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！
them； when； happening to mention as we drove up town； 〃there goes
Mr。 Blank；〃 （naming a prominent leader of cotillions）； my guests
nearly fell over each other and out of the carriage in their
eagerness to see the gentleman of whom they had read so much； and
who was； in those days； a power in his way； and several times after
they expressed the greatest satisfaction at having seen him。
I have found； with rare exceptions； and the experience has been
rather widely gathered all over the country； that this interest …
or call it what you will … has been entirely without spite or
bitterness； rather the delight of a child in a fairy story。 For
people are rarely envious of things far removed from their grasp。
You will find that a woman who is bitter because her neighbor has a
girl 〃help〃 or a more comfortable cottage； rarely feels envy
towards the owners of opera…boxes or yachts。 Such heart…burnings
（let us hope they are few） are among a class born in the shadow of
great wealth； and bred up with tastes that they can neither
relinquish nor satisfy。 The large majority of people show only a
good…natured inclination to chaff； none of the 〃class feeling〃
which certain papers and certain politicians try to excite。
Outside of the large cities with their foreign…bred； semi…
anarchistic populations； the tone is perfectly friendly； for the
simple reason that it never entered into the head of any American
to imagine that there WAS any class difference。 To him his rich
neighbors are simply his lucky neighbors； almost his relations；
who； starting from a common stock； have been able to 〃get there〃
sooner than he has done。 So he wishes them luck on the voyage in
which he expects to join them as soon as he has had time to make a
fortune。
So long as the world exists； or at least until we have reformed it
and adopted Mr。 Bellamy's delightful scheme of existence as
described in 〃Looking Backward；〃 great fortunes will be made； and
painful contrasts be seen； especially in cities； and it would seem
to be the duty of the press to soften … certainly not to sharpen …
the edge of discontent。 As long as human nature is human nature；
and the poor care to read of the doings of the more fortunate； by
all means give them the reading they enjoy and demand； but let it
be written in a kindly spirit so that it may be a cultivation as
well as a recreation。 Treat this perfectly natural and honest
taste honestly and naturally； for； after all； it is
The desire of the moth for the star；
Of the night for the morrow。
The devotion to something afar
From the sphere of our sorrow。
CHAPTER 3 … Contrasted Travelling
WHEN our parents went to Europe fifty years ago； it was the event
of a lifetime … a tour lovingly mapped out in advance with advice
from travelled friends。 Passports were procured； books read； wills
made； and finally； prayers were offered up in church and solemn
leave…taking performed。 Once on the other side； descriptive
letters were conscientiously written； and eagerly read by friends
at home； … in spite of these epistles being on the thinnest of
paper and with crossing carried to a fine art； for postage was high
in the forties。 Above all； a journal was kept。
Such a journal lies before me as I write。 Four little volumes in
worn morocco covers and faded 〃Italian〃 writing； more precious than
all my other books combined； their sight recalls that lost time …
my youth … when； as a reward； they were unlocked that I might look
at the drawings； and the sweetest voice in the world would read to
me from them！ Happy； vanished days； that are so far away they seem
to have been in another existence！
The first volume opens with the voyage across the Atlantic； made in
an American clipper （a model unsurpassed the world over）； which was
accomplished in thirteen days； a feat rarely equalled now； by sail。
Genial Captain Nye was in command。 The same who later； when a
steam propelled vessel was offered him； refused； as unworthy of a
seaman； 〃to boil a kettle across the ocean。〃
Life friendships were made in those little cabins； under the
swinging lamp the travellers re…read last volumes so as to be
prepared to appreciate everything on landing。 Ireland； England and
Scotland were visited with an enthusiasm born of Scott； the tedium
of long coaching journeys being beguiled by the first 〃numbers〃 of
〃Pickwick；〃 over which the men of the party roared； but which the
ladies did not care for； thinking it vulgar； and not to be compared
to 〃Waverley；〃 〃Thaddeus of Warsaw；〃 or 〃The Mysteries of Udolpho。〃
A circular letter to our diplomatic agents abroad was presented in
each city； a rite invariably followed by an invitation to dine； for
which occasions a black satin frock with a low body and a few
simple ornaments； including （supreme elegance） a diamond cross；
were carried in the trunks。 In London a travelling carriage was
bought and stocked； the indispensable courier engaged； half guide；
half servant； who was expected to explore a city； or wait at table；
as occasion required。 Four days were passed between Havre and
Paris； and the slow progress across Europe was accomplished； Murray
in one hand and Byron in the other。
One page used particularly to attract my boyish attention。 It was
headed by a naive little drawing of the carriage at an Italian inn
door； and described how； after the dangers and discomforts of an
Alpine pass； they descended by sunny slopes into Lombardy。 Oh！ the
rapture that breathes from those simple pages！ The vintage scenes；
the mid…day halt for luncheon eaten in the open air； the afternoon
start； the front seat of the carriage heaped with purple grapes；
used to fire my youthful imagination and now recalls Madame de
Stael's line on perfect happiness： 〃To be young！ to be in love！ to
be in Italy！〃
Do people enjoy Europe as much now？ I doubt it！ It has become too
much a matter of course； a necessary part of the routine of life。
Much of the bloom is brushed from foreign scenes by descriptive
books and photographs； that St。 Mark's or Mt。 Blanc has become as
familiar to a child's eye as the house he lives in； and in
consequence the reality now instead of being a revelation is often
a disappointment。
In my youth； it was still an event to cross。 I remember my first
voyage on the old side…wheeled SCOTIA； and Captain Judkins in a
wheeled chair； and a perpetual bad temper； being pushed about the
deck； and our delight； when the inevitable female asking him （three
days out） how far we were from land； got the answer 〃about a mile！〃
〃Indeed！ How interesting！ In which direction？〃
〃In that direction； madam；〃 shouted the captain； pointing downward
as he turned his back to her。
If I remember； we were then thirteen days getting to Liverpool； and
made the acquaintance on board of the peop