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as she had seen her father do his bank。 She tried to revive a half…forgotten
industry in the district； scraped and whitewashed their picturesque old
villa； proposed her husband's entering business； and in short dashed head
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down against all his inherited traditions and national prejudices； until her
new family loathed the sight of the brisk American face； and the poor she
had tried to help； sulked in their newly drained houses and refused to be
comforted。 Her ways were not Italian ways； and she seemed to the nun…
like Italian ladies； almost unsexed； as she tramped about the fields； talking
artificial manure and subsoil drainage with the men。 Yet neither she nor
her husband was to blame。 The young Italian had but followed the
teachings of his family； which decreed that the only honorable way for an
aristocrat to acquire wealth was to marry it。 The American wife honestly
tried to do her duty in this new position； naively thinking she could engraft
transatlantic 〃go〃 upon the indolent Italian character。 Her work was in vain；
she made herself and her husband so unpopular that they are now living in
this country； regretting too late the error of their ways。
Another case but little less laughable； is that of a Boston girl with a
neat little fortune of her own； who； when married to the young Viennese of
her choice； found that he expected her to live with his family on the third
floor of their 〃palace〃 （the two lower floors being rented to foreigners）；
and as there was hardly enough money for a box at the opera； she was not
expected to go； whereas his position made it necessary for him to have a
stall and appear there nightly among the men of his rank； the astonished
and disillusioned Bostonian remaining at home EN TETE…A…TETE with
the women of his family； who seemed to think this the most natural
arrangement in the world。
It certainly is astonishing that we； the most patriotic of nations； with
such high opinion of ourselves and our institutions； should be so ready to
hand over our daughters and our ducats to the first foreigner who asks for
them； often requiring less information about him than we should consider
necessary before buying a horse or a dog。
Women of no other nation have this mania for espousing aliens。
Nowhere else would a girl with a large fortune dream of marrying out of
her country。 Her highest ideal of a husband would be a man of her own kin。
It is the rarest thing in the world to find a well…born French； Spanish； or
Italian woman married to a foreigner and living away from her country。
How can a woman expect to be happy separated from all the ties and
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traditions of her youth？ If she is taken abroad young； she may still hope to
replace her friends as is often done。 But the real reason of unhappiness
（greater and deeper than this） lies in the fundamental difference of the
whole social structure between our country and that of her adoption； and
the radically different way of looking at every side of life。
Surely a girl must feel that a man who allows a marriage to be
arranged for him （and only signs the contact because its pecuniary clauses
are to his satisfaction； and who would withdraw in a moment if these were
suppressed）； must have an entirely different point of view from her own
on all the vital issues of life。
Foreigners undoubtedly make excellent husbands for their own women。
But they are； except in rare cases； unsatisfactory helpmeets for American
girls。 It is impossible to touch on more than a side or two of this subject。
But as an illustration the following contrasted stories may be cited：
Two sisters of an aristocratic American family； each with an income of
over forty thousand dollars a year； recently married French noblemen。
They naturally expected to continue abroad the life they had led at home；
in which opera boxes； saddle horses； and constant entertaining were
matters of course。 In both cases； our compatriots discovered that their
husbands （neither of them penniless） had entirely different views。 In the
first place； they were told that it was considered 〃bad form〃 in France for
young married women to entertain； besides； the money was needed for
improvements； and in many other ways； and as every well…to…do French
family puts aside at least a third of its income as DOTS for the children
（boys as well as girls）； these brides found themselves cramped for money
for the first time in their lives； and obliged； during their one month a year
in Paris； to put up with hired traps； and depend on their friends for
evenings at the opera。
This story is a telling set…off to the case of an American wife； who one
day received a windfall in the form of a check for a tidy amount。 She
immediately proposed a trip abroad to her husband； but found that he
preferred to remain at home in the society of his horses and dogs。 So our
fair compatriot starts off （with his full consent）； has her outing； spends her
little 〃pile；〃 and returns after three or four months to the home of her
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delighted spouse。
Do these two stories need any comment？ Let our sisters and their
friends think twice before they make themselves irrevocably wheels in a
machine whose working is unknown to them； lest they be torn to pieces as
it moves。 Having the good luck to be born in the 〃paradise of women；〃 let
them beware how they leave it； charm the serpent never so wisely； for they
may find themselves； like the Peri； outside the gate。
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CHAPTER 6 … The Complacency of
Mediocrity
FULL as small intellects are of queer kinks； unexplained turnings and
groundless likes and dislikes； the bland contentment that buoys up the
incompetent is the most difficult of all vagaries to account for。 Rarely do
twenty…four hours pass without examples of this exasperating weakness
appearing on the surface of those shallows that commonplace people so
naively call 〃their minds。〃
What one would expect is extreme modesty； in the half…educated or the
ignorant； and self…approbation higher up in the scale； where it might more
reasonably dwell。 Experience； however； teaches that exactly the opposite
is the case among those who have achieved success。
The accidents of a life turned by chance out of the beaten tracks； have
thrown me at times into acquaintanceship with some of the greater lights
of the last thirty years。 And not only have they been； as a rule； most
unassuming men and women； but in the majority of cases positively self…
depreciatory； doubting of themselves and their talents； constantly aiming
at greater perfection in their art or a higher development of their powers；
never contented with what they have achieved； beyond the idea that it has
been another step toward their goal。 Knowing this； it is always a shock on
meeting the mediocre people who form such a discouraging majority in
any society； to discover that they are all so pleased with themselves； their
achievements； their place in the world； and their own ability and
discernment！
Who has not sat chafing in silence while Mediocrity； in a white
waistcoat and jangling fobs； occupied the after…dinner hour in imparting
second…hand information as his personal views on literature and art？ Can
you not hear him saying once again： 〃I don't pretend to know anything
about art and all that sort of thing； you know； but when I go to an
exhibition I can always pick out the best pictures at a glance。 Sort of a way
I have； and I never make mistakes； you know。〃
Then go and watch； as I have； Henri Rochefort as he laboriously forms
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