first；　　as　her　husband　outranks；　not　only　all　the　men　of　his　age；　but　　also　his　cousin；　the　old　Duc　de　la　Rochefoucauld…Doudeauville；　　to　whom；　however；　a　sort　of　brevet　rank　is　accorded　on　account　　of　his　years；　his　wealth；　and　the　high　rank　of　his　two　wives。　　　It　might　almost　be　asserted　that　our　fair　compatriot　wears　the　　oldest　coronet　in　France。　　She　certainly　is　mistress　of　three　　of　the　finest　chateaux　in　that　country；　among　which　is　　Miromail；　where　the　family　live；　and　Liancourt；　a　superb　　Renaissance　structure；　a　delight　to　the　artist's　soul。

The　young　Duchesse　de　Brissac　runs　her　two　comrades　close　as　　regards　looks。　　Brissac　is　the　son　of　Mme。　de　Tredern；　whom　　Newporters　will　remember　two　years　ago；　when　she　enjoyed　some　　weeks　of　our　summer　season。　　Their　chateau　was　built　by　the　　Brissac　of　Henri　IV。's　time　and　is　one　of　the　few　that　escaped　　uninjured　through　the　Revolution；　its　vast　stone　corridors　and　　massive　oak　ceilings；　its　moat　and　battlements；　standing　to…　day　unimpaired　amid　a　group　of　chateaux　including　Chaumont；　　Rochecotte；　Azay…le…Rideau；　Usse；　Chenonceau；　within　〃dining〃　　distance　of　each　other；　that　form　a　centre　of　gayety　next　in　　importance　to　Paris　and　Cannes。　　In　the　autumn　these　spacious　　castles　are　filled　with　joyous　bands　and　their　ample　stables　　with　horses。　　A　couple　of　years　ago；　when　the　king　of　Portugal　　and　his　suite　were　entertained　at　Chaumont　for　a　week　of　stag…　hunting；　over　three　hundred　people；　servants；　and　guests；　　slept　under　its　roof；　and　two　hundred　horses　were　housed　in　　its　stables。

The　Duc　de　Luynes　and　his　wife；　who　was　Mlle。　de　Crussol　　（daughter　of　the　brilliant　Duchesse　d'Uzes　of　Boulanger　fame）；　　live　at　Dampierre；　another　interesting　pile　filled　with　rare　　pictures；　bric…a…brac；　and　statuary；　first　among　which　is　Jean　　Goujon's　life…sized　statue　（in　silver）　of　Louis　XIII。；　　presented　by　that　monarch　to　his　favorite；　the　founder　of　the　　house。　　This　gem　of　the　Renaissance　stands　in　an　octagonal　　chamber　hung　in　dark　velvet；　unique　among　statues。　　It　has　　been　shown　but　once　in　public；　at　the　Loan　Exhibition　in　1872；　　when　the　patriotic　nobility　lent　their　treasures　to　collect　a　　fund　for　the　Alsace…Lorraine　exiles。

The　Duchesse　de　Noailles；　NEE　Mlle。　de　Luynes；　is　another　of　　this　coterie　and　one　of　the　few　French　noblewomen　who　has　　travelled。　　Many　Americans　will　remember　the　visit　she　made　　here　with　her　mother　some　years　ago；　and　the　effect　her　　girlish　grace　produced　at　that　time。　　The　de　Noailles'　chateau　　of　Maintenon　is　an　inheritance　from　Louis　XIV。's　prudish　　favorite；　who　founded　and　enriched　the　de　Noailles　family。　　　The　Duc　and　Duchesse　d'Uzes　live　near　by　at　Bonnelle　with　the　　old　Duc　de　Doudeauville；　her　grandfather；　who　is　also　the　　grandfather　of　Mme。　de　Noailles；　these　two　ladies　being　　descended　each　from　a　wife　of　the　old　duke；　the　former　from　　the　Princesse　de　Polignac　and　the　latter　from　the　Princesse　de　　Ligne。

The　Duchesse　de　Bisaccia；　NEE　Princesse　Radziwill；　and　the　　Duchesse　d'Harcourt；　who　complete　the　circle　of　seven；　also　　live　in　this　vicinity；　where　another　group　of　historic　　residences；　including　Eclimont　and　Rambouillet；　the　summer　　home　of　the　president；　rivals　in　gayety　and　hospitality　the　　chateaux　of　the　Loire。

No　coterie　in　England　or　in　this　country　corresponds　at　all　to　　this　French　community。　　Much　as　they　love　to　amuse　themselves；　　the　idea　of　meeting　any　but　their　own　set　has　never　passed　　through　their　well…dressed　heads。　　They　differ　from　their　　parents　in　that　they　have　broken　away　from　many　antiquated　　habits。　　Their　houses　are　no　longer　lay　hermitages；　and　their　　opera　boxes　are　regularly　filled；　but　no　foreigner　is　ever　　received；　no　ambitious　parvenu　accepted　among　them。　　Ostracism　　here　means　not　a　ten　years'　exile；　but　lifelong　banishment。

The　contrast　is　strong　between　this　rigor　and　the　enthusiasm　　with　which　wealthy　new…comers　are　welcomed　into　London　society　　or　by　our　own　upper　crust；　so　full