worldly ways and byways-第1章
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Worldly Ways and Byways
by Eliot Gregory
A Table of Contents
To the READER
1。 Charm
2。 The Moth and the Star
3。 Contrasted Travelling
4。 The Outer and the Inner Woman
5。 On Some Gilded Misalliances
6。 The Complacency of Mediocrity
7。 The Discontent of Talent
8。 Slouch
9。 Social Suggestion
10。 Bohemia
11。 Social Exiles
12。 〃Seven Ages〃 of Furniture
13。 Our Elite and Public Life
14。 The Small Summer Hotel
15。 A False Start
16。 A Holy Land
17。 Royalty at Play
18。 A Rock Ahead
19。 The Grand Prix
20。 〃The Treadmill〃
21。 〃Like Master Like Man〃
22。 An English Invasion of the Riviera
23。 A Common Weakness
24。 Changing Paris
25。 Contentment
26。 The Climber
27。 The Last of the Dandies
28。 A Nation on the Wing
29。 Husks
30。 The Faubourg St。 Germain
31。 Men's Manners
32。 An Ideal Hostess
33。 The Introducer
34。 A Question and an Answer
35。 Living on Your Friends
36。 American Society in Italy
37。 The Newport of the Past
38。 A Conquest of Europe
39。 A Race of Slaves
40。 Introspection
To the Reader
THERE existed formerly； in diplomatic circles； a curious custom；
since fallen into disuse； entitled the Pele Mele； contrived
doubtless by some distracted Master of Ceremonies to quell the
endless jealousies and quarrels for precedence between courtiers
and diplomatists of contending pretensions。 Under this rule no
rank was recognized； each person being allowed at banquet； fete； or
other public ceremony only such place as he had been ingenious or
fortunate enough to obtain。
Any one wishing to form an idea of the confusion that ensued； of
the intrigues and expedients resorted to； not only in procuring
prominent places； but also in ensuring the integrity of the Pele
Mele； should glance over the amusing memoirs of M。 de Segur。
The aspiring nobles and ambassadors； harassed by this constant
preoccupation； had little time or inclination left for any serious
pursuit； since； to take a moment's repose or an hour's breathing
space was to risk falling behind in the endless and aimless race。
Strange as it may appear； the knowledge that they owed place and
preferment more to chance or intrigue than to any personal merit or
inherited right； instead of lessening the value of the prizes for
which all were striving； seemed only to enhance them in the eyes of
the competitors。
Success was the unique standard by which they gauged their fellows。
Those who succeeded revelled in the adulation of their friends； but
when any one failed； the fickle crowd passed him by to bow at more
fortunate feet。
No better picture could be found of the 〃world〃 of to…day； a
perpetual Pele Mele； where such advantages only are conceded as we
have been sufficiently enterprising to obtain； and are strong or
clever enough to keep … a constant competition； a daily
steeplechase； favorable to daring spirits and personal initiative
but with the defect of keeping frail humanity ever on the qui vive。
Philosophers tell us； that we should seek happiness only in the
calm of our own minds； not allowing external conditions or the
opinions of others to influence our ways。 This lofty detachment
from environment is achieved by very few。 Indeed； the philosophers
themselves （who may be said to have invented the art of 〃posing〃）
were generally as vain as peacocks； profoundly pre…occupied with
the verdict of their contemporaries and their position as regards
posterity。
Man is born gregarious and remains all his life a herding animal。
As one keen observer has written； 〃So great is man's horror of
being alone that he will seek the society of those he neither likes
nor respects sooner than be left to his own。〃 The laws and
conventions that govern men's intercourse have； therefore； formed a
tempting subject for the writers of all ages。 Some have labored
hoping to reform their generation； others have written to offer
solutions for life's many problems。
Beaumarchais； whose penetrating wit left few subjects untouched；
makes his Figaro put the subject aside with 〃Je me presse de rire
de tout； de peur d'etre oblige d'en pleurer。〃
The author of this little volume pretends to settle no disputes；
aims at inaugurating no reforms。 He has lightly touched on passing
topics and jotted down； 〃to point a moral or adorn a tale；〃 some of
the more obvious foibles and inconsistencies of our American ways。
If a stray bit of philosophy has here and there slipped in between
the lines； it is mostly of the laughing 〃school；〃 and used more in
banter than in blame。
This much abused 〃world〃 is a fairly agreeable place if you do not
take it seriously。 Meet it with a friendly face and it will smile
gayly back at you； but do not ask of it what it cannot give； or
attribute to its verdicts more importance than they deserve。
ELIOT GREGORY
Newport； November first； 1897
CHAPTER 1 … Charm
WOMEN endowed by nature with the indescribable quality we call
〃charm〃 （for want of a better word）； are the supreme development of
a perfected race； the last word； as it were； of civilization； the
flower of their kind； crowning centuries of growing refinement and
cultivation。 Other women may unite a thousand brilliant qualities；
and attractive attributes； may be beautiful as Astarte or witty as
Madame de Montespan； those endowed with the power of charm； have in
all ages and under every sky； held undisputed rule over the hearts
of their generation。
When we look at the portraits of the enchantresses whom history
tells us have ruled the world by their charm； and swayed the
destinies of empires at their fancy； we are astonished to find that
they have rarely been beautiful。 From Cleopatra or Mary of
Scotland down to Lola Montez； the tell…tale coin or canvas reveals
the same marvellous fact。 We wonder how these women attained such
influence over the men of their day； their husbands or lovers。 We
would do better to look around us； or inward； and observe what is
passing in our own hearts。
Pause； reader mine； a moment and reflect。 Who has held the first
place in your thoughts； filled your soul； and influenced your life？
Was she the most beautiful of your acquaintances； the radiant
vision that dazzled your boyish eyes？ Has she not rather been some
gentle； quiet woman whom you hardly noticed the first time your
paths crossed； but who gradually grew to be a part of your life …
to whom you instinctively turned for consolation in moments of
discouragement； for counsel in your difficulties； and whose welcome
was the bright moment in your day； looked forward to through long
hours of toil and worry？
In the hurly…burly of life we lose sight of so many things our
fathers and mothers clung to； and have drifted so far away from
their gentle customs and simple； home…loving habits； that one
wonders what impression our society would make on a woman of a
century ago； could she by some spell be dropped into the swing of
modern days。 The good soul would be apt to find it rather a far
cry from the quiet pleasures of her youth； to 〃a ladies' amateur
bicycle race〃 that formed the attraction recently at a summer
resort。
That we should have come to think it natural and proper for a young
wife and mother to pass her mornings at golf； lunching at the club…
house to 〃save time；〃 returning home only for a hurried change of
toilet to start again on a bicycle or for a round of calls； an
occupation that will leave her just the half…hour necessary to slip
into a dinner gown； and then for her to pass the evening in dancing
or at the card…table； shows； when one takes the time to think of
it； how unconsciously we have changed； and （with all apologies to
the gay hostesses and graceful athletes of to…day） not for the
better。
It is just in the subtle quality of charm that the women of the
last ten years have fallen away from their elder sisters。 They
have been carried along by a love of sport； and by the set of
fashion's tide； not stopping to ask themselves whither they are
floating。 They do not realize all the importance of their acts nor
the true meaning of their metamorphosis。
The dear creatures should be content； for they have at last escaped
from the bondage of ages； have broken their chains； and vaulted
over their prison walls。 〃Lords and masters〃 have gradually become
very humble and obedient servants； and the 〃love； honour； and obey〃
of the marriage service might now more logically be spoken by the
man； on the lips of the women of to…day it is but a graceful 〃FACON
DE PARLER；〃 and holds only those who choose to be bound。
It is not my intention to rail against the short…comings of the
day。 That ungrateful task I leave to sterner moralists； and
hopeful souls who naively imagine they can stem the current of an
epoch with the barrier of their eloquence； or sweep back an ocean
of innovations by their logic。 I should like； however； to ask my
sisters one question： Are they quite sure that women gain by these
changes？ Do they imagine； these 〃sporty〃 young females in short…
cut skirts and mannish shirts and ties； that it is seductive to a
lover； or a husband to see his idol in a violent perspiration； her
draggled hair blowing across a sunburned face； panting up a long
hill in front of him on a bicycle； frantic at having lost her race？
Shade of gentle William！ who said
A woman moved； is like a fountain troubled； …
Muddy； ill…seeming； thick； bereft of beauty。
And while it is so； none so dry or thirsty
Will deign to sip or touch one drop of it。
Is the modern girl under the impression that men will be contented
with poor imitations of themselves； to share their homes and be the
mothers of their children？ She is throwing away the substance for
the shadow！
The moment women step out from the sanctuary of their homes； the
glamour that girlhood or maternity has thrown around them cast
aside； that moment will they cease to rule mankind。 Women may
agitate until they have obtained political recognition； but will
awake from their foolish dream of power； realizing too late what
they have sacrificed to obtain it； that the price has been very
heavy； and the fruit of their struggles bitter on their lips。
There are few men； I imagine； of my generation to whom the words
〃home〃 and 〃mother〃 have not a penetrating charm； who do not look
back with softened heart and tender thoughts to fireside scenes of
evening readings and twilight talks at a mother's knee； realizing
that the best in their natures owes its growth to these influences。
I sometimes look about me and wonder what the word 〃mother〃 will
mean later； to modern little bo
