the ways of men(人们的手段)-第14章
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moment to prevent them from tripping … an immense joke； to judge by the
peals of laughter that follow。
The American wife of a French ambassador sits on the captain's right。
A turn of the diplomatic wheel is taking the lady to Madrid； where her
position will call for supreme tact and self…restraint。 One feels a thrill of
national pride on looking at her high…bred young face and listening as she
chats in French and Spanish； and wonders once more at the marvellous
faculty our women have of adapting themselves so graciously and so
naturally to difficult positions； which the women of other nations rarely
fill well unless born to the purple。 It is the high opinion I have of my
countrywomen that has made me cavil； before now； on seeing them turned
into elaborately dressed nullities by foolish and too adoring husbands。
The voyage is wearing itself away。 Sunny days are succeeded by gray
mornings； as exquisite in their way； when one can feel the ship fight
against contending wind and wave； and shiver under the blows received in
a struggle which dashes the salt spray high over the decks。 There is an
aroma in the air then that breathes new life into jaded nerves； and stirs the
drop of old Norse blood； dormant in most American veins； into quivering
ecstasy。 One dreams of throwing off the trammels of civilized existence
and returning to the free life of older days。
But here is Havre glittering in the distance against her background of
chalk cliffs。 People come on deck in strangely conventional clothes and
with demure citified airs。 Passengers of whose existence you were
unaware suddenly make their appearance。 Two friends meet near me for
the first time。 〃Hallo； Jones！〃 says one of them； 〃are you crossing？〃
〃Yes；〃 answers Jones； 〃are you？〃
The company's tug has come alongside by this time； bringing its
budget of letters and telegrams。 The brief holiday is over。 With a sigh one
comes back to the positive and the present； and patiently resumes the
harness of life。
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CHAPTER 9 … 〃Climbers〃 in
England
THE expression 〃Little Englander；〃 much used of late to designate an
inhabitant of the Mother Isle in contra… distinction to other subjects of Her
Majesty； expresses neatly the feeling of our insular cousins not only as
regards ourselves； but also the position affected toward their colonial
brothers and sisters。
Have you ever noticed that in every circle there is some individual
assuming to do things better than his comrades … to know more； dress
better； run faster； pronounce more correctly？ Who； unless promptly
suppressed； will turn the conversation into a monologue relating to his
own exploits and opinions。 To differ is to bring down his contempt upon
your devoted head！ To argue is time wasted！
Human nature is； however； so constituted that a man of this type
mostly succeeds in hypnotizing his hearers into sharing his estimate of
himself； and impressing upon them the conviction that he is a rare being
instead of a commonplace mortal。 He is not a bad sort of person at bottom；
and ready to do one a friendly turn … if it does not entail too great
inconvenience。 In short； a good fellow； whose principal defect is the
profound conviction that he was born superior to the rest of mankind。
What this individual is to his environment； Englishmen are to the
world at large。 It is the misfortune； not the fault； of the rest of the human
race； that they are not native to his island； a fact； by the way； which
outsiders are rarely allowed to lose sight of； as it entails a becoming
modesty on their part。
Few idiosyncrasies get more quickly on American nerves or are further
from our hearty attitude toward strangers。 As we are far from looking upon
wandering Englishmen with suspicion； it takes us some time to realize that
Americans who cut away from their countrymen and settle far from home
are regarded with distrust and reluctantly received。 When a family of this
kind prepares to live in their neighborhood； Britons have a formula of
three questions they ask themselves concerning the new… comers： 〃Whom
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do they know？ How much are they worth？〃 and 〃What amusement （or
profit） are we likely to get out of them？〃 If the answer to all or any of the
three queries is satisfactory； my lord makes the necessary advances and
becomes an agreeable； if not a witty or original； companion。
Given this and a number of other peculiarities； it seems curious that a
certain class of Americans should be so anxious to live in England。 What
is it tempts them？ It cannot be the climate； for that is vile； nor the city of
London； for it is one of the ugliest in existence； nor their 〃cuisine〃 … for
although we are not good cooks ourselves； we know what good food is
and could give Britons points。 Neither can it be art； nor the opera； … one
finds both better at home or on the Continent than in England。 So it must
be society； and here one's wonder deepens！
When I hear friends just back from a stay over there enlarging on the
charms of 〃country life；〃 or a London 〃season；〃 I look attentively to see if
they are in earnest； so incomparably dull have I always found English
house parties or town entertainments。 At least that side of society which
the climbing stranger mostly affects。 Other circles are charming； if a bit
slow； and the 〃Bohemia〃 and semi…Bohemia of London have a delicate
flavor of their own。
County society； that ideal life so attractive to American readers of
British novels； is； taken on the whole； the most insipid existence
conceivable。 The women lack the sparkle and charm of ours； the men； who
are out all day shooting or hunting according to the season； get back so
fagged that if they do not actually drop asleep at the dinner…table； they will
nap immediately after； brightening only when the ladies have retired；
when； with evening dress changed for comfortable smoking suits； the
hunters congregate in the billiard…room for cigars and brandy and seltzer。
A particularly agreeable American woman； whose husband insists on
going every winter to Melton…Mowbray for the hunting； was describing
the other day the life there among the women； and expressing her wonder
that those who did not hunt could refrain from blowing out their brains； so
awful was the dulness and monotony！ She had ended by not dining out at
all； having discovered that the conversation never by any chance deviated
far from the knees of the horses and the height of the hedges！
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Which reminds one of Thackeray relating how he had longed to know
