worldly ways and byways(世俗之路)-第38章
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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
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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；
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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 and the matter ended。
Of course the reason for a great deal of this is the phenomenal growth
of our larger cities。 Hundreds of families who would gladly remain in their
old homes are fairly pushed out of them by the growth of business。
Everything has its limits and a time must come when our cities will
cease to expand or when centres will be formed as in London or Paris；
where generations may succeed each other in the same homes。 So far； I see
no indications of any such crystallization in this our big city； we seem to
be condemned like the 〃Wandering Jew〃 or poor little 〃Joe〃 to be
perpetually 〃moving on。〃
At a dinner of young people not long ago a Frenchman visiting our
country； expressed his surprise on hearing a girl speak of 〃not
remembering the house she was born in。〃 Piqued by his manner the young
lady answered：
〃We are twenty…four at this table。 I do not believe there is one person
here living in the house in which he or she was born。〃 This assertion raised
a murmur of dissent around the table； on a census being taken it proved；
however； to be true。
How can one expect； under circumstances like these； to find any great
respect among young people for home life or the conservative side of
existence？ They are born as it were on the wing； and on the wing will they
live。
The conditions of life in this country； although contributing largely to
such a state of affairs； must not be held； however； entirely responsible。
Underlying our civilization and culture； there is still strong in us a wild
nomadic strain inherited from a thousand generations of wandering
ancestors； which breaks out so soon as man is freed from the restraint
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incumbent on bread…winning for his family。 The moment there is wealth or
even a modest income insured； comes the inclination to cut loose from the
dull routine of business and duty； returning instinctively to the migratory
habits of primitive man。
We are not the only nation that has given itself up to globe… trotting； it
is strong in the English； in spite of their conservative education； and it is
surprising to see the number of formerly stay…at…home French and
Germans one meets wandering in foreign lands。
In 1855； a Londoner advertised the plan he had conceived of taking
some people over to visit the International Exhibition in Paris。 For a fixed
sum paid in advance he offered to provide everything and act as courier to
the party； and succeeded with the greatest difficulty in getting together ten
