town£»¡¡and¡¡goes¡¡circling¡¡around¡¡with¡¡the¡¡other¡¡twigs¡¡and¡¡dry¡¡leaves£»¡¡
moral¡¡flotsam¡¡and¡¡jetsam£»¡¡thrown¡¡aside¡¡by¡¡the¡¡great¡¡rush¡¡of¡¡the¡¡
outside¡¡world¡£
For¡¡the¡¡parents¡¡the¡¡life¡¡is¡¡not¡¡too¡¡sad¡£¡¡¡¡They¡¡have¡¡had¡¡their¡¡day£»¡¡
and¡¡are£»¡¡perhaps£»¡¡a¡¡little¡¡glad¡¡in¡¡their¡¡hearts¡¡of¡¡a¡¡quiet¡¡old¡¡age£»¡¡
away¡¡from¡¡the¡¡heat¡¡and¡¡sweat¡¡of¡¡the¡¡battle£»¡¡but¡¡for¡¡the¡¡younger¡¡
generation¡¡it¡¡is¡¡annihilation¡£¡¡¡¡Each¡¡year¡¡their¡¡circle¡¡grows¡¡
smaller¡£¡¡¡¡Death¡¡takes¡¡away¡¡one¡¡member¡¡after¡¡another¡¡of¡¡the¡¡family£»¡¡
until¡¡one¡¡is¡¡left¡¡alone¡¡in¡¡a¡¡foreign¡¡land¡¡with¡¡no¡¡ties¡¡around¡¡her£»¡¡
or¡¡with¡¡her¡¡far¡away¡¡¡¨home£»¡¨¡¡the¡¡latter¡¡more¡¡a¡¡name¡¡now¡¡than¡¡a¡¡
reality¡£
A¡¡year¡¡or¡¡two¡¡ago¡¡I¡¡was¡¡taking¡¡luncheon¡¡with¡¡our¡¡consul¡¡at¡¡his¡¡
primitive¡¡villa£»¡¡an¡¡hour's¡¡ride¡¡from¡¡the¡¡city¡¡of¡¡Tangier£»¡¡a¡¡ride¡¡
made¡¡on¡¡donkey¡back£»¡¡as¡¡no¡¡roads¡¡exist¡¡in¡¡that¡¡sunny¡¡land¡£¡¡¡¡After¡¡
our¡¡coffee¡¡and¡¡cigars£»¡¡he¡¡took¡¡me¡¡a¡¡half¡hour's¡¡walk¡¡into¡¡the¡¡
wilderness¡¡around¡¡him¡¡to¡¡call¡¡on¡¡his¡¡nearest¡¡neighbors£»¡¡whose¡¡mode¡¡
of¡¡existence¡¡seemed¡¡a¡¡source¡¡of¡¡anxiety¡¡to¡¡him¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡found¡¡myself¡¡in¡¡
the¡¡presence¡¡of¡¡two¡¡American¡¡ladies£»¡¡the¡¡younger¡¡being¡¡certainly¡¡
not¡¡less¡¡than¡¡seventy¡five¡£¡¡¡¡To¡¡my¡¡astonishment¡¡I¡¡found¡¡they¡¡had¡¡
been¡¡living¡¡there¡¡some¡¡thirty¡¡years£»¡¡since¡¡the¡¡death¡¡of¡¡their¡¡
parents£»¡¡in¡¡an¡¡isolation¡¡and¡¡remoteness¡¡impossible¡¡to¡¡describe£»¡¡in¡¡
an¡¡Arab¡¡house£»¡¡with¡¡native¡¡servants£»¡¡¡¨the¡¡world¡¡forgetting£»¡¡by¡¡the¡¡
world¡¡forgot¡£¡¨¡¡¡¡Yet¡¡these¡¡ladies¡¡had¡¡names¡¡well¡¡known¡¡in¡¡New¡¡York¡¡
fifty¡¡years¡¡ago¡£
The¡¡glimpse¡¡I¡¡had¡¡of¡¡their¡¡existence¡¡made¡¡me¡¡thoughtful¡¡as¡¡I¡¡rode¡¡
home¡¡in¡¡the¡¡twilight£»¡¡across¡¡a¡¡suburb¡¡none¡¡too¡¡safe¡¡for¡¡strangers¡£¡¡¡¡
What¡¡had¡¡the¡¡future¡¡in¡¡store¡¡for¡¡those¡¡two£¿¡¡¡¡Or£»¡¡worse¡¡still£»¡¡for¡¡
the¡¡survivor¡¡of¡¡those¡¡two£¿¡¡¡¡In¡¡contrast£»¡¡I¡¡saw¡¡a¡¡certain¡¡humble¡¡
¡¨home¡¨¡¡far¡¡away¡¡in¡¡America£»¡¡where¡¡two¡¡old¡¡ladies¡¡were¡¡ending¡¡their¡¡
lives¡¡surrounded¡¡by¡¡loving¡¡friends¡¡and¡¡relations£»¡¡honored¡¡and¡¡
cherished¡¡and¡¡guarded¡¡tenderly¡¡from¡¡the¡¡rude¡¡world¡£
In¡¡big¡¡cities¡¡like¡¡Paris¡¡and¡¡Rome¡¡there¡¡is¡¡another¡¡class¡¡of¡¡the¡¡
expatriated£»¡¡the¡¡wealthy¡¡who¡¡have¡¡left¡¡their¡¡homes¡¡in¡¡a¡¡moment¡¡of¡¡
pique¡¡after¡¡the¡¡failure¡¡of¡¡some¡¡social¡¡or¡¡political¡¡ambition£»¡¡and¡¡
who¡¡find¡¡in¡¡these¡¡centres¡¡the¡¡recognition¡¡refused¡¡them¡¡at¡¡home¡¡and¡¡
for¡¡which¡¡their¡¡souls¡¡thirsted¡£
It¡¡is¡¡not¡¡to¡¡these¡¡I¡¡refer£»¡¡although¡¡it¡¡is¡¡curious¡¡to¡¡see¡¡a¡¡group¡¡
of¡¡people¡¡living¡¡for¡¡years¡¡in¡¡a¡¡country¡¡of¡¡which¡¡they£»¡¡half¡¡the¡¡
time£»¡¡do¡¡not¡¡speak¡¡the¡¡language¡¡£¨beyond¡¡the¡¡necessities¡¡of¡¡house¡
keeping¡¡and¡¡shopping£©£»¡¡knowing¡¡but¡¡few¡¡of¡¡its¡¡inhabitants£»¡¡and¡¡
seeing¡¡none¡¡of¡¡the¡¡society¡¡of¡¡the¡¡place£»¡¡their¡¡acquaintance¡¡rarely¡¡
going¡¡beyond¡¡that¡¡equivocal£»¡¡hybrid¡¡class¡¡that¡¡surrounds¡¡rich¡¡
¡¨strangers¡¨¡¡and¡¡hangs¡¡on¡¡to¡¡the¡¡outer¡¡edge¡¡of¡¡the¡¡GRAND¡¡MONDE¡£¡¡¡¡One¡¡
feels¡¡for¡¡this¡¡latter¡¡class¡¡merely¡¡contempt£»¡¡but¡¡one's¡¡pity¡¡is¡¡
reserved¡¡for¡¡the¡¡former¡£¡¡¡¡What¡¡object¡¡lessons¡¡some¡¡lives¡¡on¡¡the¡¡
Continent¡¡would¡¡be¡¡to¡¡impatient¡¡souls¡¡at¡¡home£»¡¡who¡¡feel¡¡
discontented¡¡with¡¡their¡¡surroundings£»¡¡and¡¡anxious¡¡to¡¡break¡¡away¡¡and¡¡
wander¡¡abroad£¡¡¡¡¡Let¡¡them¡¡think¡¡twice¡¡before¡¡they¡¡cut¡¡the¡¡thousand¡¡
ties¡¡it¡¡has¡¡taken¡¡a¡¡lifetime¡¡to¡¡form¡£¡¡¡¡Better¡¡monotony¡¡at¡¡your¡¡own¡¡
fireside£»¡¡my¡¡friends£»¡¡where¡¡at¡¡the¡¡worst£»¡¡you¡¡are¡¡known¡¡and¡¡have¡¡
your¡¡place£»¡¡no¡¡matter¡¡how¡¡small£»¡¡than¡¡an¡¡old¡¡age¡¡among¡¡strangers¡£
CHAPTER¡¡12¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Seven¡¡Ages¡¨¡¡of¡¡Furniture
THE¡¡progress¡¡through¡¡life¡¡of¡¡active¡minded¡¡Americans¡¡is¡¡apt¡¡to¡¡be¡¡a¡¡
series¡¡of¡¡transformations¡£¡¡¡¡At¡¡each¡¡succeeding¡¡phase¡¡of¡¡mental¡¡
development£»¡¡an¡¡old¡¡skin¡¡drops¡¡from¡¡their¡¡growing¡¡intelligence£»¡¡and¡¡
they¡¡assimilate¡¡the¡¡ideas¡¡and¡¡tastes¡¡of¡¡their¡¡new¡¡condition£»¡¡with¡¡a¡¡
facility¡¡and¡¡completeness¡¡unknown¡¡to¡¡other¡¡nations¡£
One¡¡series¡¡of¡¡metamorphoses¡¡particularly¡¡amusing¡¡to¡¡watch¡¡is£»¡¡that¡¡
of¡¡an¡¡observant£»¡¡receptive¡¡daughter¡¡of¡¡Uncle¡¡Sam¡¡who£»¡¡aided¡¡and¡¡
followed¡¡£¨at¡¡a¡¡distance£©¡¡by¡¡an¡¡adoring¡¡husband£»¡¡gradually¡¡develops¡¡
her¡¡excellent¡¡brain£»¡¡and¡¡rises¡¡through¡¡fathoms¡¡of¡¡self¡culture¡¡and¡¡
purblind¡¡experiment£»¡¡to¡¡the¡¡surface¡¡of¡¡dilettantism¡¡and¡¡
connoisseurship¡£¡¡¡¡One¡¡can¡¡generally¡¡detect¡¡the¡¡exact¡¡stage¡¡of¡¡
evolution¡¡such¡¡a¡¡lady¡¡has¡¡reached¡¡by¡¡the¡¡bent¡¡of¡¡her¡¡conversation£»¡¡
the¡¡books¡¡she¡¡is¡¡reading£»¡¡and£»¡¡last¡¡but¡¡not¡¡least£»¡¡by¡¡her¡¡material¡¡
surroundings£»¡¡no¡¡outward¡¡and¡¡visible¡¡signs¡¡reflecting¡¡inward¡¡and¡¡
spiritual¡¡grace¡¡so¡¡clearly¡¡as¡¡the¡¡objects¡¡people¡¡collect¡¡around¡¡
them¡¡for¡¡the¡¡adornment¡¡of¡¡their¡¡rooms£»¡¡or¡¡the¡¡way¡¡in¡¡which¡¡those¡¡
rooms¡¡are¡¡decorated¡£
A¡¡few¡¡years¡¡ago£»¡¡when¡¡a¡¡young¡¡man¡¡and¡¡his¡¡bride¡¡set¡¡up¡¡housekeeping¡¡
on¡¡their¡¡own¡¡account£»¡¡the¡¡¡¨old¡¡people¡¨¡¡of¡¡both¡¡families¡¡seized¡¡the¡¡
opportunity¡¡to¡¡unload¡¡on¡¡the¡¡beginners¡¡£¨under¡¡the¡¡pretence¡¡of¡¡
helping¡¡them¡¡along£©¡¡a¡¡quantity¡¡of¡¡furniture¡¡and¡¡belongings¡¡that¡¡had¡¡
£¨as¡¡the¡¡shopkeepers¡¡say£©¡¡¡¨ceased¡¡to¡¡please¡¨¡¡their¡¡original¡¡owners¡£¡¡¡¡
The¡¡narrow¡¡quarters¡¡of¡¡the¡¡tyros¡¡are¡¡encumbered¡¡by¡¡ungainly¡¡sofas¡¡
and¡¡arm¡chairs£»¡¡most¡¡probably¡¡of¡¡carved¡¡rosewood¡£¡¡¡¡ETAGERES¡¡OF¡¡the¡¡
same¡¡lugubrious¡¡material¡¡grace¡¡the¡¡corners¡¡of¡¡their¡¡tiny¡¡drawing¡
room£»¡¡the¡¡bits¡¡of¡¡mirror¡¡inserted¡¡between¡¡the¡¡shelves¡¡distorting¡¡
the¡¡image¡¡of¡¡the¡¡owners¡¡into¡¡headless¡¡or¡¡limbless¡¡phantoms¡£¡¡¡¡Half¡¡
of¡¡their¡¡little¡¡dining¡room¡¡is¡¡filled¡¡with¡¡a¡¡black¡walnut¡¡
sideboard£»¡¡ingeniously¡¡contrived¡¡to¡¡take¡¡up¡¡as¡¡much¡¡space¡¡as¡¡
possible¡¡and¡¡hold¡¡nothing£»¡¡its¡¡graceless¡¡top¡¡adorned¡¡with¡¡a¡¡stag's¡¡
head¡¡carved¡¡in¡¡wood¡¡and¡¡imitation¡¡antlers¡£
The¡¡novices¡¡in¡¡their¡¡innocence¡¡live¡¡contented¡¡amid¡¡their¡¡hideous¡¡
surroundings¡¡for¡¡a¡¡year¡¡or¡¡two£»¡¡when¡¡the¡¡wife¡¡enters¡¡her¡¡second¡¡
epoch£»¡¡which£»¡¡for¡¡want¡¡of¡¡a¡¡better¡¡word£»¡¡we¡¡will¡¡call¡¡the¡¡Japanese¡¡
period¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡grim¡¡furniture¡¡gradually¡¡disappears¡¡under¡¡a¡¡layer¡¡of¡¡
silk¡¡and¡¡gauze¡¡draperies£»¡¡the¡¡bare¡¡walls¡¡blossom¡¡with¡¡paper¡¡
umbrellas£»¡¡fans¡¡are¡¡nailed¡¡in¡¡groups¡¡promiscuously£»¡¡wherever¡¡an¡¡
empty¡¡space¡¡offends¡¡her¡¡eye¡£¡¡¡¡Bows¡¡of¡¡ribbon¡¡are¡¡attached¡¡to¡¡every¡¡
possible¡¡protuberance¡¡of¡¡the¡¡furniture¡£¡¡¡¡Even¡¡the¡¡table¡¡service¡¡is¡¡
not¡¡spared¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡remember¡¡dining¡¡at¡¡a¡¡house¡¡in¡¡this¡¡stage¡¡of¡¡its¡¡
artistic¡¡development£»¡¡where¡¡the¡¡marrow¡¡bones¡¡that¡¡formed¡¡one¡¡course¡¡
of¡¡the¡¡dinner¡¡appeared¡¡each¡¡with¡¡a¡¡coquettish¡¡little¡¡bow¡knot¡¡of¡¡
pink¡¡ribbon¡¡around¡¡its¡¡neck¡£
Once¡¡launched¡¡on¡¡this¡¡sea¡¡of¡¡adornment£»¡¡the¡¡housewife¡¡soon¡¡loses¡¡
her¡¡bearings¡¡and¡¡decorates¡¡indiscriminately¡£¡¡¡¡Her¡¡old¡¡evening¡¡
dresses¡¡serve¡¡to¡¡drape¡¡the¡¡mantelpieces£»¡¡and¡¡she¡¡passes¡¡every¡¡spare¡¡
hour¡¡embroidering£»¡¡braiding£»¡¡or¡¡fringing¡¡some¡¡material¡¡to¡¡adorn¡¡her¡¡
rooms¡£¡¡¡¡At¡¡Christmas¡¡her¡¡friends¡¡contribute¡¡specimens¡¡of¡¡their¡¡
handiwork¡¡to¡¡the¡¡collection¡£
The¡¡view¡¡of¡¡other¡¡houses¡¡and¡¡other¡¡decorations¡¡before¡¡long¡¡
introduces¡¡the¡¡worm¡¡of¡¡discontent¡¡into¡¡the¡¡blossom¡¡of¡¡our¡¡friend's¡¡
contentment¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡fruit¡¡of¡¡her¡¡labors¡¡becomes¡¡tasteless¡¡on¡¡her¡¡
lips¡£¡¡¡¡As¡¡the¡¡finances¡¡of¡¡the¡¡family¡¡are¡¡satisfactory£»¡¡the¡¡re¡
arrangement¡¡of¡¡the¡¡parlor¡¡floor¡¡is¡¡£¨at¡¡her¡¡suggestion£©¡¡confided¡¡to¡¡
a¡¡firm¡¡of¡¡upholsterers£»¡¡who¡¡make¡¡a¡¡clean¡¡sweep¡¡of¡¡the¡¡rosewood¡¡and¡¡
the¡¡bow¡knots£»¡¡and¡¡retire£»¡¡after¡¡some¡¡months¡¡of¡¡labor£»¡¡leaving¡¡the¡¡
delighted¡¡wife¡¡in¡¡possession¡¡of¡¡a¡¡suite¡¡of¡¡rooms¡¡glittering¡¡with¡¡
every¡¡monstrosity¡¡that¡¡an¡¡imaginative¡¡tradesman£»¡¡spurred¡¡on¡¡by¡¡
unlimited¡¡credit£»¡¡could¡¡devise¡£
The¡¡wood¡¡work¡¡of¡¡the¡¡doors¡¡and¡¡mantels¡¡is¡¡an¡¡intricate¡¡puzzle¡¡of¡¡
inlaid¡¡woods£»¡¡the¡¡ceilings¡¡are¡¡panelled¡¡and¡¡painted¡¡in¡¡complicated¡¡
designs¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡¡¨parlor¡¨¡¡is¡¡provided¡¡with¡¡a¡¡complete¡¡set¡¡of¡¡neat£»¡¡
old¡gold¡¡satin¡¡furniture£»¡¡puffed¡¡at¡¡its¡¡angles¡¡with¡¡peacock¡colored¡¡
plush¡£
The¡¡monumental¡¡folding¡¡doors¡¡between¡¡the¡¡long£»¡¡narrow¡¡rooms¡¡are¡¡
draped¡¡with¡¡the¡¡same¡¡chaste¡¡combination¡¡of¡¡stuffs¡£
The¡¡dining¡room¡¡blazes¡¡with¡¡a¡¡gold¡¡and¡¡purple¡¡wall¡¡paper£»¡¡set¡¡off¡¡
by¡¡ebonized¡¡wood¡¡work¡¡and¡¡furniture¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡conscientious¡¡contractor¡¡
has¡¡neglected¡¡no¡¡corner¡£¡¡¡¡Every¡¡square¡¡inch¡¡of¡¡the¡¡ceilings£»¡¡walls£»¡¡
and¡¡floors¡¡has¡¡been¡¡carved£»¡¡embossed£»¡¡stencilled£»¡¡or¡¡gilded¡¡into¡¡a¡¡
bewildering¡¡monotony¡£
The¡¡husband£»¡¡whose¡¡affairs¡¡are¡¡rapidly¡¡increasing¡¡on¡¡his¡¡hands£»¡¡has¡¡
no¡¡time¡¡to¡¡attend¡¡to¡¡such¡¡insignificant¡¡details¡¡as¡¡house¡¡
decoration£»¡¡the¡¡wife¡¡has¡¡perfect¡¡confidence¡¡in¡¡the¡¡taste¡¡of¡¡the¡¡
firm¡¡employed¡£¡¡¡¡So¡¡at¡¡the¡¡suggestion¡¡of¡¡the¡¡latter£»¡¡and¡¡in¡¡order¡¡to¡¡
complete¡¡the¡¡beauty¡¡of¡¡the¡¡rooms£»¡¡a¡¡Bouguereau£»¡¡a¡¡Toulmouche¡¡and¡¡a¡¡
couple¡¡of¡¡Schreyers¡¡are¡¡bought£»¡¡and¡¡a¡¡number¡¡of¡¡modern¡¡French¡¡
bronzes¡¡scattered¡¡about¡¡on¡¡the¡¡multicolored¡¡cabinets¡£¡¡¡¡Then£»¡¡at¡¡
last£»¡¡the¡¡happy¡¡owners¡¡of¡¡all¡¡this¡¡splendor¡¡open¡¡their¡¡doors¡¡to¡¡the¡¡
admiration¡¡of¡¡their¡¡friends¡£
About¡¡the¡¡time¡¡the¡¡peacock¡¡plush¡¡and¡¡the¡¡gilding¡¡begin¡¡to¡¡show¡¡
signs¡¡of¡¡wear¡¡and¡¡tear£»¡¡rumors¡¡of¡¡a¡¡fresh¡¡fashion¡¡in¡¡decoration¡¡
float¡¡across¡¡from¡¡England£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡new¡¡gospel¡¡of¡¡the¡¡beautiful¡¡
according¡¡to¡¡Clarence¡¡Cook¡¡is¡¡first¡¡preached¡¡to¡¡an¡¡astonished¡¡
nation¡£
The¡¡fortune¡¡of¡¡our¡¡couple¡¡continuing¡¡to¡¡develop¡¡with¡¡pleasing¡¡
rapidity£»¡¡the¡¡building¡¡of¡¡a¡¡country¡¡house¡¡is¡¡next¡¡decided¡¡upon¡£¡¡¡¡A¡¡
friend¡¡of¡¡the¡¡husband£»¡¡who¡¡has¡¡recently¡¡started¡¡out¡¡as¡¡an¡¡
architect£»¡¡designs¡¡them¡¡a¡¡picturesque¡¡residence¡¡without¡¡a¡¡straight¡¡
line¡¡on¡¡its¡¡exterior¡¡or¡¡a¡¡square¡¡room¡¡inside¡£¡¡¡¡This¡¡house¡¡is¡¡done¡¡
up¡¡in¡¡strict¡¡obedience¡¡to¡¡the¡¡teachings¡¡of¡¡the¡¡new¡¡sect¡£¡¡¡¡
СÌáʾ£º°´ »Ø³µ [Enter] ¼ü ·µ»ØÊéÄ¿£¬°´ ¡û ¼ü ·µ»ØÉÏÒ»Ò³£¬ °´ ¡ú ¼ü ½øÈëÏÂÒ»Ò³¡£
ÔÞÒ»ÏÂ
Ìí¼ÓÊéÇ©¼ÓÈëÊé¼Ü