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！
THE WAYS OF MEN
was finished； so it never crossed the Channel； but can be seen to…day by
any one curious enough to examine it； in the Musee Carnavalet。
〃Few of us realize that the Paris of Charles X。 and Louis Philippe
would seem to us now a small； ill…paved； and worse… lighted provincial
town； with few theatres or hotels； communicating with the outer world
only by means of a horse… drawn ‘post；' and practically farther from
London than Constantinople is to…day。 One feels this isolation in the
literature of the time； brilliant as the epoch was； the horizon of its writers
was bounded by the boulevards and the Faubourg Saint…Germain。〃
Dumas says laughingly； in a letter to a friend： 〃I have never ventured
into the unexplored country beyond the Bastille； but am convinced that it
shelters wild animals and savages。〃 The wit and brains of the period were
concentrated into a small space。 Money…making had no more part in the
programme of a writer then than an introduction into 〃society。〃 Catering to
a foreign market and snobbishness were undreamed…of degradations。 Paris
had not yet been turned into the FOIRE DU MONDE that she has since
become； with whole quarters given over to the use of foreigners； … theatres；
restaurants； and hotels created only for the use of a polyglot population
that could give lessons to the people around Babel's famous 〃tower。〃
64
… Page 65…
THE WAYS OF MEN
CHAPTER 13 … Some American
Husbands
UNTIL the beginning of this century men played the BEAU ROLE in
life's comedy。 As in the rest of the animal world； our males were the
brilliant members of the community； flaunting their gaudy plumage at
home and abroad； while the women…folk remained in seclusion； tending
their children； directing the servants； or ministering to their lords' comfort。
In those happy days the husband ruled supreme at his own fireside；
receiving the homage of the family； who bent to his will and obeyed his
orders。
During the last century； however； the 〃part〃 of better half has become
less and less attractive in America； one prerogative after another having
been whisked away by enterprising wives。 Modern Delilahs have yearly
snipped off more and more of Samson's luxuriant curls； and added those
ornaments to their own COIFFURES； until in the majority of families the
husband finds himself reduced to a state of bondage compared with which
the biblical hero enjoyed a pampered idleness。 Times have indeed changed
in America since the native chief sat in dignified repose bedizened with all
the finery at hand； while the ladies of the family waited tremblingly upon
him。 To…day it is the American husband who turns the grindstone all the
year round； and it is his pretty tyrant who enjoys the elegant leisure that a
century ago was considered a masculine luxury。
To America must be given the credit of having produced the model
husband； a new species； as it were； of the GENUS HOMO。
In no role does a compatriot appear to such advantage as in that of
Benedict。 As a boy he is often too advanced for his years or his
information； in youth he is conspicuous neither for his culture nor his
unselfishness。 But once in matrimonial harness this untrained animal
becomes bridle…wise with surprising rapidity； and will for the rest of life
go through his paces； waltzing； kneeing； and saluting with hardly a touch
of the whip。 Whether this is the result of superior horse…womanship on the
part of American wives or a trait peculiar to sons of 〃Uncle Sam；〃 is hard
65
… Page 66…
THE WAYS OF MEN
to say； but the fact is self…evident to any observer that our fair equestrians
rarely meet with a rebellious mount。
Any one who has studied marital ways in other lands will realize that
in no country have the men effaced themselves so gracefully as with us。 In
this respect no foreign production can compare for a moment with the
domestic article。 In English； French； and German families the husband is
still all… powerful。 The house is mounted； guests are asked； and the year
planned out to suit his occupations and pleasure。 Here papa is rarely
consulted until such matters have been decided upon by the ladies； when
the head of the house is called in to sign the checks。
I have had occasion more than once to bewail the shortcomings of the
American man； and so take pleasure in pointing out the modesty and good
temper with which he fills this role。 He is trained from the beginning to
give all and expect nothing in return； an American girl rarely bringing any
DOT to her husband； no matter how wealthy her family may be。 If； as
occasionally happens； an income is allowed a bride by her parents； she
expects to spend it on her toilets or pleasures。 This condition of the
matrimonial market exists in no other country； even in England； where
MARIAGES DE CONVENANCE are rare； 〃settlements〃 form an
inevitable prelude to conjugal bliss。
The fact that she contributes little or nothing to the common income in
no way embarrasses an American wife； her pretensions are usually in an
inverse proportion to her personal means。 A man I knew some years ago
deliberately chose his bride from an impecunious family （in the hope that
her simple surroundings had inculcated homely taste）； and announced to
an incredulous circle of friends； at his last bachelor dinner； that he
intended； in future； to pass his evenings at his fireside； between his book
and his pretty spouse。 Poor； innocent； confiding mortal！ The wife quickly
became a belle of the fastest set in town。 Having had more than she
wanted of firesides and quiet evenings before her marriage； her idea was
to go about as much as possible； and； when not so occupied； to fill her
house with company。 It may be laid down as a maxim in this connection
that a man marries to obtain a home； and a girl to get away from one；
hence disappointment on both sides。
66
… Page 67…
THE W