the ways of men(人们的手段)-第30章
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morning；〃 she added。 〃The JUPIERE could not get one of my skirts to
hang properly。 After a dozen attempts I told her to send for the forewoman；
when； to my horror； the girl burst out crying； and said she should lose her
place if I did。 I was very sorry for her； but what else could I do？〃 It does
not seem as if that lady could be very popular with inferiors； does it？
That it needs a lighter hand and more tact to deal with tradespeople
than with equals is certain； and we are sure to be the losers when we fail。
The last time I was in the East a friend took me into the bazaars to see a
carpet he was anxious to buy。 The price asked was out of all proportion to
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its value； but we were gravely invited by the merchant to be seated and
coffee was served； that bargaining （which is the backbone of Oriental
trade） might be carried on at leisure。 My friend； nervous and impatient；
like all our race； turned to me and said； 〃What's all this tomfoolery？ Tell
him I'll give so much for his carpet； he can take it or leave it。〃 When this
was interpreted to the bearded tradesman； he smiled and came down a few
dollars in his price； and ordered more coffee。 By this time we were outside
his shop； and left without the carpet simply because my friend could not
conform to the customs of the country he was visiting。 The sale of his
carpet was a big affair for the Oriental； he intended to carry it through with
all the ceremony the occasion required； and would sooner not make a sale
than be hustled out of his stately routine。
It is not only in intercourse with inferiors that tact is required。 The
treatment of children and young people in a family calls for delicate
handling。 The habit of taking liberties with young relations is a common
form of a relaxed social code and the besetting sin of elderly people； who；
having little to interest them in their own lives； imagine that their mission
is to reform the ways and manners of their family。 Ensconced behind the
respect which the young are supposed to pay them； they give free vent to
inclination； and carp； cavil； and correct。 The victims may have reached
maturity or even middle age； but remain always children to these social
policemen； to be reproved and instructed in and out of season。 〃I am doing
this for your own good；〃 is an excuse that apparently frees the veterans
from the necessity of respecting the prejudices and feelings of their pupils；
and lends a gloss of unselfishness to actions which are simply impertinent。
Oddly enough； amateur 〃schoolmarms〃 who fall into this unpleasant habit
are generally oversensitive； and resent as a personal affront any
restlessness under criticism on the part of their victims。 It is easy； once the
habit is acquired； to carry the suavity and consideration of general society
into the home circle； yet how often is it done？ I should like to see the
principle that ordered presentation of arms to the infant princess applied to
our intimate relations； and the rights of the young and dependent
scrupulously respected。
In the third act of CASTE； when old Eccles steals the 〃coral〃 from his
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grandson's neck； he excuses the theft by a grandiloquent soliloquy； and
persuades himself that he is protecting 〃the weak and the humble〃
（pointing to himself） 〃against the powerful and the strong〃 （pointing to the
baby）。 Alas； too many of us take liberties with those whom we do not fear；
and excuse our little acts of cowardice with arguments as fallacious as
those of drunken old Eccles。
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CHAPTER 18 … What is 〃Art〃？
IN former years； we inquiring youngsters in foreign studios were
much bewildered by the repetition of a certain phrase。 Discussion of
almost any picture or statue was （after other forms of criticism had been
exhausted） pretty sure to conclude with； 〃It's all very well in its way； but
it's not Art。〃 Not only foolish youths but the 〃masters〃 themselves
constantly advanced this opinion to crush a rival or belittle a friend。 To
ardent minds seeking for the light and catching at every thread that might
serve as a guide out of perplexity； this vague assertion was confusing。
According to one master； the eighteenth…century 〃school〃 did not exist。
What had been produced at that time was pleasing enough to the eye； but
〃was not Art！〃 In the opinion of another； Italian music might amuse or
cheer the ignorant； but could not be recognized by serious musicians。
As most of us were living far from home and friends for the purpose of
acquiring the rudiments of art； this continual sweeping away of our
foundations was discouraging。 What was the use； we sometimes asked
ourselves； of toiling； if our work was to be cast contemptuously aside by
the next 〃school〃 as a pleasing trifle； not for a moment to be taken
seriously？ How was one to find out the truth？ Who was to decide when
doctors disagreed？ Where was the rock on which an earnest student might
lay his cornerstone without the misgiving that the next wave in public
opinion would sap its base and cast him and his ideals out again at sea？
The eighteenth…century artists and the Italian composers had been
sincere and convinced that they were producing works of art。 In our own
day the idol of one moment becomes the jest of the next。 Was there； then；
no fixed law？
The short period； for instance； between 1875 and the present time has
been long enough for the talent of one painter （Bastien…Lepage） to be
discovered； discussed； lauded； acclaimed； then gradually forgotten and
decried。 During the years when we were studying in Paris； that young
painter's works were pronounced by the critics and their following to be
the last development of Art。 Museums and amateurs vied with each other
in acquiring his canvases。 Yet； only this spring； while dining with two or
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three art critics in the French capital； I heard Lepage's name mentioned
and his works recalled with the smile that is accorded to those who have
hoodwinked the public and passed off spurious material as the real thing。
If any one doubts the fleeting nature of a reputation； let him go to a
sale of modern pictures and note the prices brought by the favorites of
twenty years ago。 The paintings of that arch…priest； Meissonier； no longer
command the sums that eager collectors paid for them a score of years
back。 When a great European critic dares assert； as one has recently； of the
master's 〃1815；〃 that 〃everything in the picture appears metallic； except
the cannon and the men's helmets；〃 the mighty are indeed fallen！ It is
much the same thing with the old
