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situation； it is with his eyes open； knowing infinitely more about his new
employers and their failings than they dream of； or than they could
possibly find out about him。
One thing never can be sufficiently impressed on people； viz。： that we
are forced to live with detectives； always behind us in caps or dress…suits；
ready to note every careless word； every incautious criticism of friend or
acquaintance … their money matters or their love affairs … and who have
nothing more interesting to do than to repeat what they have heard； with
embroideries and additions of their own。 Considering this； and that nine
people out of ten talk quite oblivious of their servants' presence； it is to be
wondered at that so little （and not that so much） trouble is made。
It always amuses me when I ask a friend if she is going abroad in the
spring； to have her say 〃Hush！〃 with a frightened glance towards the door。
〃I am； but I do not want the servants to know； or the horrid things
would leave me！〃
Poor； simple lady！ They knew it before you did； and had discussed the
whole matter over their 〃tea〃 while it was an almost unuttered thought in
your mind。 If they have not already given you notice； it is because； on the
whole your house suits them well enough for the present； while they look
about。 Do not worry your simple soul； trying to keep anything from them。
They know the amount of your last dressmaker's bill； and the row your
husband made over it。 They know how much you would have liked young
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〃Croesus〃 for your daughter； and the little tricks you played to bring that
marriage about。 They know why you are no longer asked to dine at Mrs。
Swell's； which is more than you know yourself。 Mrs。 Swell explained the
matter to a few friends over her lunch…table recently； and the butler told
your maid that same evening； who was laughing at the story as she put on
your slippers！
Before we blame them too much； however； let us remember that they
have it in their power to make great trouble if they choose。 And
considering the little that is made in this way； we must conclude that； on
the whole； they are better than we give them credit for being； and fill a
trying situation with much good humor and kindliness。 The lady who is
astonished that they take so little interest in her； will perhaps feel
differently if she reflects how little trouble she has given herself to find
out their anxieties and griefs； their temptations and heart…burnings； their
material situation； whom they support with their slowly earned wages；
what claims they have on them from outside。 If she will also reflect on the
number of days in a year when she is 〃not herself；〃 when headaches or
disappointments ruffle her charming temper； she may come to the
conclusion that it is too much to expect all the virtues for twenty dollars a
month。
A little more human interest； my good friends； a little more indulgence；
and you will not risk finding yourself in the position of the lady who wrote
me that last summer she had been obliged to keep open house for 〃'Cook'
tourists！〃
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CHAPTER 22 … An English
Invasion of the Riviera
WHEN sixty years ago Lord Brougham； EN ROUTE for Italy； was
thrown from his travelling berline and his leg was broken； near the Italian
hamlet of Cannes； the Riviera was as unknown to the polite world as the
centre of China。 The GRAND TOUR which every young aristocrat made
with his tutor； on coming of age； only included crossing from France into
Italy by the Alps。 It was the occurrence of an unusually severe winter in
Switzerland that turned Brougham aside into the longer and less travelled
route VIA the Corniche； the marvellous Roman road at that time fallen
into oblivion； and little used even by the local peasantry。
During the tedious weeks while his leg was mending； Lord Brougham
amused himself by exploring the surrounding country in his carriage； and
was quick to realize the advantages of the climate； and appreciate the
marvellous beauty of that coast。 Before the broken member was whole
again； he had bought a tract of land and begun a villa。 Small seed； to
furnish such a harvest！ To the traveller of to…day the Riviera offers an
almost unbroken chain of beautiful residences from Marseilles to Genoa。
A Briton willingly follows where a lord leads； and Cannes became the
centre of English fashion； a position it holds to…day in spite of many
attractive rivals； and the defection of Victoria who comes now to Cimiez；
back of Nice； being unwilling to visit Cannes since the sudden death there
of the Duke of Albany。 A statue of Lord Brougham； the 〃discoverer〃 of the
littoral； has been erected in the sunny little square at Cannes； and the
English have in many other ways； stamped the city for their own。
No other race carry their individuality with them as they do。 They can
live years in a country and assimilate none of its customs； on the contrary；
imposing habits of their own。 It is just this that makes them such
wonderful colonizers； and explains why you will find little groups of
English people drinking ale and playing golf in the shade of the Pyramids
or near the frozen slopes of Foosiyama。 The real inwardness of it is that
they are a dull race； and； like dull people despise all that they do not
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understand。 To differ from them is to be in the wrong。 They cannot argue
with you； they simply know； and that ends the matter。
I had a discussion recently with a Briton on the pronunciation of a
word。 As there is no 〃Institute；〃 as in France； to settle matters of this kind；
I maintained that we Americans had as much authority for our
pronunciation of this particular word as the English。 The answer was
characteristic。
〃I know I am right；〃 said my Island friend； 〃because that is the way I
pronounce it！〃
Walking along the principal streets of Cann