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there nightly among the men of his rank； the astonished and
disillusioned Bostonian remaining at home EN TETE…A…TETE with the
women of his family； who seemed to think this the most natural
arrangement in the world。
It certainly is astonishing that we； the most patriotic of nations；
with such high opinion of ourselves and our institutions； should be
so ready to hand over our daughters and our ducats to the first
foreigner who asks for them； often requiring less information about
him than we should consider necessary before buying a horse or a
dog。
Women of no other nation have this mania for espousing aliens。
Nowhere else would a girl with a large fortune dream of marrying
out of her country。 Her highest ideal of a husband would be a man
of her own kin。 It is the rarest thing in the world to find a
well…born French； Spanish； or Italian woman married to a foreigner
and living away from her country。 How can a woman expect to be
happy separated from all the ties and traditions of her youth？ If
she is taken abroad young； she may still hope to replace her
friends as is often done。 But the real reason of unhappiness
（greater and deeper than this） lies in the fundamental difference
of the whole social structure between our country and that of her
adoption； and the radically different way of looking at every side
of life。
Surely a girl must feel that a man who allows a marriage to be
arranged for him （and only signs the contact because its pecuniary
clauses are to his satisfaction； and who would withdraw in a moment
if these were suppressed）； must have an entirely different point of
view from her own on all the vital issues of life。
Foreigners undoubtedly make excellent husbands for their own women。
But they are； except in rare cases； unsatisfactory helpmeets for
American girls。 It is impossible to touch on more than a side or
two of this subject。 But as an illustration the following
contrasted stories may be cited：
Two sisters of an aristocratic American family； each with an income
of over forty thousand dollars a year； recently married French
noblemen。 They naturally expected to continue abroad the life they
had led at home； in which opera boxes； saddle horses； and constant
entertaining were matters of course。 In both cases； our
compatriots discovered that their husbands （neither of them
penniless） had entirely different views。 In the first place； they
were told that it was considered 〃bad form〃 in France for young
married women to entertain； besides； the money was needed for
improvements； and in many other ways； and as every well…to…do
French family puts aside at least a third of its income as DOTS for
the children （boys as well as girls）； these brides found themselves
cramped for money for the first time in their lives； and obliged；
during their one month a year in Paris； to put up with hired traps；
and depend on their friends for evenings at the opera。
This story is a telling set…off to the case of an American wife；
who one day received a windfall in the form of a check for a tidy
amount。 She immediately proposed a trip abroad to her husband； but
found that he preferred to remain at home in the society of his
horses and dogs。 So our fair compatriot starts off （with his full
consent）； has her outing； spends her little 〃pile；〃 and returns
after three or four months to the home of her delighted spouse。
Do these two stories need any comment？ Let our sisters and their
friends think twice before they make themselves irrevocably wheels
in a machine whose working is unknown to them； lest they be torn to
pieces as it moves。 Having the good luck to be born in the
〃paradise of women；〃 let them beware how they leave it； charm the
serpent never so wisely； for they may find themselves； like the
Peri； outside the gate。
CHAPTER 6 … The Complacency of Mediocrity
FULL as small intellects are of queer kinks； unexplained turnings
and groundless likes and dislikes； the bland contentment that buoys
up the incompetent is the most difficult of all vagaries to account
for。 Rarely do twenty…four hours pass without examples of this
exasperating weakness appearing on the surface of those shallows
that commonplace people so naively call 〃their minds。〃
What one would expect is extreme modesty； in the half…educated or
the ignorant； and self…approbation higher up in the scale； where it
might more reasonably dwell。 Experience； however； teaches that
exactly the opposite is the case among those who have achieved
success。
The accidents of a life turned by chance out of the beaten tracks；
have thrown me at times into acquaintanceship with some of the
greater lights of the last thirty years。 And not only have they
been； as a rule； most unassuming men and women； but in the majority
of cases positively self…depreciatory； doubting of themselves and
their talents； constantly aiming at greater perfection in their art
or a higher development of their powers； never contented with what
they have achieved； beyond the idea that it has been another step
toward their goal。 Knowing this； it is always a shock on meeting
the mediocre people who form such a discouraging majority in any
society； to discover that they are all so pleased with themselves；
their achievements； their place in the world； and their own ability
and discernment！
Who has not sat chafing in silence while Mediocrity； in a white
waistcoat and jangling fobs； occupied the after…dinner hour in
imparting second…hand information as his personal views on
literature and art？ Can you not hear him saying once again： 〃I
don't pretend to know anything about art and all that sort of
thing； you know； but when I go to an exhibition I can always pick
out the best pictures at a glance。 Sort of a way I have； and I
never make mistakes； you know。〃
Then go and watch； as I have； Henri Rochefort as he laboriously
forms the opinions that are to appear later in one of his 〃SALONS；〃
realizing the while that he is FACILE PRINCEPS among the art
critics of his day； that with a line he can make or mar a
reputation and by a word draw the admiring crowd around an unknown
canvas。 While Rochefort toils and ponders and hesitates； do you
suppose a doubt as to his own astuteness ever dims the self…
complacency of White Waistcoat？ Never！
There lies the strength of the feeble…minded。 By a special
dispensation of Providence； they can never see but one side of a
subject； so are always convinced that they are right； and from the
height of their contentment； look down on those who chance to
differ with them。
A lady who has gathered into her dainty salons the fruit of many
years' careful study and tireless 〃weeding〃 will ask anxiously if
you are quite sure you like the effect of her latest acquisition …
some eighteenth…century statuette