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！
her friends have already talked over the 〃men〃 of their circle； and decided；
with a sigh； that there were matches going about。 A juvenile Newporter
was recently overheard deploring （to a friend of fifteen summers）； 〃By the
time we come out there will only be two matches in the market；〃 meaning；
of course； millionnaires who could provide their brides with country and
city homes； yachts； and the other appurtenances of a brilliant position。
Now； the unfortunate part of the affair is； that such a worldly…minded
maiden will in good time be obliged to make her debut； dine； and dance
127
… Page 128…
THE WAYS OF MEN
through a dozen seasons without making a new acquaintance。 Her
migrations from town to seashore； or from one country house to another；
will be but changes of scene： the actors will remain always the same。
When she dines out； she can； if she cares to take the trouble； make a fair
guess as to who the guests will be before she starts； for each entertainment
is but a new shuffle of the too well…known pack。 She is morally certain of
being taken in to dinner by one of fifty men whom she has known since
her childhood； and has met on an average twice a week since she was
eighteen。
Of foreigners such a girl sees little beyond a stray diplomatist or two；
in search of a fortune； and her glimpses of Paris society are obtained from
the windows of a hotel on the Place Vendome。 In London or Rome she
may be presented in a few international salons； but as she finds it difficult
to make her new acquaintances understand what an exalted position she
occupies at home； the chances are that pique at seeing some Daisy Miller
attract all the attention will drive my lady back to the city where she is
known and appreciated； nothing being more difficult for an American
〃swell〃 than explaining to the uninitiated in what way her position differs
from that of the rest of her compatriots。
When I see the bevies of highly educated and attractive girls who
make their bows each season； I ask myself in wonder； 〃Who； in the name
of goodness； are they to marry？〃
In the very circle where so much stress is laid on a girl's establishing
herself brilliantly； the fewest possible husbands are to be found。 Yet；
limited as such a girl's choice is； she will sooner remain single than accept
a husband out of her set。 She has a perfectly distinct idea of what she
wants； and has lived so long in the atmosphere of wealth that existence
without footmen and male cooks； horses and French clothes； appears to
her impossible。 Such large proportions do these details assume in her mind
that each year the husband himself becomes of less importance； and what
he can provide the essential point。
If an outsider is sufficiently rich； my lady may consent to unite her
destinies to his； hoping to get him absorbed into her own world。
It is pathetic； considering the restricted number of eligible men going
128
… Page 129…
THE WAYS OF MEN
about； to see the trouble and expense that parents take to keep their
daughters EN EVIDENCE。 When one reflects on the number of people
who are disturbed when such a girl dines out； the horses and men and
women who are kept up to convey her home； the time it has taken her to
dress； the cost of the toilet itself； and then see the man to whom she will be
consigned for the evening； … some bored man about town who has
probably taken her mother in to dinner twenty years before； and will not
trouble himself to talk with his neighbor； or a schoolboy； breaking in his
first dress suit； … when one realizes that for many maidens this goes on
night after night and season after season； it seems incredible that they
should have the courage； or think it worth their while to keep up the game。
The logical result of turning eternally in the same circle is that nine
times out of ten the men who marry choose girls out of their own set； some
pretty stranger who has burst on their jaded vision with all the charm of
the unknown。 A conventional society maiden who has not been fortunate
enough to meet and marry a man she loves； or whose fortune tempts her；
during the first season or two that she is 〃out；〃 will in all probability go on
revolving in an ever…narrowing circle until she becomes stationary in its
centre。
In comparison with such an existence the life of the average 〃summer
girl〃 is one long frolic； as varied as that of her aristocratic sister is
monotonous。 Each spring she has the excitement of selecting a new battle…
ground for her manoeuvres； for in the circle in which she moves； parents
leave such details to their children。 Once installed in the hotel of her
choice； mademoiselle proceeds to make the acquaintance of an entirely
new set of friends； delightful youths just arrived； and bent on making the
most of their brief holidays； with whom her code of etiquette allows her to
sail all day； and pass uncounted evening hours in remote corners of piazza
or beach。
As the words 〃position〃 and 〃set〃 have no meaning to her young ears；
and no one has ever preached to her the importance of improving her
social standing； the acquaintances that chance throws in her path are
accepted without question if they happen to be good…looking and amusing。
She has no prejudice as to standing； and if her supply of partners runs
129
… Page 130…
THE WAYS OF MEN
short； she will dance and flirt with the clerk from the desk in perfect good
humor … in fact； she stands rather in awe of that functionary； and admires
the 〃English〃 cut of his clothes and his Eastern swagger。 A large hotel is
her dream of luxury； and a couple of simultaneous flirtations her ideal of
bliss。 No long evenings of cruel boredom； in order to be seen at smart
houses； will cloud the maiden's career； no agonized anticipation of retiring
partnerless from cotillion or supper will disturb her pleasure。
In the city she hails from； everybody she kn