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！
remodelled by Napoleon and the lake with its winding drive laid
out； the new Court drove of an afternoon along this water front。
That was enough for the old swells！ They retired to the remote
〃Allee of the Acacias；〃 and solemnly took their airing away from
the bustle of the new world； incidentally setting a fashion that
has held good to this day； the lakeside being now deserted； and the
〃Acacias〃 crowded of an afternoon； by all that Paris holds of
elegant and inelegant。
Where the brilliant Second Empire failed； the Republic had little
chance of success。 With each succeeding year the 〃Old Faubourg〃
withdrew more and more into its shell； going so far； after the fall
of Mac Mahon； as to change its 〃season〃 to the spring； so that the
balls and FETES it gave should not coincide with the 〃official〃
entertainments during the winter。
The next people to have a 〃shy〃 at the 〃Old Faubourg's〃 Gothic
battlements were the Jews； who were victorious in a few light
skirmishes and succeeded in capturing one or two illustrious
husbands for their daughters。 The wily Israelites； however；
discovered that titled sons…in…law were expensive articles and
often turned out unsatisfactorily； so they quickly desisted。 The
English； the most practical of societies； have always left the
Faubourg alone。 It has been reserved for our countrywomen to lay
the most determined siege yet recorded to that untaken stronghold。
It is a characteristic of the American temperament to be unable to
see a closed door without developing an intense curiosity to know
what is behind； or to read 〃No Admittance to the Public〃 over an
entrance without immediately determining to get inside at any
price。 So it is easy to understand the attraction an hermetically
sealed society would have for our fair compatriots。 Year after
year they have flung themselves against its closed gateways。
Repulsed； they have retired only to form again for the attack； but
are as far away to…day from planting their flag in that citadel as
when they first began。 It does not matter to them what is inside；
there may be （as in this case） only mouldy old halls and a group of
people with antiquated ideas and ways。 It is enough for a certain
type of woman to know that she is not wanted in an exclusive
circle； to be ready to die in the attempt to get there。 This point
of view reminds one of Mrs。 Snob's saying about a new arrival at a
hotel： 〃I am sure she must be 'somebody' for she was so rude to me
when I spoke to her；〃 and her answer to her daughter when the girl
said （on arriving at a watering…place） that she had noticed a very
nice family 〃who look as if they wanted to know us； Mamma：〃
〃Then； my dear；〃 replied Mamma Snob； 〃they certainly are not people
we want to meet！〃
The men in French society are willing enough to make acquaintance
with foreigners。 You may see the youth of the Faubourg dancing at
American balls in Paris； or running over for occasional visits to
this country。 But when it comes to taking their women…kind with
them； it is a different matter。 Americans who have known well…born
Frenchmen at school or college are surprised； on meeting them
later； to be asked （cordially enough） to dine EN GARCON at a
restaurant； although their Parisian friend is married。 An
Englishman's or American's first word would be on a like occasion：
〃Come and dine with me to…night。 I want to introduce you to my
wife。〃 Such an idea would never cross a Frenchman's mind！
One American I know is a striking example of this。 He was born in
Paris； went to school and college there； and has lived in that city
all his life。 His sister married a French nobleman。 Yet at this
moment； in spite of his wealth； his charming American wife； and
many beautiful entertainments； he has not one warm French friend；
or the ENTREE on a footing of intimacy to a single Gallic house。
There is no analogy between the English aristocracy and the French
nobility； except that they are both antiquated institutions； the
English is the more harmful on account of its legislative power；
the French is the more pretentious。 The House of Lords is the most
open club in London； the payment of an entrance…fee in the shape of
a check to a party fund being an all…sufficient sesame。 In France；
one must be born in the magic circle。 The spirit of the Emigration
of 1793 is not yet extinct。 The nobles live in their own world
（how expressive the word is； seeming to exclude all the rest of
mankind）； pining after an impossible RESTAURATION； alien to the
present day； holding aloof from politics for fear of coming in
touch with the masses； with whom they pride themselves on having
nothing in common。
What leads many people astray on this subject is that there has
formed around this ancient society a circle composed of rich
〃outsiders；〃 who have married into good families； and of eccentric
members of the latter； who from a love of excitement or for
interested motives have broken away from their traditions。 Newly
arrived Americans are apt to mistake this 〃world〃 for the real
thing。 Into this circle it is not difficult for foreigners who are
rich and anxious to see something of life to gain admission。 To be
received by the ladies of this outer circle； seems to our
compatriots to be an achievement； until they learn the real
standing of their new acquaintances。
No gayer houses； however； exist than those of the new set。 At
their city or country houses； they entertain continually； and they
are the people one meets toward five o'clock； on the grounds of the
Polo Club； in the Bois； at FETES given by the Island Club of
Puteaux； attending the race meetings； or dining at American houses。
As far as amusement and fun go； one might seek much further and
fare worse。
It is very； very rare that foreigners get beyond this circle。
Occasionally there is a marriage between an American girl and some
Frenchman of high rank。 In these cases the girl is； as it were；
swallowed up。 Her family see little of her； she rarely appears in
general society； and； little by little； she is lost to her old
friends and relations。 I know of several cases of this kind where
it is to be doubted if a dozen Americans outside of the girls'
connections know that such women exist。 The fall in rents and land
values has made the French aristocracy poor； it is only by the
greatest economy （and it never entered into an American mind to
conceive of such economy as is practised among them） that they
succeed in holding on to their historical chateaux or beautiful
city residences； so that pride plays a large part in the isolation
in which they live。
The fact that no titles are recognized officially by the French
government （the most they can obtain being a 〃courtesy〃
recognition） has placed these people in a singularly false
position。 An American g