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brocades from their furniture； in order to unravel those materials and as
the old stock did not suffice for the demand thousands were spent on new
brocades and velvets； which were instantly destroyed； entertainments were
given where unravelling was the only amusement offered； the entire court
thinking and talking of nothing else for months。
What is the logical deduction to be drawn from all this？ Simply that
people do not see with their eyes or judge with their understandings； that
an all…pervading hypnotism； an ambient suggestion； at times envelops us
taking from people all free will； and replacing it with the taste and
judgment of the moment。
The number of people is small in each generation； who are strong
enough to rise above their surroundings and think for themselves。 The rest
are as dry leaves on a stream。 They float along and turn gayly in the eddies；
convinced all the time （as perhaps are the leaves） that they act entirely
from their own volition and that their movements are having a profound
influence on the direction and force of the current。
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CHAPTER 10 … Bohemia
LUNCHING with a talented English comedian and his wife the other
day； the conversation turned on Bohemia； the evasive no…man's…land that
Thackeray referred to； in so many of his books； and to which he looked
back lovingly in his later years； when； as he said； he had forgotten the road
to Prague。
The lady remarked： 〃People have been more than kind to us here in
New York。 We have dined and supped out constantly； and have met with
gracious kindness； such as we can never forget。 But so far we have not met
a single painter； or author； or sculptor； or a man who has explored a corner
of the earth。 Neither have we had the good luck to find ourselves in the
same room with Tesla or Rehan； Edison or Drew。 We shall regret so much
when back in England and are asked about your people of talent； being
obliged to say； 'We never met any of them。' Why is it？ We have not been in
any one circle； and have pitched our tents in many cities； during our tours
over here； but always with the same result。 We read your American
authors as much as； if not more than； our own。 The names of dozens of
your discoverers and painters are household words in England。 When my
husband planned his first tour over here my one idea was； 'How nice it will
be！ Now I shall meet those delightful people of whom I have heard so
much。' The disappointment has been complete。 Never one have I seen。〃
I could not but feel how all too true were the remarks of this intelligent
visitor； remembering how quick the society of London is to welcome a
new celebrity or original character； how a place is at once made for him at
every hospitable board； a permanent one to which he is expected to return；
and how no Continental entertainment is considered complete without
some bright particular star to shine in the firmament。
〃Lion…hunting；〃 I hear my reader say with a sneer。 That may be； but it
makes society worth the candle； which it rarely is over here。 I realized
what I had often vaguely felt before； that the Bohemia the English lady
was looking for was not to be found in this country； more's the pity。 Not
that the elements are lacking。 Far from it； （for even more than in London
should we be able to combine such a society）； but perhaps from a
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misconception of the true idea of such a society； due probably to Henry
Murger's dreary book SCENES DE LA VIE DE BOHEME which is
chargeable with the fact that a circle of this kind evokes in the mind of
most Americans visions of a scrubby； poorly…fed and less…washed
community； a world they would hardly dare ask to their tables for fear of
some embarrassing unconventionality of conduct or dress。
Yet that can hardly be the reason； for even in Murger or Paul de Kock；
at their worst； the hero is still a gentleman； and even when he borrows a
friend's coat； it is to go to a great house and among people of rank。 Besides；
we are becoming too cosmopolitan； and wander too constantly over this
little globe； not to have learned that the Bohemia of 1830 is as completely
a thing of the past as a GRISETTE or a glyphisodon。 It disappeared with
Gavarni and the authors who described it。 Although we have kept the word；
its meaning has gradually changed until it has come to mean something
difficult to define； a will…o'…the…wisp； which one tries vainly to grasp。 With
each decade it has put on a new form and changed its centre； the one
definite fact being that it combines the better elements of several social
layers。
Drop in； if you are in Paris and know the way； at one of Madeleine
Lemaire's informal evenings in her studio。 There you may find the Prince
de Ligne； chatting with Rejane or Coquelin； or Henri d'Orleans； just back
from an expedition into Africa。 A little further on； Saint…Saens will be
running over the keys； preparing an accompaniment for one of Madame de
Tredern's songs。 The Princess Mathilde （that passionate lover of art） will
surely be there； and … but it is needless to particularize。
Cross the Channel； and get yourself asked to one of Irving's choice
suppers after the play。 You will find the bar； the stage； and the pulpit
represented there； a 〃happy family〃 over which the 〃Prince〃 often presides；
smoking cigar after cigar； until the tardy London daylight appears to break
up the entertainment。
For both are centres where the gifted and the travelled meet the great
of the social world； on a footing of perfect equality； and where； if any
prestige is accorded； it is that of brains。 When you have seen these places
and a dozen others like them； you will realize what the actor's wife had in
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her mind。
Now； let me whisper to you why I think such circles do not exist in
this country。 In the first place； we are still too provincial in this big city of
ours。 New York always reminds me of a definition