the ways of men(人们的手段)-第16章
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idling in the lobbies looking at his watch； or repairing to a neighboring
concert hall to pass the weary hours。 At a ball it is even worse。 One
wonders why card…rooms are not provided at large balls （as is the custom
abroad）； where the bored husbands might find a little solace over 〃bridge；〃
instead of yawning in the coat…room or making desperate signs to their
wives from the doorway； … signals of distress； by the bye； that rarely
produce any effect。
It is the rebellious husband who is admired and courted； however。 A
curious trait of human nature compels admiration for whatever is harmful；
and forces us； in spite of our better judgment； to depreciate the useful and
beneficent。 The coats… of…arms of all countries are crowded with eagles
and lions； that never yet did any good； living or dead； orators enlarge on
the fine qualities of these birds and beasts； and hold them up as models；
while using as terms of reproach the name of the goose or the cow；
creatures that minister in a hundred ways to our wants。 Such a spirit has
brought helpful； productive 〃better halves〃 to the humble place they now
occupy in the eyes of our people。
As long as men passed their time in fighting and carousing they were
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heroes； as soon as they became patient bread…winners all the romance
evaporated from their atmosphere。 The Jewish Hercules had his revenge in
the end and made things disagreeable for his tormentors。 So far； however；
there are no signs of a revolt among the shorn lambs in this country。 They
patiently bend their necks to the collar … the kindest； most loving and
devoted helpmates that ever plodded under the matrimonial yoke。
When in the East； one watches with admiration the part a donkey plays
in the economy of those primitive lands。 All the work is reserved for that
industrious animal； and little play falls to his share。 The camel is always
bad…tempered； and when overladen lies down； refusing to move until
relieved of its burden。 The Turk is lazy and selfish； the native women pass
their time in chattering and giggling； the children play and squabble； the
ubiquitous dog sleeps in the sun； but from daybreak to midnight the little
mouse…colored donkeys toil unceasingly。 All burdens too bulky or too
cumbersome for man are put on his back； the provender which horses and
camels have refused becomes his portion； he is the first to begin the day's
labor； and the last to turn in。 It is impossible to live long in the Orient or
the south of France without becoming attached to those gentle； willing
animals。 The role which honest 〃Bourico〃 fills so well abroad is played on
this side of the Atlantic by the American husband。
I mean no disrespect to my married compatriots； on the contrary； I
admire them as I do all docile； unselfish beings。 It is well for our women；
however； that their lords； like the little Oriental donkeys； ignore their
strength； and are content to toil on to the end of their days； expecting
neither praise nor thanks in return。
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CHAPTER 14 … 〃CAROLUS〃
IN the early seventies a group of students … dissatisfied with the cut…
and…dried instruction of the Paris art school and attracted by certain
qualities of color and technique in the work of a young Frenchman from
the city of Lille； who was just beginning to attract the attention of
connoisseurs … went in a body to his studio with the request that he would
oversee their work and direct their studies。 The artist thus chosen was
Carolus…Duran。 Oddly enough； a majority of the youths who sought him
out and made him their master were Americans。
The first modest workroom on the Boulevard Montparnasse was soon
too small to hold the pupils who crowded under this newly raised banner；
and a move was made to more commodious quarters near the master's
private studio。 Sargent； Dannat； Harrison； Beckwith； Hinckley； and many
others whom it is needless to mention here； will … if these lines come under
their notice … doubtless recall with a thrill of pleasure the roomy one…
storied structure in the rue Notre…Dame des Champs where we established
our ATELIER D'ELEVES； a self…supporting cooperative concern； each
student contributing ten francs a month toward rent； fire； and models；
〃Carolus〃 … the name by which this master is universally known abroad …
not only refusing all compensation； according to the immutable custom of
French painters of distinction； but； as we discovered later； contributing too
often from his own pocket to help out the MASSIER at the end of a
difficult season； or smooth the path of some improvident pupil。
Those were cloudless； enchanted days we passed in the tumbled down
old atelier： an ardent springtime of life when the future beckons gayly and
no doubts of success obscure the horizon。 Our young master's enthusiasm
fired his circle of pupils； who； as each succeeding year brought him
increasing fame； revelled in a reflected glory with the generous admiration
of youth； in which there is neither calculation nor shadow of envy。
A portrait of Madame de Portalais； exhibited about this time； drew all
art…loving Paris around the new celebrity's canvas。 Shortly after； the
government purchased a painting （of our master's beautiful wife）； now
known as LA FEMME AU GANT； for the Luxembourg Gallery。
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It is difficult to overestimate the impetus that a master's successes
impart to the progress of his pupils。 My first studious year in Paris had
been passed in the shadow of an elderly painter； who was comfortably
dozing on the laurels of thirty years before。 The change from that sleepy
environment to the vivid enthusiasm and dash of Carolus…Duran's studio
was like stepping out of a musty cloister into the warmth and movement of
a market…place。
Here； be it said in passing； lies perhaps the secret of the dry rot that too
often settles on our American art schools。 We； for some unknown reason；
do not take the work of native painters seriously； nor encourage them in
proportion to their merit。 In consequence they retain but a feeble hold
upon their pupils。
Carolus； handsome； young； successful； courted； was an ideal leader for
a band of ambitious； high…strung youths； repaying their devotion with an
untiring interest and lifting clever and dull alike on the strong wings of his
genius。 His visits to the studio； on which his friend Henner often
accompanied him； were frequent and prolonged； certain Tuesdays being
especially appreciated by us； as they were set apart for his criticism of
original compositions。
When our sketches （the subject for which had been given out in
advance） were arranged； and we had seated ourselves in a big half…circle
on the floor； Carolus would install himself on a tall stool； the one seat the
studio boasted； and chat A PROPOS of the works before him on
composition； on classic art； on the theories of color and clair…obscur。
Brilliant talks； inlaid with much wit and incisive criticism； the memory of
which must linger in the minds of all who were fortunate enough to hear
them。 Nor was it to the studio alone that our master's interest followed us。
He would drop in at the Louvre； when we were copying there； and after
some pleasant words of advice and encouragement； lead us off for a stroll
through the galleries； interrupted by stations before his favorite
masterpieces。
So important has he always considered a constant study of
Renaissance art that recently； when about to commence his TRIUMPH OF
BACCHUS； Carolus copied one of Rubens's larger canvases with all the
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naivete of a beginner。
An occasion soon presented itself for us to learn another side of our
trade by working with our master on a ceiling ordered of him by the state
for the Palace of the Luxembourg。 The vast studios which the city of Paris
provides on occasions of this kind； with a liberality that should make our
home corporations reflect； are situated out beyond the Exhibition buildings；
in a curious； unfrequented quarter； ignored alike by Parisians and tourists；
where the city stores compromising statues and the valuable debris of her
many revolutions。 There； among throneless Napoleons and riderless
bronze steeds； we toiled for over six months side by side with our master；
on gigantic APOTHEOSIS OF MARIE DE MEDICIS； serving in turn as
painter and painted； and leaving the imprint of our hands and the reflection
of our faces scattered about the composition。 Day after day； when work
was over； we would hoist the big canvas by means of a system of ropes
and pulleys； from a perpendicular to the horizontal position it was to
occupy permanently； and then sit straining our necks and discussing the
progress of the work until the tardy spring twilight warned us to depart。
The year 1877 brought Carolus…Duran the MEDAILLE D'HONNEUR；
a crowning recompense that set the atelier mad with delight。 We
immediately organized a great （but economical） banquet to commemorate
the event； over which our master presided； with much modesty；
considering the amount of incense we burned before him； and the speeches
we made。 One of our number even burst into some very bad French verses；
asserting that the painters of the world in general fell back before him …
。 。 。 EPOUVANTES … CRAIGNANT EGALEMENT SA BROSSE ET
SON EPEE。
This allusion to his proficiency
