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！
spouse mounted to its assault。
Their repulse was a bitter humiliation to the PARVENUE Empress；
whose resentment took the form （along with many other curious results） of
opening the present Boulevard St。 Germain； its line being intentionally
carried through the heart of that quarter； teeming with historic 〃Hotels〃 of
the old aristocracy； where beautiful constructions were mercilessly torn
down to make way for the new avenue。 The cajoleries which Eugenie first
tried and the blows that followed were alike unavailing。 Even her worship
of Marie Antoinette； between whom and herself she found imaginary
resemblances； failed to warm the stony hearts of the proud old ladies； to
whom it was as gall and wormwood to see a nobody crowned in the palace
of their kings。 Like religious communities； persecution only drew this old
society more firmly together and made them stand by each other in their
distress。 When the Bois was remodelled by Napoleon and the lake with its
winding drive laid out； the new Court drove of an afternoon along this
water front。 That was enough for the old swells！ They retired to the remote
〃Allee of the Acacias；〃 and solemnly took their airing away from the
bustle of the new world； incidentally setting a fashion that has held good
to this day； the lakeside being now deserted； and the 〃Acacias〃 crowded of
an afternoon； by all that Paris holds of elegant and inelegant。
Where the brilliant Second Empire failed； the Republic had little
chance of success。 With each succeeding year the 〃Old Faubourg〃
134
… Page 135…
Worldly Ways and Byways
withdrew more and more into its shell； going so far； after the fall of Mac
Mahon； as to change its 〃season〃 to the spring； so that the balls and
FETES it gave should not coincide with the 〃official〃 entertainments
during the winter。
The next people to have a 〃shy〃 at the 〃Old Faubourg's〃 Gothic
battlements were the Jews； who were victorious in a few light skirmishes
and succeeded in capturing one or two illustrious husbands for their
daughters。 The wily Israelites； however； discovered that titled sons…in…law
were expensive articles and often turned out unsatisfactorily； so they
quickly desisted。 The English； the most practical of societies； have always
left the Faubourg alone。 It has been reserved for our countrywomen to lay
the most determined siege yet recorded to that untaken stronghold。
It is a characteristic of the American temperament to be unable to see a
closed door without developing an intense curiosity to know what is
behind； or to read 〃No Admittance to the Public〃 over an entrance without
immediately determining to get inside at any price。 So it is easy to
understand the attraction an hermetically sealed society would have for
our fair compatriots。 Year after year they have flung themselves against its
closed gateways。 Repulsed； they have retired only to form again for the
attack； but are as far away to…day from planting their flag in that citadel as
when they first began。 It does not matter to them what is inside； there may
be （as in this case） only mouldy old halls and a group of people with
antiquated ideas and ways。 It is enough for a certain type of woman to
know that she is not wanted in an exclusive circle； to be ready to die in the
attempt to get there。 This point of view reminds one of Mrs。 Snob's saying
about a new arrival at a hotel： 〃I am sure she must be 'somebody' for she
was so rude to me when I spoke to her；〃 and her answer to her daughter
when the girl said （on arriving at a watering…place） that she had noticed a
very nice family 〃who look as if they wanted to know us； Mamma：〃
〃Then； my dear；〃 replied Mamma Snob； 〃they certainly are not people
we want to meet！〃
The men in French society are willing enough to make acquaintance
with foreigners。 You may see the youth of the Faubourg dancing at
American balls in Paris； or running over for occasional visits to this
135
… Page 136…
Worldly Ways and Byways
country。 But when it comes to taking their women…kind with them； it is a
different matter。 Americans who have known well…born Frenchmen at
school or college are surprised； on meeting them later； to be asked
（cordially enough） to dine EN GARCON at a restaurant； although their
Parisian friend is married。 An Englishman's or American's first word
would be on a like occasion：
〃Come and dine with me to…night。 I want to introduce you to my wife。〃
Such an idea would never cross a Frenchman's mind！
One American I know is a striking example of this。 He was born in
Paris； went to school and college there； and has lived in that city all his life。
His sister married a French nobleman。 Yet at this moment； in spite of his
wealth； his charming American wife； and many beautiful entertainments；
he has not one warm French friend； or the ENTREE on a footing of
intimacy to a single Gallic house。
There is no analogy between the English aristocracy and the French
nobility； except that they are both antiquated institutions； the English is the
more harmful on account of its legislative power； the French is the more
pretentious。 The House of Lords is the most open club in London； the
payment of an entrance…fee in the shape of a check to a party fund being
an all…sufficient sesame。 In France； one must be born in the magic circle。
The spirit of the Emigration of 1793 is not yet extinct。 The nobles live in
their own world （how expressive the word is； seeming to exclude all the
rest of mankind）； pining after an impossible RESTAURATION； alien to
the present day； holding aloof from politics for fear of coming in touch
with the masses； with whom they pride themselves on having nothing in
common。
What leads many people astray on this subject is that there has formed
around this ancient society a circle composed of rich 〃outsiders；〃 who
have married into good families； and of eccentric members of the latter；
who from a love of excitement or for interested motives have broken away
from their traditions。 Newly arrived Americans are apt to mistake this
〃world〃 for the real thing。 Into this circle it is not difficult for foreigners
who are rich and anxious to see something of life to gain admission。 To be
received by the ladies of this outer circle； seems to our compatriots to be
136
… Page 137…
Worldly Ways and Byways
an achievement； until they learn the real standing of their new
acquaintances。
No gayer houses； however； exist than those of the new set。 At their city
or country houses； they entertain continually； and they are the people one
meets toward five o'clock； on the grounds of the Polo Club； in the Bois； at
FETES given by the Island Club of Puteaux； attending the race meetings；
or dining at American houses。 As far as amusement and fun go； one might
seek much further and fare worse。
It is very； very rare that foreigners get beyond this circle。 Occasionally
there is a marriage between an American girl and some Frenchman of high
rank。 In these cases the girl is； as it were； swallowed up。 Her family see
little of her； she rarely appears in general society； and； little by little； she is
lost to her old friends and relations。 I know of several cases of this kind
where it is to be doubted if a dozen Americans outside of the girls'
connections know that such women exist。 The fall in rents and land values
has made the French aristocracy poor； it is only by the greatest economy
（and it never entered into an American mind to conceive of such economy
as is practised among them） that they succeed in holding on to their
historical chateaux or beautiful city residences； so that pride plays a large
part in the isolation in which they live。
The fact that no titles are recognized officially b