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tempt you。 Stop often to lend a helping hand to a less fortunate
traveller。 Rest in the heat of the day； as your spirit prompts
you。 Sit down before the sunset and revel in its beauty and you
will find your voyage through life much more satisfactory to look
back to and full of far sweeter memories than if by sacrificing any
of these pleasures you had attained the greatest of 〃positions。〃
CHAPTER 35 … Living on your Friends
THACKERAY devoted a chapter in 〃Vanity Fair〃 to the problem 〃How to
Live Well on Nothing a Year。〃 It was neither a very new nor a very
ingenious expedient that 〃Becky〃 resorted to when she discounted
her husband's position and connection to fleece the tradespeople
and cheat an old family servant out of a year's rent。 The author
might more justly have used his clever phrase in describing 〃Major
Pendennis's〃 agreeable existence。 We have made great progress in
this； as in almost every other mode of living； in the latter half
of the Victorian era； intelligent individuals of either sex； who
know the ropes； can now as easily lead the existence of a multi…
millionaire （with as much satisfaction to themselves and their
friends） as though the bank account； with all its attendant
worries； stood in their own names。 This subject is so vast； its
ramifications so far…reaching and complicated； that one hesitates
before launching into an analysis of it。 It will be better simply
to give a few interesting examples； and a general rule or two； for
the enlightenment and guidance of ingenious souls。
Human nature changes little； all that our educational and social
training has accomplished is a smoothing of the surface。 One of
the most striking proofs of this is； that here in our primitive
country； as soon as accumulation of capital allowed certain
families to live in great luxury； they returned to the ways of
older aristocracies； and； with other wants； felt the necessity of a
court about them； ladies and gentlemen in waiting； pages and
jesters。 Nature abhors a vacuum； so a class of people immediately
felt an irresistible impulse to rush in and fill the void。 Our
aristocrats were not even obliged to send abroad to fill these
vacancies； as they were for their footmen and butlers； the native
article was quite ready and willing and； considering the little
practice it could have had； proved wonderfully adapted to the work。
When the mania for building immense country houses and yachts （the
owning of opera boxes goes a little further back） first attacked
this country； the builders imagined that； once completed； it would
be the easiest； as well as the most delightful task to fill them
with the pick of their friends； that they could get all the
talented and agreeable people they wanted by simply making a sign。
To their astonishment； they discovered that what appeared so simple
was a difficult； as well as a thankless labor。 I remember asking a
lady who had owned a 〃proscenium〃 at the old Academy； why she had
decided not to take a box in the （then） new opera…house。
〃Because； having passed thirty years of my life inviting people to
sit in my box； I intend now to rest。〃 It is very much the same
thing with yachts。 A couple who had determined to go around the
world； in their lately finished boat； were dumbfounded to find
their invitations were not eagerly accepted。 After exhausting the
small list of people they really wanted； they began with others
indifferent to them； and even then filled out their number with
difficulty。 A hostess who counts on a series of house parties
through the autumn months； must begin early in the summer if she is
to have the guests she desires。
It is just here that the 〃professional；〃 if I may be allowed to use
such an expression； comes to the front。 He is always available。
It is indifferent to him if he starts on a tour around the world or
for a winter spree to Montreal。 He is always amusing； good…
humored； and can be counted on at the last moment to fill any
vacant place； without being the least offended at the tardy
invitation； for he belongs to the class who have discovered 〃how to
live well on nothing a year。〃 Luxury is as the breath of his
nostrils； but his means allow of little beyond necessities。 The
temptation must be great when everything that he appreciates most
（and cannot afford） is urged upon him。 We should not pose as too
stern moralists； and throw stones at him； for there may enter more
〃best French plate〃 into the composition of our own houses than we
imagine。
It is here our epoch shows its improvement over earlier and cruder
days。 At present no toad…eating is connected with the acceptance
of hospitality； or； if occasionally a small 〃batrachian〃 is
offered； it is so well disguised by an accomplished CHEF； and
served on such exquisite old Dresden； that it slips down with very
little effort。 Even this rarely occurs； unless the guest has
allowed himself to become the inmate of a residence or yacht。 Then
he takes his chance with other members of the household； and if the
host or hostess happens to have a bad temper as a set…off to their
good table； it is apt to fare ill with our friend。
So far； I have spoken of this class in the masculine； which is an
error； as the art is successfully practised by the weaker sex； with
this shade of difference。 As an unmarried woman is in less general
demand； she is apt to attach herself to one dear friend； always
sure to be a lady in possession of fine country and city houses and
other appurtenances of wealth； often of inferior social standing；
so that there is give and take； the guest rendering real service to
an ambitious hostess。 The feminine aspirant need not be handsome。
On the contrary； an agreeable plainness is much more acceptable；
serving as a foil。 But she must be excellent in all games； from
golf to piquet； and willing to play as often and as long as
required。 She must also cheerfully go in to dinner with the blue
ribbon bore of the evening； only asked on account of his pretty
wife （by the bye； why is it that Beauty is so often flanked by the
Beast？）； and sit between him and the 〃second prize〃 bore。 These
two worthies would have been the portion of the hostess fifteen
years ago； she would have considered it her duty to absorb them and
prevent her other guests suffering。 MAIS NOUS AVONS CHANGE TOUT
CELA。 The lady of the house now thinks first of amusing herself；
and arranges to sit between two favorites。
Society has become much simpler； and especially less expensive； for
unmarried men than it used to be。 Even if a hostess asks a favor
in return for weeks of hospitality； the sacrifice she requires of a
man is rarely greater than a cotillion with an unattractive
debutante whom she is trying to launch； or the sitting through a
particularly dull opera in order to see her to the