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〃going to market〃 has become a thing of the past。 So she falls a victim to
the allurements of the bargain…counter； returning home after hours of
aimless wandering； irritable and aggrieved because she cannot own the
beautiful things she has seen。 She passes the evening in trying to win her
husband's consent to some purchase he knows he cannot afford； while it
breaks his heart to refuse her … some object； which； were she really his
companion； she would not have had the time to see or the folly to ask for。
The janitor in our building is truly a toiler。 He rarely leaves his dismal
quarters under the sidewalk； but 〃Madam〃 walks the streets clad in
sealskin and silk； a 〃Gainsborough〃 crowning her false 〃bang。〃 I always
think of Max O'Rell's clever saying； when I see her： 〃The sweat of the
American husband crystallizes into diamond ear…rings for the American
woman。〃 My janitress sports a diminutive pair of those jewels and has
hopes of larger ones！ Instead of 〃doing〃 the bachelor's rooms in the
building as her husband's helpmeet； she 〃does〃 her spouse； and a char…
woman works for her。 She is one of the drops in the tide that ebbs and
flows on Twenty…third Street … a discontented woman placed in a false
position by our absurd customs。
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Go a little further up in the social scale and you will find the same
〃detached〃 feeling。 In a household I know of only one horse and a COUPE
can be afforded。 Do you suppose it is for the use of the weary breadwinner？
Not at all。 He walks from his home to the 〃elevated。〃 The carriage is to
take his wife to teas or the park。 In a year or two she will go abroad；
leaving him alone to turn the crank that produces the income。 As it is； she
always leaves him for six months each year in a half…closed house； to the
tender mercies of a caretaker。 Two additional words could be
advantageously added to the wedding service。 After 〃for richer for poorer；〃
I should like to hear a bride promise to cling to her husband 〃for winter for
summer！〃
Make another step up and stand in the entrance of a house at two A。M。；
just as the cotillion is commencing； and watch the couples leaving。 The
husband； who has been in Wall Street all day； knows that he must be there
again at nine next morning。 He is furious at the lateness of the hour； and
dropping with fatigue。 His wife； who has done nothing to weary her； is
equally enraged to be taken away just as the ball was becoming amusing。
What a happy； united pair they are as the footman closes the door and the
carriage rolls off home！ Who is to blame？ The husband is vainly trying to
lead the most exacting of double lives； that of a business man all day and a
society man all night。 You can pick him out at a glance in a ballroom。 His
eye shows you that there is no rest for him； for he has placed his wife at
the head of an establishment whose working crushes him into the mud of
care and anxiety。 Has he any one to blame but himself？
In England； I am told； the man of a family goes up to London in the
spring and gets his complete outfit； down to the smallest details of hat…box
and umbrella。 If there happens to be money left； the wife gets a new gown
or two： if not； she 〃turns〃 the old ones and rejoices vicariously in the
splendor of her 〃lord。〃 I know one charming little home over there； where
the ladies cannot afford a pony…carriage； because the three indispensable
hunters eat up the where…withal。
Thackeray was delighted to find one household （Major Ponto's） where
the governess ruled supreme； and I feel a fiendish pleasure in these
accounts of a country where men have been able to maintain some rights；
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and am moved to preach a crusade for the liberation of the American
husband； that the poor； down…trodden creature may revolt from the slavery
where he is held and once more claim his birthright。 If he be prompt to act
（and is successful） he may work such a reform that our girls； on marrying；
may feel that some duties and responsibilities go with their new positions；
and a state of things be changed； where it is possible for a woman to be
pitied by her friends as a model of abnegation； because she has decided to
remain in town during the summer to keep her husband company and
make his weary home…coming brighter。 Or where （as in a story recently
heard） a foreigner on being presented to an American bride abroad and
asking for her husband； could hear in answer： 〃Oh； he could not come； he
was too busy。 I am making my wedding…trip without him。〃
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CHAPTER 19 … The Grand Prix
IN most cities； it is impossible to say when the 〃season〃 ends。 In
London and with us in New York it dwindles off without any special finish；
but in Paris it closes like a trap…door； or the curtain on the last scene of a
pantomime； while the lights are blazing and the orchestra is banging its
loudest。 The GRAND PRIX； which takes place on the second Sunday in
June； is the climax of the spring gayeties。 Up to that date； the social pace
has been getting faster and faster； like the finish of the big race itself； and
fortunately for the lives of the women as well as the horses； ends as
suddenly。
In 1897； the last steeple chase at Auteuil； which precedes the GRAND…
PRIX by one week； was won by a horse belonging to an actress of the
THEATRE FRANCAIS； a lady who has been a great deal before the
public already in connection with the life and death of young Lebaudy。
This youth having had the misfortune to inherit an enormous fortune；
while still a mere boy； plunged into the wildest dissipation； and became
the prey of a band of sharpers and blacklegs。 Mlle。 Marie Louise Marsy
appears to have been the one person who had a sincere affection for the
unfortunate youth。 When his health gave way during his military service；
she threw over her engagement with the FRANCAIS； and nursed her lover
until his death … a devotion rewarded by the gift of a million。
At the present moment； four or five of the band of self…styled
noblemen who traded on the boy's inexperience and generosity； are
serving out terms in the state prisons for blackmailing； and the THEATRE
FRANCAIS possesses the anomaly of a young and beautiful actress； who
runs a racing stable in her own name。
THE GRAND PRIX dates from the reign of Napoleon III。； who； at the
suggestion of the great railway companies； inaugurated this race in 1862；
in imitation of the English Derby； as a means of attracting people to Paris。
The city and the railways each give half of the forty…thousand…dollar prize。
It is the great official race of the year。 The President occupies the central
pavilion； surrounded by the members of the cabinet and the diplomatic
corps。 On the tribunes and lawn can be seen the TOUT PARIS … all the
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celebrities of the great and half…world who play such an important part in
the life of France's capital。 The whole colony of the RASTAQUOUERES；
is sure to be there； 〃RASTAS；〃 as they are familiarly called by the
Parisians； who make little if any distinction in their minds between a
South American （blazing in diamonds and vulgar clothes） and our own
select （？） colony。 Apropos of this inability of the Europeans to appreciate
our fine social distinctions； I have been told of a well…born New Yorker
who took a French noblewoman rather to task for receiving an American
she thought unworthy of notice； and said：
〃How can you receive her？ Her husband keeps a hotel！〃
〃Is that any reason？〃 asked the F