Thenhesaid:\"Idon’tcontendthatitisintellectual,butIsaythatitisoftencleverandcharmingattheten—centshows,justasitislessoftencleverandcharmingintheten—centmagazines。Ithinktheaverageofproprietyisratherhigherthanitisatthetwo—dollartheatres;anditismuchmoreinstructiveattheten—centshows,ifyoucometothat。
Theotherday,\"saidmyfriend,andinsquaringhimselfcomfortablyinhischairandfindingroomforhiselbowonthecornerofmytableheknockedoffsomebooksforreview,\"IwenttoadimemuseumforanhourthatIhadbetweentwoappointments,andImustsaythatIneverpassedanhour’stimemoreagreeably。Inthecuriohall,asoneofthelecturersonthecurioscalledit——theyhadseverallecturersinwhitewigsandscholars’capsandgowns——therewasnotagreatdealtosee,I
confess;buteverythingwasveryhigh—class。Therewastheinventorofaperpetualmotion,wholectureduponitandexplaineditfromadiagram。
Therewasafortune—tellerinathree—foottentwhomIdidnotinterview;
therewerefivemacawsinonecage,andtwogloomyapesinanother。OnaplatformattheendofthehallwasanAustralianfamilyagooddealgloomierthantheapes,whosatinthecostumeofourlatitude,staringdowntheroomwithvaryingexpressionsallverginguponmelancholymadness,andwhogavemesuchapangofcompassionasIhaveseldomgotfromthetragedyofthetwo—dollartheatres。Theyallowedmetocomequitecloseuptothem,andtofeedmypityupontheirwilddejectioninexilewithoutstint。Icouldn’tenterintoconversationwiththem,andexpressmyregretatfindingthemsofarfromtheirnativeboomerangsandkangaroosandpinetreegrubs,butIknowtheyfeltmysympathy,itwassoevident。Ididn’tseetheirperformance,andIdon’tknowthattheyhadany。Theymaysimplyhavebeenthereethnologically,butthiswasagoodobject,andthesightoftheirspiritualmiserywasaloneworththepriceofadmission。
\"Aftertheinventoroftheperpetualmotionhadbroughthisharanguetoaclose,weallwentroundtothedaiswherealadyinbluespectacleslecturedusuponafire—escapewhichshehadinvented,andoperatedasmallmodelofit。Noneoftheeventsweresoexcitingthatwecouldregretitwhenthechieflecturerannouncedthatthiswastheendoftheentertainmentinthecuriohall,andthatnowtheperformanceinthetheatrewasabouttobegin。Heinvitedustobuyticketsatanadditionalchargeoffive,ten,orfifteencentsforthegallery,orchestracircle,ororchestra。
\"IthoughtIcouldaffordanorchestrastall,foronce。Wewerethreeintheorchestra,anothermanandayoungmother,notcountingthelittleboyshehadwithher;thereweretwopeopleinthegallery,andadozenatleastintheorchestracircle。Anattendantshouted,’Hatsoff!’andtheothermanandIuncovered,andaladycameupfromunderthestageandbegantoplaythepianoinfrontofit。Thecurtainrose,andtheentertainmentbeganatonce。Itwasapassageapparentlyfromreallife,anditinvolvedadissatisfiedboarderandthedaughterofthelandlady。
Therewasnotmuchcoherenceinit,buttherewasagooddealofconscienceonthepartoftheactors,whotoiledthroughitwithunflaggingenergy。Theyoungwomanwasequippedforthedanceshebroughtintoitatonepointratherthanforthepartshehadtosustaininthedrama。Itwasaveryblamelessdance,andshegaveitasifshewastiredofit,butwasnotgoingtofalter。Shedeliveredherlineswithahard,Southwesternaccent,andIlikedfancyingherhavingcomeupinasimpler—heartedsectionofthecountrythanours,encouragedbyastronglocalbeliefthatshewasdestinedtodoJulietandLadyMacbeth,orPegWoffingtonattheleast;butverylikelyshehadnot。
\"Herperformancewasfollowedbyaneventinvolvingasinglecharacter。
Theactor,naturally,wasblackenedastohisskin,butastohisdresshewasallinwhite,andatthefirstglanceIcouldseethathehadtemperament。IsuspectthathethoughtIhad,too,forhebegantoaddresshisentiredramatome。Thiswasnotsurprising,foritwouldnothavebeenthethingforhimtosingleouttheyoungmother;andtheothermanintheorchestrastallsseemedavagueandinexperiencedyouth,whomhewouldhardlyhavegiventhepreferenceoverme。Ifeltthecompliment,butuponthewholeitembarrassedme;itwastoointimate,anditgavemeapublicityIwouldwillinglyhaveforegone。IdidwhatI
couldtorejectit,byfeigninganindifferencetohisjokes;Ievenfrownedameasureofdisapproval;butthismerelystimulatedhisambition。Hewasreallyamerrycreature,andwhenhehadgotoffanumberofverygoodthingswhichwerereceivedinperfectsilence,andlookedoverhisaudiencewithawoe—begoneeye,andsaid,withaneffectofdelicateapology,’IhopeI’mnotdisturbingyouany,’Ibrokedownandlaughed,andthatdeliveredmeintohishand。Heimmediatelysaidtomethatnowhewouldtellmeaboutafriendofhis,whohadaprettylargefamily,eightofthemliving,andoneinPhiladelphia;andthenfornoreasonheseemedtochangehismind,andsaidhewouldsingmeasongwrittenexpresslyforhim——byanexpressman;andhewentonfromonewildgayetytoanother,untilhehadworkedhisaudienceuptoquiteafrenzyofenthusiasm,andalmosthadarecallwhenhewentoff。
\"Iwasrathergladtoberidofhim,andIwasgladthatthenextperformers,whowerealadyandagentlemancontortionistofSpanish—
Americanextraction,behavedmoreimpartially。Theywerereallyremarkableartistsintheirway,andthoughit’sapainfulway,I
couldn’thelpadmiringtheirgiftinbowknotsandotherdifficultposes。
Thegentlemangotabundantapplause,buttheladyatfirstgotnone。I
thinkperhapsitwasbecause,withthecorrectfeelingthatprevailedamongus,wecouldnotseealadycontortherselfwithsomuchapprovalasagentleman,andthattherewasawoundtooursenseofproprietyinwitnessingherskill。ButIcouldseethatthepoorgirlwashurtinherartistpridebyourseverity,andatthenextthingshedidIledofftheapplausewithmyumbrella。Sheinstantlylightedupwithajoyfulsmile,andtheyoungmotherintheorchestraleanedforwardtonodhersympathytomewhilesheclapped。Wewerefastbecomingadomesticcircle,anditwasverypleasant,butIthoughtthatuponthewholeIhadbettergo。\"
\"Anddoyouthinkyouhadaprofitablehouratthatshow?\"Iasked,withasmilethatwasmeanttobesceptical。
\"Profitable?\"saidmyfriend。\"Isaidagreeable。Idon’tknowabouttheprofit。Butitwasverygoodvariety,anditwasverycheap。I
understandthatthisisthekindofthingyouwantthetwo—dollartheatretocomedownto,orupto。\"
\"Notexactly,ornotquite,\"Ireturned,thoughtfully,\"thoughImustsayIthinkyourtimewasaswellspentasitwouldhavebeenatmostoftheplaysIhaveseenthiswinter。\"
Myfriendleftthepoint,andsaid,withadreamyair:\"Itwasallverypathetic,inaway。Threeoutofthosefivepeoplewerereallyclever,andcertainlyartists。Thatcoloredbrotherwasalmostagenius,averycommonvarietyofgenius,butstillagenius,withagiftforhiscallingthatcouldn’tbedisputed。Hewasagenuinehumorist,andIsorrowedoverhim——afterIgotsafelyawayfromhisintimacy——asIshouldoversomeauthorwhowasstrugglingalongwithoutwinninghispublic。Whynot?Oneisasmuchintheshowbusinessastheother。Thereisadifferenceofqualityratherthanofkind。Perhapsby—and—bymycoloredhumoristwillmakeastrikewithhisbranchofthepublic,asyouarealwayshopingtodowithyours。\"
\"Youdon’tthinkyou’remakingyourselfratheroffensive?\"Isuggested。
\"Notintentionally。Aren’ttheartsone?Howcanyousaythatanyartishigherthantheothers?Whyisitnoblertocontortthemindthantocontortthebody?\"
\"Iamalwayssayingthatitisnotatallnobletocontortthemind,\"
Ireturned,\"andIfeelthattoaimatnothinghigherthantheamusementofyourreadersistobringyourselfmostdistinctlytotheleveloftheshowbusiness。\"
\"Yes,Iknowthatisyourpose,\"saidmyfriend。\"AndIdaresayyoureallythinkthatyoumakeadistinctioninfactswhenyoumakeadistinctioninterms。Ifyoudon’tamuseyourreaders,youdon’tkeepthem;practically,youceasetoexist。Youmaycallitinterestingthem,ifyoulike;but,really,whatisthedifference?Youdoyourlittleact,andbecausethestageislargeandthehouseisfine,youfancyyouarenotofthatsadbrotherhoodwhichaimstopleaseinhumblerplaces,withperhapscrudermeans——\"
\"Idon’tknowwhetherIlikeyoursawslessthanyourinstances,oryourinstanceslessthanyoursaws,\"Ibrokein。\"Haveyoubeenatthecircusyet?\"
II。
\"Yet?\"demandedmyfriend。\"Iwentthefirstnight,andIhavebeenagooddealinterestedintheexaminationofmyemotionseversince。
Ican’tfindoutjustwhyIhavesomuchpleasureinthetrapeze。
HalfthetimeIwanttoshutmyeyes,andagoodpartofthetimeIdolookaway;butIwouldn’tspareanyactorthemostdangerousfeat。
Oneofthepoorgirls,thatnight,droppedawkwardlyintothenetafterherperformance,andlimpedofftothedressing—roomwithasprainedankle。Itmademerathersadtothinkthatnowshemustperhapsgiveupherperilousworkforawhile,andpayadoctor,andlosehersalary,butitdidn’ttakeawaymyinterestintheothertrapezistsflyingthroughtheairaboveanothernet。
\"IfIhadhonestlycomplainedofanythingitwouldhavebeenofthesuperfluitywhichgluttedratherthanfedme。Howcanyouwatchthreesetsoftrapezistsatonce?Youreallyseeneitherwell。It’sthesamewiththethreerings。Thereshouldbeonering,andeachactshouldhaveafairchancewiththespectator,ifittooksixhours;Iwouldwillinglygivethetime。Fancythreestagesatthetheatre,withthreeplaysgoingonatonce!\"
\"No,don’tfancythat!\"Ientreated。\"Oneplayisbadenough。\"
\"Orfancyreadingthreenovelssimultaneously,andlisteningatthesametimetoalectureandasermon,whichcouldrepresentthetwoplatformsbetweentherings,\"myfriendcalmlypersisted。\"Thethreeringsareanabuseandanoutrage,butIdon’tknowbutIobjectstillmoretothesilencingoftheclowns。Theyhaveagreatmanyclownsnow,buttheyarealldumb,andyouonlygethalfthegoodyouusedtogetoutofthesingleclownoftheoldone—ringcircus。Why,it’sasiftheliteraryhumoristweretoleaduptoacharmingconceitorasubtlejest,andthenputasteriskswherethehumoroughttocomein。\"
\"Don’tyouthinkyouaregoingfrombadtoworse?\"Iasked。
Myfriendwenton:\"I’mafraidthecircusisspoiledforme。Ithasbecometoomuchofagoodthing;foritisagoodthing;almostthebestthinginthewayofanentertainmentthatthereis。I’mstillveryfondofit,butIcomeawaydefeatedanddefraudedbecauseIhavebeenembarrassedwithriches,andhavebeengivenmorethanIwasabletograsp。Mygreedhasbeenoverfed。IthinkImustkeeptothoseentertainmentswhereyoucancomeatteninthemorningandstaytilltenatnight,withaperpetualchangeofbill,onlyonestage,andnofallofthecurtain。Isupposeyouwouldobjecttothembecausethey’regettingratherdear;atthebestofthemnowtheyaskyouadollarforthefirstseats。\"
IsaidthatIdidnotthinkthistoomuchfortwelvehours,iftheintellectualcharacteroftheentertainmentwascorrespondinglyhigh。
\"It’sashighasthatofsomemagazines,\"saidmyfriend,\"thoughIcouldsometimeswishitwerehigher。It’slikethematterintheSundaypapers——aboutthataverage。Someofit’sgood,andmostofitisn’t。
Someofitcouldhardlybeworse。Butthereisagreatdealofit,andyougetitconsecutivelyandnotsimultaneously。Thatconstitutesitsadvantageoverthecircus。\"
Myfriendstopped,withavaguesmile,andIasked:
\"Then,doIunderstandthatyouwouldadvisemetorecommendthedimemuseums,thecircus,andtheperpetual—motionvarietiesintheplaceofthetheatres?\"
\"Youhaverecommendedbooksinstead,andthatnotiondoesn’tseemtohavemetwithmuchfavor,thoughyouurgedtheircomparativecheapness。Now,whynotsuggestsomethingthatisreallylevelwiththepopulartaste?\"
AMERICANLITERATUREINEXILE
ArecentlylecturingEnglishmanisreportedtohavenotedtheunenviableprimacyoftheUnitedStatesamongcountrieswherethestruggleformaterialprosperityhasbeendisastroustothepursuitofliterature。
Hesaid,orissaidtohavesaid(onecannotbetoocarefulinattributingtoapublicmanthethoughtsthatmaybereallyduetoanimaginativeframeinthereporter),thatamongus,\"theoldraceofwritersofdistinction,suchasLongfellow,Bryant,Holmes,andWashingtonIrving,have(sic)diedout,andtheAmericanswhoaremostprominentincultivatedEuropeanopinioninartorliterature,likeSargent,HenryJames,orMarionCrawford,livehabituallyoutofAmerica,anddrawtheirinspirationfromEngland,France,andItaly。\"
I。
Ifthisweretrue,IconfessthatIamsoindifferenttowhatmanyAmericansgloryinthatitwouldnotdistressme,orwoundmeinthesortofself—lovewhichcallsitselfpatriotism。Ifitwouldatallhelptoputanendtothatstruggleformaterialprosperitywhichhaseventuatedwithusinsomanymillionairesandsomanytramps,Ishouldbegladtobelievethatitwasdrivingourliterarymenoutofthecountry。Thiswouldbeatremendousobject—lesson,andmightbeawarningtothemillionairesandthetramps。ButIamafraiditwouldnothavethiseffect,forneitherourveryrichnorourverypoorcareatallforthestateofpolitelearningamongus;thoughforthematterofthat,I
believethateconomicconditionshavelittletodowithit;andthatifageneralmediocrityoffortuneprevailedandtherewerenohastetoberichandtogetpoor,thestateofpolitelearningwouldnotbeconsiderablyaffected。Asmattersstand,IthinkwemayreasonablyaskwhethertheAmericans\"mostprominentincultivatedEuropeanopinion,\"
theAmericanswho\"livehabituallyoutofAmerica,\"arenotlessexilesthanadvanceagentsoftheexpansionnowadvertisingitselftotheworld。
Theymaybethevanguardofthegreatarmyofadventurersdestinedtooverruntheearthfromtheseshores,andexploitallforeigncountriestoouradvantage。Theyprobablythemselvesdonotknowit,butintheactof\"drawingtheirinspiration\"fromalienscenes,ortakingtheirownwheretheyfindit,arenottheysimplytransportingtoEurope\"thestruggleformaterialprosperity\"whichSirLepelsupposestobefataltothemhere?
Thereisaquestion,however,whichcomesbeforethis,andthatisthequestionwhethertheyhavequittedusinsuchnumbersasjustlytoalarmourpatriotism。Qualitatively,intheauthorsnamedandinthelateMr。
BretHarte,Mr。HarryHarland,andthelateMr。HaroldFrederic,aswellasinMarkTwain,oncetemporarilyresidentabroad,thedefectionisverygreat;butquantitativelyitisnotsuchastoleaveuswithoutafairmeasureofhome—keepingauthorship。OurdestitutionisnotnearlysogreatnowintheabsenceofMr。JamesandMr。Crawfordasitwasinthetimesbeforethe\"struggleformaterialprosperity\"whenWashingtonIrvingwentandlivedinEnglandandontheEuropeancontinentwell—nighhalfhislife。
SirLepelGriffin——orSirLepelGriffin’sreporter——seemstoforgetthefactofIrving’slongabsenteeismwhenheclasseshimwith\"theoldrace\"
ofeminentAmericanauthorswhostayedathome。Butreallynoneofthosehenamesweresoconstanttoourairasheseems——orhisreporterseems——
tothink。LongfellowsojournedthreeorfouryearsinGermany,Spain,andItaly;HolmesspentasgreattimeinParis;Bryantwasafrequenttraveller,andeachofthem\"drewhisinspiration\"nowandthenfromaliensources。LowellwasmanyyearsinItaly,Spain,andEngland;
Motleyspentmorethanhalfhislifeabroad;Hawthornewasawayfromusnearlyadecade。
II。
IfIseemtobeprovingtoomuchinoneway,IdonotfeelthatIamprovingtoomuchinanother。Myfactsgotoshowthattheliteraryspiritisthetrueworld—citizen,andisathomeeverywhere。IfanygoodAmericanweredistressedbytheabsenteeismofourauthors,IshouldfirstadvisehimthatAmericanliteraturewasnotderivedfromthefolk—
loreoftheredIndians,butwas,asIhavesaidoncebefore,aconditionofEnglishliterature,andwasindependentevenofourindependence。
ThenIshouldentreathimtoconsiderthecaseofforeignauthorswhohadfounditmorecomfortableormoreprofitabletoliveoutoftheirrespectivecountriesthaninthem。IshouldallegeforhisconsolationthecaseofByron,Shelley,andLeighHunt,andmorelatterlythatoftheBrowningsandWalterSavageLandor,whopreferredanItaliantoanEnglishsojourn;andyetmorerecentlythatofMr。RudyardKipling,whovoluntarilylivedseveralyearsinVermont,andhas\"drawnhisinspiration\"innotableinstancesfromthelifeoftheseStates。ItwillservehimalsotoconsiderthatthetwogreatestNorwegianauthors,BjornsenandIbsen,havebothlivedlonginFranceandItaly。HeinrichHeinelovedtoliveinParismuchbetterthaninDusseldorf,oreveninHamburg;andTourgueniefhimself,whosaidthatanyman’scountrycouldgetonwithouthim,butnomancouldgetonwithouthiscountry,managedtodispensewithhisownintheFrenchcapital,anddiedthereafterhewasquitefreetogobacktoSt。Petersburg。InthelastcenturyRousseaulivedinFranceratherthanSwitzerland;VoltaireatleasttriedtoliveinPrussia,andwasobligedtoalongexileelsewhere;GoldonileftfameandfriendsinVeniceforthefavorofprincesinParis。
Literaryabsenteeism,itseemstome,isnotpeculiarlyanAmericanviceoranAmericanvirtue。Itisanexpressionandaproofofthemodernsensewhichenlargesone’scountrytotheboundsofcivilization。
Icannotthinkitjustlyareproachintheeyesoftheworld,andifanyAmericanfeelsitagrievance,IsuggestthathedowhathecantohaveembodiedintheplatformofhispartyaplankaffirmingtherightofAmericanauthorstoapublicprovisionthatwillenablethemtoliveasagreeablyathomeastheycanabroadonthesamemoney。Inthemeantime,theirabsenteeismisnotaconsequenceof\"thestruggleformaterialprosperity,\"notahighdisdainofthestrifewhichgoesonnotlessinEuropethaninAmerica,andmust,ofcourse,gooneverywhereaslongascompetitiveconditionsendure,butistheresultofchancesandpreferenceswhichmeannothingnationallycalamitousordiscreditable。
THEHORSESHOW
\"Asgoodasthecircus——notsogoodasthecircus——betterthanthecircus。\"Theseweremyvaryingimpressions,asIsatlookingdownuponthetanbark,theotherday,attheHorseShowinMadisonSquareGarden;
andIcameawaywiththeirblendformyfinalopinion。
I。
ImightthinkthattheHorseShow(whichissolargelyaManShowandaWomanShow)wasbetterorworsethanthecircus,oraboutasgood;butI
couldnotgetawayfromthecircus,inmyimpressionofit。Perhapsthecircusisthenormofallsplendorswherethehorseandhismasterarejoinedforaneffectupontheimaginationofthespectator。IamsurethatIhaveneverbeenablequitetodissociatefromitthepicturesquenessofchivalry,andthatitwillhereafteralwayssuggesttomethelastcorrectnessoffashion。Itisthroughthehorsethatthesefarextremesmeet;inalltimesthehorsehasbeenthesupremeexpressionofaristocracy;anditmayverywellbethatadreamoftheelderworldprophesiedtheultimatetypeofthefuture,whentheSwellshallhaveevolvedintotheCentaur。
Somesuchteasingnotionoftheirmysticalaffinityiswhathauntsyouasyoumakeyourroundofthevastellipse,withthewell—groomedmenaboutyouandthewell—groomedhorsesbeyondthebarrier。
Inthisfirstaffairofthenew——comer,thehorsesarenotsomuchonshowastheswells;yougetonlyglimpsesofshiningcoatsandtossingmanes,withaglinthereandthereofaflyinghoofthroughthelinesofpeoplecomingandgoing,andtheranksofpeople,threeorfourfeetdeep,againsttherailsoftheellipse;buttheswellsarethereinperfectrelief,anditistheywhofinallyembodytheHorseShowtoyou。
Thefactisthattheyaretheretosee,ofcourse,buttheeffectisthattheyaretheretobeseen。
Thewholespectaclehadanhistoricalquality,whichItastedwithpleasure。Itwasthethingthathadeventuatedineverycivilization,andtheAmericanmightfeelacharacteristicpridethatwhatcametoRomeinfivehundredyearshadcometoAmericainasinglecentury。Therewassomethingfineintheabsolutelyfatalnatureoftheresult,andI
perceivedthatnowhereelseinourlife,whichisapttobereclusiveinitsexclusiveness,istheprimemotiveatworkinitsodramaticallyapparent。\"Yes,\"Ifoundmyselfthinking,\"thisiswhatitallcomesto:
the’subitiguadagni’ofthenewrich,madeinlargemassesandseekingaswiftandeagerexploitation,andtheslowlyaccumulatedfortunes,puttogetherfromsparingandscrimping,fromslavingandenslaving,informertimes,andnowinthestainlesswhitehandsofthesecondorthirdgeneration,theybothmeetheretothepurposeofacommonostentation,andcreateaHorseShow。\"
Icannotsaythatitscreatorslookedmuchasiftheylikedit,nowtheyhadgotit;and,sofarasIhavebeenabletoobservethem,peopleofwealthandfashionalwaysdissembletheirjoy,andhavetheairofbeingboredinthemidstoftheiramusements。Thisreserveofrapturemaybetheirdelicacy,theirunwillingnesstoawakenenvyinthelessprospered;
andIshouldnothaveobjectedtotheswellsattheHorseShowlookingdrearyiftheyhadlookedmorelikeswells;exceptforacertainhardnessofthecountenance(whichIfoundmyownsympatheticallytakingon)I
shouldnothavethoughtthemverypatrician,andthishardnessmayhavebeenmerelytheconsequenceofbeingsomuchstaredat。Perhaps,indeed,theywerenotswellswhomIsawintheboxes,butonlycompaniesofordinarypeoplewhohadclubbedtogetherandhiredtheirboxes;
Iunderstandthatthiscanbedone,andthestudentofcivilizationsofarmisled。Butcertainlyiftheywereswellstheydidnotlookquiteuptothemselves;though,forthatmatter,neitherdothenobilitiesofforeigncountries,andononeortwooccasionswhenIhaveseenthem,kingsandemperorshavefailedmeinlikemanner。TheyhaveallwantedthatindescribablesomethingwhichIhavefoundsosatisfyinginaristocraciesandroyaltiesonthestage;andhereattheHorseShow,whileImademytour,Iconstantlymethandsome,actor—likefolkonfootwhocouldmuchbetterhavetakentheroleofthepeopleintheboxes。
Thepromenadersmaynothavebeenactorsatall;theymayhavebeentherealthingforwhichIwasinvainscanningtheboxes,buttheylookedlikeactors,whoindeedsetanexampletousallinpersonalbeautyandincorrectnessofdress。
Imeannothingoffensiveeithertoswellsortoactors。Wehavenotdistinction,asapeople;MatthewArnoldnotedthat;anditisnotourbusinesstohaveit:Whenitisourbusinessourswellswillhaveit,justasouractorsnowhaveit,especiallyouractorsofEnglishbirth。
Ihadnotthisreflectionaboutmeatthetimetoconsolemeformydisappointment,anditonlynowoccurstomethatwhatItookforanabsenceofdistinctionmayhavebeensuchauniversalprevalenceofitthattheresultwasnecessarilyaspeciesofindistinction。ButinthecomplexionofanysocialassemblyweAmericansareatadisadvantagewithEuropeansfromthewantofuniforms。Afewmilitaryscatteredaboutinthoseboxes,orevenafewsportingbishopsinshovel—hatsandaprons,wouldhavedonemuchtorelievethemfromthereproachIhavebeenheapinguponthem。Ourwomen,indeed,poorthings,alwaysdotheirdutyinpersonalsplendor,anditisnotofapovertyintheirmodesattheHorseShowthatIamcomplaining。Ifthemenhadbornetheirpartaswell,therewouldnothavebeenthesetears:andyet,whatamIsaying?
Therewashereandthereaclean—shavenface(whichIwillnotbelievewasalwaysanactor’s),andhereandthereafiguresuperblysetup,andsofaultlesslyappointedastoshoes,trousers,coat,tie,hat,andglovesastohaveasaliencefromthemassofgoodlooksandgoodclotheswhichIwillnotatlastcalllessthandistinction。
II。
Atanyrate,ImissedthesemarkedpresenceswhenIleftthelinesofthepromenadersaroundtheellipse,andclimbedtoaseatsometiersabovetheboxes。Iamratheranxioustohaveitknownthatmyseatwasnotoneofthosecheaponesintheuppergallery,butwaswiththevirtuouspoorwhocouldaffordtopayadollarandahalffortheirtickets。Iboughtitofaspeculatoronthesidewalk,whosaiditwashislast,sothatI
conceiveditthelastinthehouse;butIfoundthechairsbynomeansallfilled,thoughitwasasgoodanaudienceasIhavesometimesseeninthesameplaceatothercircuses。ThepeopleaboutmeweresuchasIhadnotedattheothercircuses,hotel—sojourners,kindly—lookingcomersfromprovincialtownsandcities,whomIinstantlyfeltmyselfathomewith,andfreetoputoffthatgloomyseverityofaspectwhichhadgrownuponmeduringmyassociationwiththeswellsbelow。Myneighborsweresufficientlywelldressed,andiftheyhadnomoredistinctionthantheirbetters,ortheirrichers,theyhadnottheburdenoftheoccasionuponthem,andseemedreallygladofwhatwasgoingoninthering。
ThereagainIwassensibleofthevastadvantageofcostume。Thebuglerwhostoodupatoneendofthecentralplatformandblewafinefanfare(Ihopeitwasafanfare)towardsthegateswherethehorsesweretoenterfromtheirstallsinthebasementwasahussar—likeshapethatfilledmyromanticsoulwithjoy;andtheotherfiguresofthemanagementIthoughtveryfortunatecompromisesbetweengroomsandringmasters。Atanyrate,theirnondescriptcostumesweregay,andarelieffromthefashionsintheboxesandthepromenade;theywerecostumes,andcostumesarealwaysmoresincere,ifnotmoreeffective,thanfashions。AsIhavehinted,Idonotknowjustwhatcostumestheywere,buttheytookthelightwellfromthegirandolefaraloofandfromthethousandsoflittleelectricbulbsthatbeadedtheroofinlonglines,anddispersedthesullennessofthedull,rainyafternoon。Whentheknightsenteredthelistsontheseatsoftheirdog—carts,withtheirsquiresbesidethem,andtheirshiningtandemsbeforethem,theytookthelightwell,too,andthespectaclewassobrilliantthatItrustmyimagerymaybeforgivenanovelistpiningforthepageantriesofthepast。Idonotknowtothismomentwhethertheseknightswerebonafidegentlemen,oronlytheirdeputies,drivingtheirtandemsforthem,andIamequallyatalosstoaccountforthevariety,oftheirhats。Someworetall,shiningsilkhats;someflat—topped,brownderbys;somesimpleblackpot—hats;——andisthere,then,norigorastothehead—gearofpeopledrivingtandems?
Ifeltthatthereoughttobe,andthatthereoughttobesomeruleastowherethenumberofeachtandemshouldbedisplayed。Asitwas,thiswassometimescarelesslystuckintotheseatofthecart;sometimesitwaswornatthebackofthegroom’swaist,andsometimesfulluponhisstomach。Inthelastpositionitgaveatouchofburlesquewhichwoundedme;forthesearevitalmatters,andIfoundmyselfveryexactinginthem。
WiththehorsesthemselvesIcouldfindnofaultuponthegroundsofmycensureoftheshowinsomeotherways。Theyhaddistinction;theywerepatrician;theywereswell。Theyfeltit,theyshowedit,theyrejoicedinit;andthemostreluctantobservercouldnotdenythemthegloryofblood,ofbirth,whichthethoroughbredhorsehasexpressedinalllandsandages。Theirlordlyportwasathingthatnoonecoulddispute,andforanaristocracyIsupposethattheyhadahighaverageofintelligence,thoughtheremightbetwomindsaboutthis。Theymademethinkofmettledyouthsandhaughtydames;theyabashedthehumblespiritofthebeholderwiththeprideoftheirhigh—stepping,theircurvettingandcaracoling,astheyjingledintheirshiningharnessaroundthelongring。Theirnobleuselessnesstookthefancy,forIsupposethatthereisnothingsosuperblysuperfluousasatandem,outsideorinsideofthebestsociety。Itissomethingwhichonlytheambitionofwealthandunbrokenleisurecanmountto;andIwasgladthatthedisplayoftandemswasthefirsteventoftheHorseShowwhichIwitnessed,foritseemedtomethatitmustbeyondallotherstypifythepowerwhichcreatedtheHorseShow。Iwishedthatthehumansideofitcouldhavebeenmoreunquestionablyadequate,buttheequinesideoftheeventwasperfect。
Still,Ifeltacertainrelief,asinsomethinginnocentandsimpleandchildlike,inthenextevent。
III。
Thiswastheinundationofthetan—barkwithtroopsofprettyShetlandponiesofallages,sizes,andcolors。Acryofdelightwentupfromagroupoflittlepeoplenearme,andthespelloftheHorseShowwasbroken。Itwasnolongerasolemnityoffashion,itwasasweetandkindlypleasurewhicheveryonecouldshare,oreveryonewhohadeverhad,oreverwishedtohave,aShetlandpony;thetouchofnaturemadethewholeshowkin。Icouldnotseethatthefreakish,kittenishcreaturesdidanythingtoclaimouradmiration,buttheywonouraffectionbyeverytraitofponyishcapriceandobstinacy。Thesmallcoltsbrokeawayfromthesmallmares,andgambolledoverthetanbarkinwantongroups,withgayorplaintivewhinnyings,whichmightwellhavetouchedaresponsivechordinthebosomoffashionitself:Idaresayitisnotsohardasitlooks。Thesceneremandedustoamomentofchildhood;andIfoundmyselfsofondofalltheponiesthatIfeltitinvidiousofthejudgestochooseamongthemfortheprizes;theyoughteveryonetohavehadtheprize。
IsupposeaShetlandponyisnotaveryusefulanimalinourconditions;
nodoubtagood,tough,stubbeddonkeywouldbeworthalltheirtribewhenitcamedowntohardwork;butwecannotallbehard—workingdonkeys,andsomeofusmaybetoysandplaythingswithouttoogreatreproach。Igazedafterthebroken,refluentwaveoftheseamiablecreatures,withthevaguetolerationhereformulated,butIwasnotquiteatpeaceinit,orfullyconsoledinmyhabitualethicismtillthenexteventbroughtthehunterswiththeirhigh—jumpingintothering。ThesenobleanimalsuniteuseandbeautyinsuchmeasurethatthecensormustbeofCatonianseveritywhocanrefusethemhispraise。WhenIreflectedthatbythemandtheirdevotedridersourcivilizationhadbeenassimilatedtothatofthemother—countryinitsfinestexpression,andanothertieaddedtothosethatbindustoherthroughthelanguageofShakespeareandMilton;thattheyhadtamedthehaughtyspiritoftheAmericanfarmerinseveralpartsofthecountrysothathesubmittedforaconsiderationtohavehiscropsriddenover,andthattheyhadallbutexterminatedtheferociousanise—seedbag,oncesocommonanddestructiveamongus,Iwasinafitmoodtowelcomethebarsandhurdleswhichwerenowsetupatfourorfiveplacesforthepurposesofthehigh—jumping。
Astothebeautyofthehunting—horse,though,IthinkImusthedgealittle,whileIstandfirmlytomyadmirationofhisuse。Tobehonest,thetandemhorseismoretomytaste。Heisbettershaped,andhebearshimselfmoreproudly。Thehunterisapttobehave,whateverhisreserveofintelligence,likeanexcitedhen;heisapttobeewe—neckedandbredawaytonothingwheretheidealhorseabounds;hehasthebehaviorofaturkey—henwhennotbehavinglikethecommonorgardenhen。Buttherecanbenoquestionofhisjumping,whichseemstobehischiefbusinessinaworldwhereweareallappointedourseveralduties,andIatoncebegantotakeavividpleasureinhisproficiency。Ihavealwaysfeltablindandinsensatejoyinrunningraces,whichhasnorelationtoanyparticularhorse,andInowexperiencedanimpartialraptureintheperformancesofthesehunters。Theylookedverymuchalike,andifithadnotbeenforthechangingnumbersonthesign—boardinthecentreoftheringannouncingthat650,675,or602wasnowjumping,Imighthavethoughtitwas650allthetime。
Ahighjumpisnotsofineasightasarunningracewhenthehorseshavegothalfamileawayandlooklikeacoveyofswiftbirds,butitisstillafinesight。Ibecameveryfastidiousastowhichmomentofitwasthefinest,whetherwhenthehorseroseinprofile,orwhenhisaerialhooftouchedtheground(withtheeffectofhalfjerkinghisrider’sheadhalfoff),orwhenheshowedaflyingheelinperspective;
andIdonotknowtothishourwhichIprefer。ButIsupposeIwasbecominggraduallyspoiledbymypleasure,forastimewentonInoticedthatIwasnotsatisfiedwiththemonotonousexcellenceofthehorses’
execution。WillitbecreditedthatIbecamewillingsomethingshouldhappen,anything,tovaryit?Iaskedmyselfwhy,ifsomeofthemoreexcitingincidentsofthehunting—fieldwhichIhadreadofmustbefall;
Ishouldnotseethem。Severalofthehorseshadbalkedatthebarriers,andalmostthrowntheirridersacrossthemovertheirnecks,butnotquitedoneit;severalhadcarriedawaythegreen—tuftedtoprailwiththeirheels;whensuddenlytherecamealoudclatterfromthefarthersideoftheellipse,whereawholepaneloffencehadgonedown。I
lookedeagerlyfortheprostratehorseandriderunderthebars,buttheywerecanteringsafelyaway。
IV。
Itwasenough,however。IperceivedthatIwasbecomingdemoralized,andthatifIweretowriteoftheHorseShowwithatallthesuperiorityonelikestofeeltowardstherichandgreat,Ihadbettercomeaway。ButI
cameawaycritical,eveninmydownfall,andfeelingthat,circusforcircus,theGreatestShowonEarthwhichIhadoftenseeninthatplacehadcertaindistinctadvantagesoftheHorseShow。Ithadthreeringsandtwoplatforms;and,foranotherthing,thedriversandridersintheraces,whentheywon,borethebannerofvictoryaloftintheirhands,insteadofpoorlylettingablueorredribbonflickerattheirhorses’
ears。Theeventsweremorefrequentandrapid;thecostumesinfinitelymorevariedandpicturesque。Asforthepeopleintheboxes,IdonotknowthattheywerelessdistinguishedthantheseattheHorseShow,butiftheywerenotofthesamehighlevelinwhichdistinctionwasimpossible,theydidnotshowitintheirlooks。
TheHorseShow,infine,struckmeasacircusofnotallthefirstqualities;andIhadmomentsofsuspectingthatitwasnomorethantheevolutionofthecountycattleshow。ButinanycaseIhadtoownthatitsgreatsuccesswasquitelegitimate;forthehorse,uponthewhole,appealstoawiderrangeofhumanity,verticallyaswellashorizontally,thananyotherinterest,notexceptingpoliticsorreligion。Icannot,indeed,regardhimasacivilizinginfluence;butthenwecannotbealwayscivilizing。
THEPROBLEMOFTHESUMMER
Ithassometimesseemedtomethatthesolutionoftheproblemhowandwheretospendthesummerwassimplestwiththosewhowereobligedtospenditastheyspentthewinter,andincreasinglydifficultintheproportionofone’sabilitytospenditwhereverandhoweveronechose。
Fewareabsolutelyreleasedtothischoice,however,andthosefewaregreatlytobepitied。Iknowthattheyareoftenenviedandhatedforitbythosewhohavenosuchchoice,butthatisapatheticmistake。Ifwecouldlookintotheirhearts,indeed,weshouldwitnesstheresomuchmiserythatweshouldwishrathertoweepoverthemthantoreproachthemwiththeirbetterfortune,orwhatappearedso。
I。
Formostpeoplechoiceisacurse,anditisthiscursethatthesummerbringsupongreatnumberswhowouldnotperhapsotherwisebeafflicted。
Theyarenotinthehappycaseofthosewhomuststayathome;theirhardnecessityisthattheycangoaway,andtrytobemoreagreeablyplacedsomewhereelse;butalthoughIsaytheyareingreatnumbers,theyareaninfinitesimalminorityofthewholebulkofourpopulation。Theirbaneisnot,initshighestform,thatoftheaverageAmericanwhohasnochoiceofthekind;andwhenonebeginstospeakofthesummerproblem,onemustbeginatoncetodistinguish。ItistheproblemoftheEastratherthanoftheWest(wherepeoplearemuchmoreinthehabitofstayingathometheyearround),anditistheproblemofthecityandnotofthecountry。IamnotsurethatthereisonepracticalfarmerinthewholeUnitedStateswhoisobligedtowitnessinhishouseholdthosesaddissensionswhichalmostseparatethefamiliesofprofessionalmenastowhereandhowtheyshallpassthesummer。Peopleofthisclass,whichisaclasswithsomemeasureofmoney,ease,andtaste,arecommonlyofvaryinganddecidedminds,andIonceknewafamilyofthesortwhosecombinedidealfortheirsummeroutingwassummedupinthesimpledesireforsocietyandsolitude,mountain—airandsea—bathing。TheyspentthewholemonthsofApril,May,andJuneinafutileinquiryforaresortunitingtheseattractions,andonthefirstofJulytheydrovetothestationwithnodefinitepointinview。Buttheyfoundthattheycouldgetreturnticketsforacertainplaceonaninlandlakeatalowfigure,andtheytookthefirsttrainforit。Theretheydecidednextmorningtopushontothemountains,andsenttheirbaggagetothestation,butbeforeitwascheckedtheychangedtheirminds,andremainedtwoweekswheretheywere。Thentheytooktrainforaplaceonthecoast,butinthecarsafriendtoldthemtheyoughttogotoanotherplace;theydecidedtogothere,butbeforearrivingatthejunctiontheydecidedagaintokeepon。Theyarrivedattheiroriginaldestination,andthefollowingdaytelegraphedforroomsatahotelfartherdownthecoast。
Theanswercamethattherewerenorooms,andbeingbythistimereadytostart,theystarted,andinduetimereportedthemselvesatthehotel。
Thelandlordsawthatsomethingmustbedone,andhegotthemrooms,atasmallerhouse,and’mealed’them(asitusedtobecalledatMt。Desert)
inhisown。Butuponexperimentofthefareatthesmallerhousetheylikeditsowellthattheyresolvedtolivetherealtogether,andtheyspentasummerofthegreatestcomfortthere,sothattheywouldhardlycomeawaywhenthehouseclosedinthefall。
Thiswasanextremecase,andperhapssuchaventuremightnotalwaysturnoutsohappily;butIthinkthatpeoplemightoftenertrustthemselvestoProvidenceinthesemattersthantheydo。Thereisreallyaninfinitevarietyofpleasantresortsofallkindsnow,andonecouldquitesafelyleaveittothemanintheticket—officewhereoneshouldgo,andcheckone’sbaggageaccordingly。Ithinkthechancesofanagreeablesummerwouldbeasgoodinthatwayasinmakingahard—and—
fastchoiceofacertainplaceandstickingtoit。Myownexperienceisthatinthesethingschancemakesaverygoodchoiceforone,asitdoesinmostnon—moralthings。
II。
Ajokedieshard,andIamnotsurethatthelifeisyetquiteoutofthekindlyridiculethatwascastforawholegenerationuponthepeoplewholefttheircomfortablehousesintowntostarveuponfarm—boardorstifleinthenarrowroomsofmountainandseasidehotels。Yetsuchpeoplewereintheright,andtheirmockerswereinthewrong,andtheirpatientpersistenceingoingoutoftownforthesummerinthefaceofseverediscouragementshasmultipliedindefinitelythekindsofsummerresorts,andreformedthemaltogether。Ibelievethecityboarding—houseremainsverymuchwhatitusedtobe;butIamboundtosaythatthecountryboarding—househasvastlyimprovedsinceIbegantoknowit。Asforthesummerhotel,bysteeporbystrand,itleaveslittletobecomplainedofexcepttheprices。Itakeitforgranted,therefore,thattheout—of—
townsummerhascometostay,forallwhocanaffordit,andthatthechiefsorrowattendingitisthatcurseofchoice,whichIhavealreadyspokenof。
Ihaveratherfavoredchancethanchoice,because,whateverchoiceyoumake,youareprettysuretoregretit,withabittersenseofresponsibilityadded,whichyoucannotfeelifchancehaschosenforyou。
Iobservethatpeoplewhoownsummercottagesareoftenapttowishtheydidnot,andwerefoot—loosetoroamwheretheylisted,andIhavebeentoldthatevenayachtisnotasourceofunmixedcontent,thoughsoeminentlydetachable。TogreatnumbersEuropelooksfromthisshorelikeasaferefugefromtheAmericansummerproblem;andyetIamnotsurethatitisaltogetherso;foritisnotenoughmerelytogotoEurope;
onehastochoosewheretogowhenonehasgotthere。AEuropeancityiscertainlyalwaysmoretolerablethananAmericancity,butonecannotverywellpassthesummerinParis,oreveninLondon。Theheartthere,ashere,willyearnforsomeblessedseatWherefallsnothail,orrain,oranysnow,Noreverwindblowsloudly;butitliesDeep—meadow’d,happy,fairwithorchardlawnsAndboweryhollowscrown’dwithsummersea,\"
andstill,afteryourkeeltouchesthestrandofthatalluringoldworld,youmustbuyyourticketandregisteryourtrunkforsomewhereinparticular。
III。
Itistrulyaterriblestress,thissummerproblem,and,asIsay,myheartachesmuchmoreforthosewhohavetosolveitandsuffertheconsequencesoftheirchoicethanforthosewhohavenochoice,butmuststaythesummerthroughwheretheirworkis,andbehumblygladthattheyhaveanyworktokeepthemthere。Iamnotmeaningnow,ofcourse,businessmenobligedtoremaininthecitytoearnthebread——or,morecorrectly,thecake——oftheirfamiliesinthecountry,oreventheirclerksandbookkeepers,andportersandmessengers,butsuchpeopleasI
sometimescatchsightoffromtheelevatedtrains(inmyreluctantmidsummerflightsthroughthecity),swelteringinupperroomsoversewing—machinesorlap—boards,orstewinginthebreathlesstenementstreets,ordrivingclangoroustrucks,ormonotonouscars,orbendingoverwash—tubsatopenwindowsforbreathsoftheno—airwithout。
Theseallgetonsomehow,andattheendofthesummertheyhavenottoaccusethemselvesoffollyingoingtooneplaceratherthananother。
Theirfateisdecidedforthem,andtheysubmittoit;whereasthosewhodecidetheirfatearealwaysrebellingagainstit。TheyitiswhomIamtrulysorryfor,andwhomIwriteofwithtearsinmyink。Theircaseishard,anditwillseemalltheharderifweconsiderhowfoolishtheywilllookandhowflattheywillfeelatthejudgment—day,whentheyareaskedabouttheirsummeroutings。Idonotreallysupposeweshallbeheldtoaverystrictaccountforourpleasuresbecauseeverybodyelsehasnotenjoyedthem,too;thatwouldbeapityofourlives;andyetthereisanold—fashionedcompunctionwhichwillsometimesvisittheheartifwetakeourpleasuresungraciously,whensomanyhavenopleasurestotake。Iwouldsuggest,then,tothoseonwhomthecurseofchoicebetweenpleasuresrests,thattheyshouldkeepinmindthosewhohavechieflypainstotheirportioninlife。
Iamnot,Ihope,urgingmyreaderstoanyactivebenevolence,orcounsellingthemtosharetheirpleasureswithothers;ithasbeenaccuratelyascertainedthattherearenotpleasuresenoughtogoround,asthingsnoware;butIwouldseriouslyentreatthemtoconsiderwhethertheycouldnotsomewhatalleviatethehardshipsoftheirownlotatthesea—sideoramongthemountains,bycontrastingitwiththelotofothersinthesweat—shopsandtheboiler—factoriesoflife。Iknowverywellthatitisnolongerconsideredverygoodsenseorverygoodmoralitytotakecomfortinone’sadvantagesfromthedisadvantagesofothers,andthisisnotquitewhatImeantoteach。PerhapsImeannothingmorethananoverhaulingofthewholesubjectofadvantagesanddisadvantages,whichwouldbealightandagreeableoccupationfortheleisureofthesummerouter。Itmightbeveryinteresting,andpossiblyitmightbeamusing,foronestretcheduponthebeachorswayinginthehammocktoinquireintothereasonsforhisorherbeingsofavored,anditisnotbeyondtheboundsofexpectationthataconsensusofsummeropiniononthissubjectwouldgofartoenlightentheworlduponaquestionthathasvexedtheworldeversincemankindwasdividedintothosewhoworktoomuchandthosewhoresttoomuch。
AESTHETICNEWYORKFIFTY—ODDYEARSAGO
AstudyofNewYorkcivilizationin1849haslatelycomeintomyhands,withamortifyingeffect,whichIshouldliketosharewiththereader,tomyprideofmodernity。Ihadsomehowbelievedthatafterhalfacenturyofmaterialprosperity,suchastheworldhasneverseenbefore,NewYorkin1902mustbeverydifferentfromNewYorkin1849,butifI
amtotrusteithertheimpressionsoftheearlierstudentormyown,NewYorkisessentiallythesamenowthatitwasthen。Thespiritoftheplacehasnotchanged;itisasitwas,splendidlyandsordidlycommercial。Eventhebodyofithasundergonelittleornoalteration;
itwasasshapeless,asincongruous;asuglywhentheauthorof’NewYorkinSlices’wroteasitisatthiswriting;ithassimplygrown,orovergrown,onthemoralandmateriallineswhichseemtohavebeenstructuralinitfromthebeginning。Hefeltinhistimethesamevulgarity,thesameviolence,initsarchitecturalanarchythatIhavefeltinmytime,andhenotedhowalldignityandbeautyperished,amidthewarringforms,withaprescienceofmyownaffliction,whichdeprivesmeofthesatisfactionofadiscovererandleavesmemerelythesenseofbeingratherold—fashionedinmypainfulemotions。
I。
IwishIcouldpretendthatmyauthorphilosophizedthefactsofhisNewYorkwithsomethinglessthantherawhasteoftheyoungjournalist;butIamafraidImustownthat’NewYorkinSlices’affectsoneashavingfirstbeenprintedinaneveningpaper,andthatthewriterbringstothestudyofthemetropolissomethingliketheeagerhorrorofacountryvisitor。Thisprobablyenabledhimtoheightentheeffecthewishedtomakewithreadersofakindredtradition,andformeitaddsacertaininnocentcharmtohiswork。ImaymakemyselfbetterunderstoodifIsaythathisattitudetowardsthedepravitiesofasmallerNewYorkismuchthesameasthatofMr。SteadtowardsthewickednessofamuchlargerChicago。Heseizeswithsomesuchavidityuponthedarkerfactsoftheprisons,theslums,thegambling—houses,themockauctions,thetoughs(whothencalledthemselvesb’hoysandg’hals),thequacks,thetheatres,andeventheintelligenceoffices,andexploitstheiriniquitieswithareadyvirtuewhichthewickedestreadercanenjoywithhim。
Butifhetreatedofthesethingsalone,Ishouldnotperhapshavebroughthiscuriouslittlebooktothepolitenoticeofmyreaders。
Hetreatsalsoofthepress,thedrama,theart,and,aboveall,\"theliterarysoirees\"ofthatremoteNewYorkofhisinamannertomakeuslatestNew—Yorkersfeelourcloseproximitytoit。Fifty—oddyearsagojournalismhadalreadybecome\"theabsorbing,remorseless,clamorousthing\"wenowknow,andverydifferentfromthethingitwaswhen\"expresseswereunheardof,andtelegraphswereuncrystallizedfromthelightning’sblueandfieryfilm。\"Reporterismwasbeginningtoassumeitspresentimportance,butithadnotyetbecometheparamountintellectualinterest,anddidnotyet\"standshouldertoshoulder\"withthecounting—roominauthority。Greateditors,thenasnow,rankedgreatauthorsinthepublicesteem,orachievedadoubleprimacybyunitingjournalismandliteratureinthesamepersonality。Theywereoftentheownersaswellasthewritersoftheirrespectivepapers,andtheyindulgedfortheadvantageofthecommunitytherancorousrivalries,recriminations,andscurrilitieswhichoftenformthecharm,ifnotthechiefuse,ofourcontemporaneousjournals。Apparently,however,notariallyauthenticatedboastsofcirculationhadnotyetbeenmadethedelightoftheirreaders,andthepresshadnotbecomethedetectiveagencythatitnowis,northeorganizeranddistributerofcharities。
Butasdarkacloudofdoubtresteduponitsrelationstothetheatreasstilleclipsesthepopularfaithindramaticcriticism。\"Howcanyouexpect,\"ourauthorasks,\"afrankandunbiassedcriticismupontheperformanceofGeorgeFrederickCookeSnooks……whentheeditororreporterwhoistowriteithasjustbeensuppingonbeefsteakandstewedpotatoesatWindust’s,andregalinghimselfonbrandy—and—watercold,without,attheexpenseoftheaforesaidGeorgeFrederickCookeSnooks?\"
Theseverestcensorofthepress,however,wouldhardlydeclarenowthat\"astosuchathingasimpartialandindependentcriticismupontheatresinthepresentstateoftherelationsbetweeneditors,reporters,managers,actors——andactresses——thethingispalpablyoutofthequestion,\"andifmatterswerereallyatthepasshinted,thepresshascertainlyimprovedinfiftyyears,ifonemayjudgefromitspresentfrankcondemnationsofplaysandplayers。Thetheatreapparentlyhasnot,forwereadthatatthatperiod\"averygreatmajorityofthestandardplaysandfarcesonthestagedependmostlyfortheirpiquancyandtheirpowerofinterestinganaudienceuponintrigueswithmarriedwomen,elopements,seductions,bribery,cheating,andfraudofeverydescription……Stagecostume,too,whereverthereishalfachance,isusuallymadeaslasciviousandimmodestaspossible;andafreedomandimproprietyprevailsamongthecharactersofthepiecewhichwouldbekickedoutofprivatesocietytheinstantitwouldhavetheaudacitytomakeitsappearancethere。\"
II。
IhopeprivatesocietyinNewYorkwouldstillbefoundascorrectifnotquitesoviolent;andIwishIcouldbelievethatthefineartswerepresentlyinasflourishingaconditionamongusastheywerein1849。
ThatwastheprosperousdayoftheArtUnions,inwhichtheartistsclubbedtheiroutput,andthesubscriberspartedtheworksamongthemselvesbysomethingsoverylikerafflingthattheArtUnionswerefinallysuppressedunderthelawagainstlotteries。Whiletheylasted,however,theyhadexhibitionsthrongedbyourwealth,fashion,andintellect(tonamethemintheordertheyholdtheNewYorkmind),asourprivateviewsnoware,oroughttobe;andtheauthor\"devotesanentirenumber\"ofhisseries\"toasingleinstitution\"——fearlessofbeingaccusedofpartialitybyanywhorightlyappreciatetheinfluencesofthefineartsuponthemoralsandrefinementofmankind。\"
Hedevotesevenmorethananentirenumbertoliterature;for,besidestreatingofvariousliterarycelebritiesatthe\"literarysoirees,\"heimaginesencounteringseveralofthematthehigh—classrestaurants。
AtDelmonico’s,whereifyouhad\"Frenchandmoney\"youcouldgetinthatday\"adinnerwhich,asaworkofart,rankswithapicturebyHuntington,apoembyWillis,orastatuebyPowers,\"hemeetssuchamusicalcriticasRichardGrantWhite,suchanintellectualepicureanasN。P。Willis,suchalyricpoetasCharlesFennoHoffman。ButitwouldbeawarmdayforDelmonico’swhentheobserverinthisepochcouldchanceuponsomuchgeniusatitstables,perhapsbecausegeniusamongushasnolongertheFrenchorthemoney。Indeed,theauthorof’NewYorkinSlices’seemsfinallytothinkthathehasgonetoofar,evenforhisownperiod,andbringshimselfupwiththequalifyingreservationthatifWillisandHoffmanneverdiddinetogetheratDelmonico’s,theyoughttohavedoneso。Hehasapparentlynomisgivingsastothefamousmusicalcritic,andhehasnoscrupleinassemblingforusathis\"literarysoiree\"adozendistinguished—lookingmenand\"twiceasmanywomen……
listeningtoatall,deaconlyman,whostandsbetweentwocandlesheldbyacoupleofstickssummonedfromtherecessesofthebackparlor,readingabasketfulofgilt—edgednotes。Itis……theannualValentineParty,towhichallthemaleandfemaleauthorshavecontributedforthepurposeofsayingonpapercharmingthingsofeachother,andatwhich,forafewhours,allaregratifiedwiththefullmeedofthatpraisewhichacoldworldischaryofbestowinguponitsliterarycobweb—
spinners。\"
Itmustbeownedthatwehavenolongeranythingsolikea’salon’asthis。Itis,indeed,ratherterrible,anditisofaqualityinitscelebritieswhichmaywellcarrydismaytoanyamonguspresentlyintendingimmortality。Shallwe,oneday,wewhoarenowintherichandfullenjoymentofourfar—reachingfame,affecttheimaginationofposterityasthesephantomsofthepastaffectours?Shallwe,too,appearinsomepalelimboofunimportanceasthinandfadedas\"JohnInman,thegetter—upofinnumerablethingsfortheannualsandmagazines,\"orasDr。RufusGriswold,supposedforpicturesquepurposestobe\"stalkingaboutwithanimmensequartovolumeunderhisarm……
anearlycopyofhisforthcoming’FemalePoetsofAmerica’\";orasLewisGaylordClark,the\"sunnyfaced,smiling\"editoroftheKnickerbockerMagazine,\"whodon’tlookasiftheInk—Fiendhadeverheardofhim,\"
ashestandsuptodanceapolkawith\"ademureladywhohasevidentlyspilledtheinkstandoverherdress\";oras\"thestatelyMrs。SebaSmith,bendingaristocraticallyoverthecentre—table,andtalkinginabright,cold,steadystream,likeanantiquefountainbymoonlight\";oras\"thespiritualanddaintyFannyOsgood,clappingherhandsandcrowinglikeababy,\"whereshesits\"nestledunderashawlofheraldicdevices,likeabirdescapedfromitscage\";orasMargaretFuller,\"herlarge,grayeyesTampinginspiration,andherthin,quiveringlipprophesyinglikeaPythoness\"?
Ihopenot;Iearnestlyhopenot。WhateverIsaidattheoutset,affirmingthepersistentequalityofNewYorkcharacteristicsandcircumstances,Iwishtotakebackatthispoint;andIwishtowarnmalignforeignobservers,ofthesortwhohavesooftenrefusedtoseeusasweseeourselves,thattheymustnotexpecttofindusnowgroupedinthetasteof1849。Possiblyitwasnotsomuchthetasteof1849astheauthorof’NewYorkinSlices’wouldhaveusbelieve;andperhapsanyonewhotrustedhispicturesoflifeamongusotherwisewouldbedeceivedbyaparityofthespiritinwhichtheyareportrayedwiththatofourmodern\"societyjournalism。\"