"Yes, you are right, Harry; I have often wished that our people would remember what they seem to forget, that Time has a prerogative beyond their reach. There is a wide difference between a blind reverence for Time, and an infatuated denial of his power; and I take it to be one of the duties of your generation to find out the dividing line in this and other points, and shape your practice accordingly."
"Yes, sir; it appears to me high time that the civilized world set about marking more distinctly a great many boundary lines, on important moral questions; and it is to be presumed, that with so much experience at our command, we shall at last do something towards it. It is to be hoped that mankind will at length learn not always to rush out of one extreme into the other; and when they feel the evil of one measure, not to fly for relief to its very opposite, but set about looking for the true remedy, which is generally not so far off."
"You don"t believe in moral h.o.m.oeopathy?" said Mrs. Stanley.
"Not in the least."
"Well, we are very much obliged to you for getting tired of Rio,"
said Mrs. Creighton; "and thinking that the gay world of Philadelphia was quite as agreeable as the Imperial Court."
"I take it for granted, however, that it was not exactly the gay world that you regretted," said Ellsworth.
"Not exactly, no; general society is not sufficiently perfect in its way among us, for a man to pine after."
"I have often thought," observed Elinor, "that the spirit of mere dissipation must be less excusable in this country than in Europe. Society must have so many attractions there--more general finish--more high accomplishment."
"Yes; we want more of the real thing; we have smatterers enough as it is," replied Mr. Ellsworth.
"And then the decorations are so well got up in Europe!"
exclaimed Mrs. Creighton. "I must confess myself enough of a woman, to be charmed with good decorations."
"Something far better than mere decoration; however, is requisite to make society at all agreeable," continued Mr. Ellsworth.
"There is luxury enough among us, in eating and drinking, dressing and furniture, for instance; and yet what can well be more silly, more puerile, than the general tone of conversation at common parties among us? And how many of the most delightful soirees in Paris, are collected in plain rooms, au second, or au troisieme, with a brick floor to stand on, and a gla.s.s of orgeat, with a bit of brioche to eat!"
{"au second, or au troisieme" = on the third or fourth floor; "orgeat" = a syrup flavored drink; "brioche" = a simple pastry (French)}
"Lots and Love--Speculation and Flirtation, are too entirely the order of the day, and of the evening, with us," said Harry; "whether figuring on Change, or on a Brussels carpet."
{"on Change" = at the stock market}
"I have often been struck, myself, with the excessive silliness of the conversation at common parties, especially what are called young parties; though I have never seen anything better," said Elinor.
"Those young parties are enough to spoil any society," said Harry.
"Perhaps, however, you have too high an idea of such scenes in Europe, precisely because you have not seen them, Miss Wyllys,"
observed Mr. Ellsworth.
"That may very possibly be the case."
"There are always silly and ignorant people to be met with everywhere," remarked Harry; "but the difference lies in the general character of the circle, which is not often so insipid and so puerile in Europe."
"It is the difference, I suppose, between a puppet-show and genteel comedy," said Elinor.
"Precisely, Miss Wyllys," said Mr. Ellsworth, smiling.
"We have very pretty puppets, though," observed Mrs. Creighton; "quite well-dressed, and sufficiently graceful, too; that is to say, the young lady puppets. As for the gentlemen, I shall not attempt to defend them, en ma.s.se, neither their grace nor their coats."
"You won"t allow us to be either pretty or well-dressed?" said Mr. Stryker.
"Oh, everybody knows that Mr. Stryker"s coat and bow are both unexceptionable."
"Why don"t you go to work, good people, and improve the world, instead of finding fault with it?" said Mr. Wyllys, who was preparing for another game of chess with Mrs. Robert Hazlehurst.
"A labour of Hercules, sir!" exclaimed Mr. Stryker, shrugging his shoulders. "The position of a reformer is not sufficiently graceful to suit my fancy."
"It is fatiguing, too; it is much easier to sit still and find fault, sir," observed Robert Hazlehurst, smiling.
"Sauve qui peut, is my motto," continued Mr. Stryker. "I shall take care of myself; though I have no objection that the rest of the world should profit by my excellent example; they may improve on my model, if they please."
{"sauve qui peut" = everyone for himself (French)}
"The fact is, that manners, and all other matters of taste, ought to come by instinct," said Mrs. Robert Hazlehurst; "one soon becomes tired of beings regularly tutored on such points."
"No doubt of that," replied Harry; "but unfortunately, though reading and writing come by nature, as Dogberry says, in this country, yet it is by no means so clear that good taste follows as a consequence."
{"Dogberry" = a constable in Shakespeare"s comedy, "Much Ado About Nothing": "To be a well-favor"d man is the gift of fortune, but to write and read comes by nature." III.iii.14-16}
"Good taste never came by nature, anywhere but in old Greece, I take it," said Ellsworth. "In a new state of society, such things must force themselves upon one."
"Certainly," said Mr. Wyllys; "and you young people, who have had so many advantages of education and leisure, are very right to give the subject some attention, for the sake of the community in which you live. Manners in their best meaning, as a part of civilization, are closely connected at many different points, with the character and morals of a nation. Hitherto in this country, the subject has been too much left to itself; but in many respects there is a good foundation to work upon--some of our national traits are very creditable."
"That is true, sir," replied Mr. Ellsworth; "and Americans are naturally very quick in taking a hint, and in fitting it to their own uses. They are a good-natured, sociable race, too, neither coa.r.s.e nor unwieldy in body or mind. All they want is, a little more reflection on the subject, and a sufficiently large number of models, to observe, and compare together; for they are too quick and clever, not to prefer the good to the bad, when the choice lies before them."
"Remember too," said Mr. Wyllys, "that if you cannot do everything, you must not suppose you can do nothing."
"There is one point in American manners, that is very good," said Harry: "among our very best people we find a great deal of true simplicity; simplicity of the right sort; real, not fact.i.tious."
"Sweet simplicity, oh, la!" exclaimed Mr. Stryker. "Well, I am a bad subject to deal with, myself. I am too old to go to school, and I am too young yet, I flatter myself, to give much weight to my advice. Not quite incorrigible, however, I trust," he added, endeavouring to smile in a natural way, as he turned towards Elinor and Mrs. Creighton. "I shall be most happy to learn from the ladies, and try to improve under their advice. Have you no suggestions to make, Miss Wyllys?"
"I am afraid I could not be of much use in that way."
"There are only a thousand-and-one hints that I should give you,"
said Mrs. Creighton, laughing.
"You must be frightfully particular!" exclaimed Mr. Stryker; "pray, what is hint No. 1?"
"Oh, I should not have time to make even a beginning; it is growing very late, and I shall defer your education until the next time we meet. Mr. Hazlehurst, that is my scarf, I believe, on your chair."
The party separated; Harry offering his arm to Mrs. Creighton.
CHAPTER VIII. {x.x.xI}
"Verily You shall not go--a lady"s verily is As potent as a lord"s. Will you go yet?"
Winter"s Tale.
{William Shakespeare, "A Winter"s Tale", I.ii.50-51}