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such a representation； than in these days of tramcars and 〃fixed…
price〃 restaurants。 An entire 〃art〃 dies with him。 It has been
whispered that he has not entirely justified his reputation； that
the accounts of his exploits as a HAUT VIVEUR have gained in the
telling。 Nevertheless he dominated an epoch； rising above the
tumultuous and levelling society of his day； a tardy Don Quixote；
of the knighthood of pleasures； FETES； loves and prodigalities；
which are no longer of our time。 His great name； his grand manner；
his elderly graces； his serene carelessness； made him a being by
himself。 No one will succeed this master of departed elegances。
If he does not recover from his attack； if the paralysis does not
leave that poor brain； worn out with doing nothing； we can honestly
say that he is the last of his kind。
An original and independent thinker has asserted that
civilizations； societies； empires； and republics go down to
posterity typified for the admiration of mankind； each under the
form of some hero。 Emerson would have given a place in his
Pantheon to Sagan。 For it is he who sustained the traditions and
became the type of that distinguished and frivolous society； which
judged that serious things were of no importance； enthusiasm a
waste of time； literature a bore； that nothing was interesting and
worthy of occupying their attention except the elegant distractions
that helped to pass their days…and nights！ He had the merit （？） in
these days of the practical and the commonplace； of preserving in
his gracious person all the charming uselessness of a courtier in a
country where there was no longer a court。
What a strange sight it would be if this departing dandy could；
before he leaves for ever the theatre of so many triumphs； take his
place at some street corner； and review the shades of the
companions his long life had thrown him with； the endless
procession of departed belles and beaux； who； in their youth； had；
under his rule； helped to dictate the fashions and lead the sports
of a world。
CHAPTER 28 … A Nation on the Wing
ON being taken the other day through a large and costly residence；
with the thoroughness that only the owner of a new house has the
cruelty to inflict on his victims； not allowing them to pass a
closet or an electric bell without having its particular use and
convenience explained； forcing them to look up coal…slides； and
down air…shafts and to visit every secret place； from the cellar to
the fire…escape； I noticed that a peculiar arrangement of the rooms
repeated itself on each floor； and several times on a floor。 I
remarked it to my host。
〃You observe it；〃 he said； with a blush of pride； 〃it is my wife's
idea！ The truth is； my daughters are of a marrying age； and my
sons starting out for themselves； this house will soon be much too
big for two old people to live in alone。 We have planned it so
that at any time it can be changed into an apartment house at a
nominal expense。 It is even wired and plumbed with that end in
view！〃
This answer positively took my breath away。 I looked at my host in
amazement。 It was hard to believe that a man past middle age； who
after years of hardest toil could afford to put half a million into
a house for himself and his children； and store it with beautiful
things； would have the courage to look so far into the future as to
see all his work undone； his home turned to another use and himself
and his wife afloat in the world without a roof over their wealthy
old heads。
Surely this was the Spirit of the Age in its purest expression； the
more strikingly so that he seemed to feel pride rather than
anything else in his ingenious combination。
He liked the city he had built in well enough now； but nothing
proved to him that he would like it later。 He and his wife had
lived in twenty cities since they began their brave fight with
Fortune； far away in a little Eastern town。 They had since changed
their abode with each ascending rung of the ladder of success； and
beyond a faded daguerreotype or two of their children and a few
modest pieces of jewelry； stored away in cotton； it is doubtful if
they owned a single object belonging to their early life。
Another case occurs to me。 Near the village where I pass my
summers； there lived an elderly； childless couple on a splendid
estate combining everything a fastidious taste could demand。 One
fine morning this place was sold； the important library divided
between the village and their native city； the furniture sold or
given away； … everything went； at the end the things no one wanted
were made into a bon…fire and burned。
A neighbor asking why all this was being done was told by the lady；
〃We were tired of it all and have decided to be 'Bohemians' for the
rest of our lives。〃 This couple are now wandering about Europe and
half a dozen trunks contain their belongings。
These are； of course； extreme cases and must be taken for what they
are worth； nevertheless they are straws showing which way the wind
blows； signs of the times that he who runs may read。 I do not run；
but I often saunter up our principal avenue； and always find myself
wondering what will be the future of the splendid residences that
grace that thoroughfare as it nears the Park； the ascending tide of
trade is already circling round them and each year sees one or more
crumble away and disappear。
The finer buildings may remain； turned into clubs or restaurants；
but the greater part of the newer ones are so ill…adapted to any
other use than that for which they are built that their future
seems obscure。
That fashion will flit away from its present haunts there can be
little doubt； the city below the Park is sure to be given up to
business； and even the fine frontage on that green space will
sooner or later be occupied by hotels； if not stores； and he who
builds with any belief in the permanency of his surroundings must
indeed be of a hopeful disposition。
A good lady occupying a delightful corner on this same avenue；
opposite a one…story florist's shop； said：
〃I shall remain here until they build across the way； then I
suppose I shall have to move。〃
So after all the man who is contented to live in a future apartment
house； may not be so very far wrong。
A case of the opposite kind is that of a great millionaire； who；
dying； left his house and its collections to his eldest son and his
grandson after him； on the condition that they should continue to
live in it。
Here was an attempt to keep together a home with its memories and
associations。 What has been the result？ The street that was a
charming centre for residences twenty years ago has become a
〃slum；〃 the unfortunate heirs find themselves with a house on their
hands that they cannot live in and are forbidden to