按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
have given a place in his Pantheon to Sagan。 For it is he who sustained the
traditions and became the type of that distinguished and frivolous society；
which judged that serious things were of no importance； enthusiasm a
waste of time； literature a bore； that nothing was interesting and worthy of
occupying their attention except the elegant distractions that helped to pass
their days…and nights！ He had the merit （？） in these days of the practical
and the commonplace； of preserving in his gracious person all the
charming uselessness of a courtier in a country where there was no longer
a court。
What a strange sight it would be if this departing dandy could； before
121
… Page 122…
Worldly Ways and Byways
he leaves for ever the theatre of so many triumphs； take his place at some
street corner； and review the shades of the companions his long life had
thrown him with； the endless procession of departed belles and beaux；
who； in their youth； had； under his rule； helped to dictate the fashions and
lead the sports of a world。
122
… Page 123…
Worldly Ways and Byways
CHAPTER 28 … A Nation on the
Wing
ON being taken the other day through a large and costly residence；
with the thoroughness that only the owner of a new house has the cruelty
to inflict on his victims； not allowing them to pass a closet or an electric
bell without having its particular use and convenience explained； forcing
them to look up coal…slides； and down air…shafts and to visit every secret
place； from the cellar to the fire…escape； I noticed that a peculiar
arrangement of the rooms repeated itself on each floor； and several times
on a floor。 I remarked it to my host。
〃You observe it；〃 he said； with a blush of pride； 〃it is my wife's idea！
The truth is； my daughters are of a marrying age； and my sons starting out
for themselves； this house will soon be much too big for two old people to
live in alone。 We have planned it so that at any time it can be changed into
an apartment house at a nominal expense。 It is even wired and plumbed
with that end in view！〃
This answer positively took my breath away。 I looked at my host in
amazement。 It was hard to believe that a man past middle age； who after
years of hardest toil could afford to put half a million into a house for
himself and his children； and store it with beautiful things； would have the
courage to look so far into the future as to see all his work undone； his
home turned to another use and himself and his wife afloat in the world
without a roof over their wealthy old heads。
Surely this was the Spirit of the Age in its purest expression； the more
strikingly so that he seemed to feel pride rather than anything else in his
ingenious combination。
He liked the city he had built in well enough now； but nothing proved
to him that he would like it later。 He and his wife had lived in twenty cities
since they began their brave fight with Fortune； far away in a little Eastern
town。 They had since changed their abode with each ascending rung of the
ladder of success； and beyond a faded daguerreotype or two of their
children and a few modest pieces of jewelry； stored away in cotton； it is
123
… Page 124…
Worldly Ways and Byways
doubtful if they owned a single object belonging to their early life。
Another case occurs to me。 Near the village where I pass my summers；
there lived an elderly； childless couple on a splendid estate combining
everything a fastidious taste could demand。 One fine morning this place
was sold； the important library divided between the village and their native
city； the furniture sold or given away； … everything went； at the end the
things no one wanted were made into a bon…fire and burned。
A neighbor asking why all this was being done was told by the lady；
〃We were tired of it all and have decided to be 'Bohemians' for the rest of
our lives。〃 This couple are now wandering about Europe and half a dozen
trunks contain their belongings。
These are； of course； extreme cases and must be taken for what they
are worth； nevertheless they are straws showing which way the wind
blows； signs of the times that he who runs may read。 I do not run； but I
often saunter up our principal avenue； and always find myself wondering
what will be the future of the splendid residences that grace that
thoroughfare as it nears the Park； the ascending tide of trade is already
circling round them and each year sees one or more crumble away and
disappear。
The finer buildings may remain； turned into clubs or restaurants； but
the greater part of the newer ones are so ill…adapted to any other use than
that for which they are built that their future seems obscure。
That fashion will flit away from its present haunts there can be little
doubt； the city below the Park is sure to be given up to business； and even
the fine frontage on that green space will sooner or later be occupied by
hotels； if not stores； and he who builds with any belief in the permanency
of his surroundings must indeed be of a hopeful disposition。
A good lady occupying a delightful corner on this same avenue；
opposite a one…story florist's shop； said：
〃I shall remain here until they build across the way； then I suppose I
shall have to move。〃
So after all the man who is contented to live in a future apartment
house； may not be so very far wrong。
A case of the opposite kind is that of a great millionaire； who； dying；
124
… Page 125…
Worldly Ways and Byways
left his house and its collections to his eldest son and his grandson after
him； on the condition that they should continue to live in it。
Here was an attempt to keep together a home with its memories and
associations。 What has been the result？ The street that was a charming
centre for residences twenty years ago has become a 〃slum；〃 the
unfortunate heirs find themselves with a house on their hands that they
cannot live in and are forbidden to rent or sell。 As a final result the will
must in all probability be broken a