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backbone of the decorator's art and that supreme elegance is fitness and
moderation； and； above all； that an attention to architectural principles can
alone lead decoration to a perfect development。
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CHAPTER 13 … Our Elite and
Public Life
THE complaint is so often heard； and seems so well founded； that
there is a growing inclination； not only among men of social position； but
also among our best and cleverest citizens； to stand aloof from public life；
and this reluctance on their part is so unfortunate； that one feels impelled
to seek out the causes where they must lie； beneath the surface。 At a first
glance they are not apparent。 Why should not the honor of representing
one's town or locality be as eagerly sought after with us as it is by English
or French men of position？ That such is not the case； however； is evident。
Speaking of this the other evening； over my after…dinner coffee； with a
high…minded and public…spirited gentleman； who not long ago represented
our country at a European court； he advanced two theories which struck
me as being well worth repeating； and which seemed to account to a
certain extent for this curious abstinence。
As a first and most important cause； he placed the fact that neither our
national nor （here in New York） our state capital coincides with our
metropolis。 In this we differ from England and all the continental countries。
The result is not difficult to perceive。 In London； a man of the world； a
business man； or a great lawyer； who represents a locality in Parliament；
can fulfil his mandate and at the same time lead his usual life among his
own set。 The lawyer or the business man can follow during the day his
profession； or those affairs on which he depends to support his family and
his position in the world。 Then； after dinner （owing to the peculiar hours
adopted for the sittings of Parliament）； he can take his place as a law…
maker。 If he be a London…born man； he in no way changes his way of life
or that of his family。 If； on the contrary； he be a county magnate； the
change he makes is all for the better； as it takes him and his wife and
daughters up to London； the haven of their longings； and the centre of all
sorts of social dissipations and advancement。
With us； it is exactly the contrary。 As the District of Columbia elects
no one； everybody living in Washington officially is more or less
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Worldly Ways and Byways
expatriated； and the social life it offers is a poor substitute for the circle
which most families leave to go there。
That； however； is not the most important side of the question。 Go to
any great lawyer of either New York or Chicago； and propose sending him
to Congress or the Senate。 His answer is sure to be； 〃I cannot afford it。 I
know it is an honor； but what is to replace the hundred thousand dollars a
year which my profession brings me in； not to mention that all my practice
would go to pieces during my absence？〃 Or again； 〃How should I dare to
propose to my family to leave one of the great centres of the country to go
and vegetate in a little provincial city like Washington？ No； indeed！ Public
life is out of the question for me！〃
Does any one suppose England would have the class of men she gets
in Parliament； if that body sat at Bristol？
Until recently the man who occupied the position of Lord Chancellor
made thirty thousand pounds a year by his profession without interfering
in any way with his public duties； and at the present moment a
recordership in London in no wise prevents private practice。 Were these
gentlemen Americans； they would be obliged to renounce all hope of
professional income in order to serve their country at its Capital。
Let us glance for a moment at the other reason。 Owing to our laws
（doubtless perfectly reasonable； and which it is not my intention to
criticise；） a man must reside in the place he represents。 Here again we
differ from all other constitutional countries。 Unfortunately； our clever
young men leave the small towns of their birth and flock up to the great
centres as offering wider fields for their advancement。 In consequence； the
local elector finds his choice limited to what is left … the intellectual
skimmed milk； of which the cream has been carried to New York or other
big cities。 No country can exist without a metropolis； and as such a centre
by a natural law of assimilation absorbs the best brains of the country； in
other nations it has been found to the interests of all parties to send down
brilliant young men to the 〃provinces；〃 to be； in good time； returned by
them to the national assemblies。
As this is not a political article the simple indication of these two
causes will suffice； without entering into the question of their
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reasonableness or of their justice。 The social bearing of such a condition is
here the only side of the question under discussion； it is difficult to over…
rate the influence that a man's family exert over his decisions。
Political ambition is exceedingly rare among our women of position；
when the American husband is bitten with it； the wife submits to； rather
than abets； his inclinations。 In most cases our women are not cosmopolitan
enough to enjoy being transplanted far away from their friends and
relations； even to fill positions of importance and honor。 A New York
woman of great frankness and intelligence； who found herself recently in a
Western city under these circumstances； said； in answer to a flattering
remark that 〃the ladies of the place expected her to become their social
leader；〃 〃I don't see anything to lead；〃 thus very plainly expressing her
opinion of the situation。 It is hardly fair to expect a woman accustomed to
the life of New York or the foreign capitals； to look forward with
enthusiasm to a term of years passed in Albany； or in Washi