day¡£¡¡¡¡That¡¡ungrateful¡¡task¡¡I¡¡leave¡¡to¡¡sterner¡¡moralists£»¡¡and¡¡
hopeful¡¡souls¡¡who¡¡naively¡¡imagine¡¡they¡¡can¡¡stem¡¡the¡¡current¡¡of¡¡an¡¡
epoch¡¡with¡¡the¡¡barrier¡¡of¡¡their¡¡eloquence£»¡¡or¡¡sweep¡¡back¡¡an¡¡ocean¡¡
of¡¡innovations¡¡by¡¡their¡¡logic¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡should¡¡like£»¡¡however£»¡¡to¡¡ask¡¡my¡¡
sisters¡¡one¡¡question£º¡¡Are¡¡they¡¡quite¡¡sure¡¡that¡¡women¡¡gain¡¡by¡¡these¡¡
changes£¿¡¡¡¡Do¡¡they¡¡imagine£»¡¡these¡¡¡¨sporty¡¨¡¡young¡¡females¡¡in¡¡short¡
cut¡¡skirts¡¡and¡¡mannish¡¡shirts¡¡and¡¡ties£»¡¡that¡¡it¡¡is¡¡seductive¡¡to¡¡a¡¡
lover£»¡¡or¡¡a¡¡husband¡¡to¡¡see¡¡his¡¡idol¡¡in¡¡a¡¡violent¡¡perspiration£»¡¡her¡¡
draggled¡¡hair¡¡blowing¡¡across¡¡a¡¡sunburned¡¡face£»¡¡panting¡¡up¡¡a¡¡long¡¡
hill¡¡in¡¡front¡¡of¡¡him¡¡on¡¡a¡¡bicycle£»¡¡frantic¡¡at¡¡having¡¡lost¡¡her¡¡race£¿¡¡¡¡
Shade¡¡of¡¡gentle¡¡William£¡¡¡who¡¡said
A¡¡woman¡¡moved£»¡¡is¡¡like¡¡a¡¡fountain¡¡troubled£»¡¡¡
Muddy£»¡¡ill¡seeming£»¡¡thick£»¡¡bereft¡¡of¡¡beauty¡£
And¡¡while¡¡it¡¡is¡¡so£»¡¡none¡¡so¡¡dry¡¡or¡¡thirsty
Will¡¡deign¡¡to¡¡sip¡¡or¡¡touch¡¡one¡¡drop¡¡of¡¡it¡£
Is¡¡the¡¡modern¡¡girl¡¡under¡¡the¡¡impression¡¡that¡¡men¡¡will¡¡be¡¡contented¡¡
with¡¡poor¡¡imitations¡¡of¡¡themselves£»¡¡to¡¡share¡¡their¡¡homes¡¡and¡¡be¡¡the¡¡
mothers¡¡of¡¡their¡¡children£¿¡¡¡¡She¡¡is¡¡throwing¡¡away¡¡the¡¡substance¡¡for¡¡
the¡¡shadow£¡
The¡¡moment¡¡women¡¡step¡¡out¡¡from¡¡the¡¡sanctuary¡¡of¡¡their¡¡homes£»¡¡the¡¡
glamour¡¡that¡¡girlhood¡¡or¡¡maternity¡¡has¡¡thrown¡¡around¡¡them¡¡cast¡¡
aside£»¡¡that¡¡moment¡¡will¡¡they¡¡cease¡¡to¡¡rule¡¡mankind¡£¡¡¡¡Women¡¡may¡¡
agitate¡¡until¡¡they¡¡have¡¡obtained¡¡political¡¡recognition£»¡¡but¡¡will¡¡
awake¡¡from¡¡their¡¡foolish¡¡dream¡¡of¡¡power£»¡¡realizing¡¡too¡¡late¡¡what¡¡
they¡¡have¡¡sacrificed¡¡to¡¡obtain¡¡it£»¡¡that¡¡the¡¡price¡¡has¡¡been¡¡very¡¡
heavy£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡fruit¡¡of¡¡their¡¡struggles¡¡bitter¡¡on¡¡their¡¡lips¡£
There¡¡are¡¡few¡¡men£»¡¡I¡¡imagine£»¡¡of¡¡my¡¡generation¡¡to¡¡whom¡¡the¡¡words¡¡
¡¨home¡¨¡¡and¡¡¡¨mother¡¨¡¡have¡¡not¡¡a¡¡penetrating¡¡charm£»¡¡who¡¡do¡¡not¡¡look¡¡
back¡¡with¡¡softened¡¡heart¡¡and¡¡tender¡¡thoughts¡¡to¡¡fireside¡¡scenes¡¡of¡¡
evening¡¡readings¡¡and¡¡twilight¡¡talks¡¡at¡¡a¡¡mother's¡¡knee£»¡¡realizing¡¡
that¡¡the¡¡best¡¡in¡¡their¡¡natures¡¡owes¡¡its¡¡growth¡¡to¡¡these¡¡influences¡£
I¡¡sometimes¡¡look¡¡about¡¡me¡¡and¡¡wonder¡¡what¡¡the¡¡word¡¡¡¨mother¡¨¡¡will¡¡
mean¡¡later£»¡¡to¡¡modern¡¡little¡¡boys¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡will¡¡evoke£»¡¡I¡¡fear£»¡¡a¡¡
confused¡¡remembrance¡¡of¡¡some¡¡centaur¡like¡¡being£»¡¡half¡¡woman£»¡¡half¡¡
wheel£»¡¡or¡¡as¡¡it¡¡did¡¡to¡¡neglected¡¡little¡¡Rawdon¡¡Crawley£»¡¡the¡¡vision¡¡
of¡¡a¡¡radiant¡¡creature¡¡in¡¡gauze¡¡and¡¡jewels£»¡¡driving¡¡away¡¡to¡¡endless¡¡
FETES¡¡¡¡¡FETES¡¡followed¡¡by¡¡long¡¡mornings£»¡¡when¡¡he¡¡was¡¡told¡¡not¡¡to¡¡
make¡¡any¡¡noise£»¡¡or¡¡play¡¡too¡¡loudly£»¡¡¡¨as¡¡poor¡¡mamma¡¡is¡¡resting¡£¡¨¡¡¡¡
What¡¡other¡¡memories¡¡can¡¡the¡¡¡¨successful¡¨¡¡woman¡¡of¡¡to¡day¡¡hope¡¡to¡¡
leave¡¡in¡¡the¡¡minds¡¡of¡¡her¡¡children£¿¡¡¡¡If¡¡the¡¡child¡¡remembers¡¡his¡¡
mother¡¡in¡¡this¡¡way£»¡¡will¡¡not¡¡the¡¡man¡¡who¡¡has¡¡known¡¡and¡¡perhaps¡¡
loved¡¡her£»¡¡feel¡¡the¡¡same¡¡sensation¡¡of¡¡empty¡¡futility¡¡when¡¡her¡¡name¡¡
is¡¡mentioned£¿
The¡¡woman¡¡who¡¡proposes¡¡a¡¡game¡¡of¡¡cards¡¡to¡¡a¡¡youth¡¡who¡¡comes¡¡to¡¡pass¡¡
an¡¡hour¡¡in¡¡her¡¡society£»¡¡can¡¡hardly¡¡expect¡¡him¡¡to¡¡carry¡¡away¡¡a¡¡
particularly¡¡tender¡¡memory¡¡of¡¡her¡¡as¡¡he¡¡leaves¡¡the¡¡house¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡girl¡¡
who¡¡has¡¡rowed£»¡¡ridden£»¡¡or¡¡raced¡¡at¡¡a¡¡man's¡¡side¡¡for¡¡days£»¡¡with¡¡the¡¡
object¡¡of¡¡getting¡¡the¡¡better¡¡of¡¡him¡¡at¡¡some¡¡sport¡¡or¡¡pastime£»¡¡
cannot¡¡reasonably¡¡hope¡¡to¡¡be¡¡connected¡¡in¡¡his¡¡thoughts¡¡with¡¡ideas¡¡
more¡¡tender¡¡or¡¡more¡¡elevated¡¡than¡¡¡¨odds¡¨¡¡or¡¡¡¨handicaps£»¡¨¡¡with¡¡an¡¡
undercurrent¡¡of¡¡pique¡¡if¡¡his¡¡unsexed¡¡companion¡¡has¡¡¡¨downed¡¨¡¡him¡¡
successfully¡£
What¡¡man£»¡¡unless¡¡he¡¡be¡¡singularly¡¡dissolute¡¡or¡¡unfortunate£»¡¡but¡¡
turns¡¡his¡¡steps£»¡¡when¡¡he¡¡can£»¡¡towards¡¡some¡¡dainty¡¡parlor¡¡where¡¡he¡¡
is¡¡sure¡¡of¡¡finding¡¡a¡¡smiling£»¡¡soft¡voiced¡¡woman£»¡¡whose¡¡welcome¡¡he¡¡
knows¡¡will¡¡soothe¡¡his¡¡irritated¡¡nerves¡¡and¡¡restore¡¡the¡¡even¡¡balance¡¡
of¡¡his¡¡temper£»¡¡whose¡¡charm¡¡will¡¡work¡¡its¡¡subtle¡¡way¡¡into¡¡his¡¡
troubled¡¡spirit£¿¡¡¡¡The¡¡wife¡¡he¡¡loves£»¡¡or¡¡the¡¡friend¡¡he¡¡admires¡¡and¡¡
respects£»¡¡will¡¡do¡¡more¡¡for¡¡him¡¡in¡¡one¡¡such¡¡quiet¡¡hour¡¡when¡¡two¡¡
minds¡¡commune£»¡¡coming¡¡closer¡¡to¡¡the¡¡real¡¡man£»¡¡and¡¡moving¡¡him¡¡to¡¡
braver¡¡efforts£»¡¡and¡¡nobler¡¡aims£»¡¡than¡¡all¡¡the¡¡beauties¡¡and¡¡¡¨sporty¡¨¡¡
acquaintances¡¡of¡¡a¡¡lifetime¡£¡¡¡¡No¡¡matter¡¡what¡¡a¡¡man's¡¡education¡¡or¡¡
taste¡¡is£»¡¡none¡¡are¡¡insensible¡¡to¡¡such¡¡an¡¡atmosphere¡¡or¡¡to¡¡the¡¡grace¡¡
and¡¡witchery¡¡a¡¡woman¡¡can¡¡lend¡¡to¡¡the¡¡simplest¡¡surroundings¡£¡¡¡¡She¡¡
need¡¡not¡¡be¡¡beautiful¡¡or¡¡brilliant¡¡to¡¡hold¡¡him¡¡in¡¡lifelong¡¡
allegiance£»¡¡if¡¡she¡¡but¡¡possess¡¡this¡¡magnetism¡£
Madame¡¡Recamier¡¡was¡¡a¡¡beautiful£»¡¡but¡¡not¡¡a¡¡brilliant¡¡woman£»¡¡yet¡¡she¡¡
held¡¡men¡¡her¡¡slaves¡¡for¡¡years¡£¡¡¡¡To¡¡know¡¡her¡¡was¡¡to¡¡fall¡¡under¡¡her¡¡
charm£»¡¡and¡¡to¡¡feel¡¡it¡¡once¡¡was¡¡to¡¡remain¡¡her¡¡adorer¡¡for¡¡life¡£¡¡¡¡She¡¡
will¡¡go¡¡down¡¡to¡¡history¡¡as¡¡the¡¡type¡¡of¡¡a¡¡fascinating¡¡woman¡£¡¡¡¡Being¡¡
asked¡¡once¡¡by¡¡an¡¡acquaintance¡¡what¡¡spell¡¡she¡¡worked¡¡on¡¡mankind¡¡that¡¡
enabled¡¡her¡¡to¡¡hold¡¡them¡¡for¡¡ever¡¡at¡¡her¡¡feet£»¡¡she¡¡laughingly¡¡
answered£º
¡¨I¡¡have¡¡always¡¡found¡¡two¡¡words¡¡sufficient¡£¡¡¡¡When¡¡a¡¡visitor¡¡comes¡¡
into¡¡my¡¡salon£»¡¡I¡¡say£»¡¡'ENFIN£¡'¡¡and¡¡when¡¡he¡¡gets¡¡up¡¡to¡¡go¡¡away£»¡¡I¡¡
say£»¡¡'DEJA£¡'¡¡¡¨
¡¨What¡¡is¡¡this¡¡wonderful¡¡'charm'¡¡he¡¡is¡¡writing¡¡about£¿¡¨¡¡¡¡I¡¡hear¡¡some¡¡
sprightly¡¡maiden¡¡inquire¡¡as¡¡she¡¡reads¡¡these¡¡lines¡£¡¡¡¡My¡¡dear¡¡young¡¡
lady£»¡¡if¡¡you¡¡ask¡¡the¡¡question£»¡¡you¡¡have¡¡judged¡¡yourself¡¡and¡¡been¡¡
found¡¡wanting¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡to¡¡satisfy¡¡you¡¡as¡¡far¡¡as¡¡I¡¡can£»¡¡I¡¡will¡¡try¡¡and¡¡
define¡¡it¡¡¡¡¡not¡¡by¡¡telling¡¡you¡¡what¡¡it¡¡is£»¡¡that¡¡is¡¡beyond¡¡my¡¡power¡¡
¡¡¡but¡¡by¡¡negatives£»¡¡the¡¡only¡¡way¡¡in¡¡which¡¡subtle¡¡subjects¡¡can¡¡be¡¡
approached¡£
A¡¡woman¡¡of¡¡charm¡¡is¡¡never¡¡flustered¡¡and¡¡never¡¡DISTRAITE¡£¡¡¡¡She¡¡talks¡¡
little£»¡¡and¡¡rarely¡¡of¡¡herself£»¡¡remembering¡¡that¡¡bores¡¡are¡¡persons¡¡
who¡¡insist¡¡on¡¡talking¡¡about¡¡themselves¡£¡¡¡¡She¡¡does¡¡not¡¡break¡¡the¡¡
thread¡¡of¡¡a¡¡conversation¡¡by¡¡irrelevant¡¡questions¡¡or¡¡confabulate¡¡in¡¡
an¡¡undertone¡¡with¡¡the¡¡servants¡£¡¡¡¡No¡¡one¡¡of¡¡her¡¡guests¡¡receives¡¡more¡¡
of¡¡her¡¡attention¡¡than¡¡another¡¡and¡¡none¡¡are¡¡neglected¡£¡¡¡¡She¡¡offers¡¡
to¡¡each¡¡one¡¡who¡¡speaks¡¡the¡¡homage¡¡of¡¡her¡¡entire¡¡attention¡£¡¡¡¡She¡¡
never¡¡makes¡¡an¡¡effort¡¡to¡¡be¡¡brilliant¡¡or¡¡entertain¡¡with¡¡her¡¡wit¡£¡¡¡¡
She¡¡is¡¡far¡¡too¡¡clever¡¡for¡¡that¡£¡¡¡¡Neither¡¡does¡¡she¡¡volunteer¡¡
information¡¡nor¡¡converse¡¡about¡¡her¡¡troubles¡¡or¡¡her¡¡ailments£»¡¡nor¡¡
wander¡¡off¡¡into¡¡details¡¡about¡¡people¡¡you¡¡do¡¡not¡¡know¡£
She¡¡is¡¡all¡¡things¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡each¡¡man¡¡she¡¡likes£»¡¡in¡¡the¡¡best¡¡sense¡¡of¡¡
that¡¡phrase£»¡¡appreciating¡¡his¡¡qualities£»¡¡stimulating¡¡him¡¡to¡¡better¡¡
things¡£
¡¡¡for¡¡his¡¡gayer¡¡hours
She¡¡has¡¡a¡¡voice¡¡of¡¡gladness¡¡and¡¡a¡¡smile¡¡and¡¡eloquence¡¡of¡¡beauty£»¡¡
and¡¡she¡¡glides
Into¡¡his¡¡darker¡¡musings¡¡with¡¡a¡¡mild¡¡and¡¡healing¡¡sympathy¡¡that¡¡
steals¡¡away
Their¡¡sharpness¡¡ere¡¡he¡¡is¡¡aware¡£
CHAPTER¡¡2¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡Moth¡¡and¡¡the¡¡Star
THE¡¡truth¡¡of¡¡the¡¡saying¡¡that¡¡¡¨it¡¡is¡¡always¡¡the¡¡unexpected¡¡that¡¡
happens£»¡¨¡¡receives¡¡in¡¡this¡¡country¡¡a¡¡confirmation¡¡from¡¡an¡¡unlooked¡
for¡¡quarter£»¡¡as¡¡does¡¡the¡¡fact¡¡of¡¡human¡¡nature¡¡being¡¡always£»¡¡
discouragingly£»¡¡the¡¡same¡¡in¡¡spite¡¡of¡¡varied¡¡surroundings¡£¡¡¡¡This¡¡
sounds¡¡like¡¡a¡¡paradox£»¡¡but¡¡is¡¡an¡¡exceedingly¡¡simple¡¡statement¡¡
easily¡¡proved¡£
That¡¡the¡¡great¡¡mass¡¡of¡¡Americans£»¡¡drawn¡¡as¡¡they¡¡are¡¡from¡¡such¡¡
varied¡¡sources£»¡¡should¡¡take¡¡any¡¡interest¡¡in¡¡the¡¡comings¡¡and¡¡goings¡¡
or¡¡social¡¡doings¡¡of¡¡a¡¡small¡¡set¡¡of¡¡wealthy¡¡and¡¡fashionable¡¡people£»¡¡
is¡¡certainly¡¡an¡¡unexpected¡¡development¡£¡¡¡¡That¡¡to¡¡read¡¡of¡¡the¡¡
amusements¡¡and¡¡home¡¡life¡¡of¡¡a¡¡clique¡¡of¡¡people¡¡with¡¡whom¡¡they¡¡have¡¡
little¡¡in¡¡common£»¡¡whose¡¡whole¡¡education¡¡and¡¡point¡¡of¡¡view¡¡are¡¡
different¡¡from¡¡their¡¡own£»¡¡and¡¡whom¡¡they¡¡have¡¡rarely¡¡seen¡¡and¡¡never¡¡
expect¡¡to¡¡meet£»¡¡should¡¡afford¡¡the¡¡average¡¡citizen¡¡any¡¡amusement¡¡
seems¡¡little¡¡short¡¡of¡¡impossible¡£
One¡¡accepts¡¡as¡¡a¡¡natural¡¡sequence¡¡that¡¡abroad¡¡£¨where¡¡an¡¡hereditary¡¡
nobility¡¡have¡¡ruled¡¡for¡¡centuries£»¡¡and¡¡accustomed¡¡the¡¡people¡¡to¡¡
look¡¡up¡¡to¡¡them¡¡as¡¡the¡¡visible¡¡embodiment¡¡of¡¡all¡¡that¡¡is¡¡splendid¡¡
and¡¡unattainable¡¡in¡¡life£©¡¡such¡¡interest¡¡should¡¡exist¡£¡¡¡¡That¡¡the¡¡
home¡coming¡¡of¡¡an¡¡English¡¡or¡¡French¡¡nobleman¡¡to¡¡his¡¡estates¡¡should¡¡
excite¡¡the¡¡enthusiasm¡¡of¡¡hundreds¡¡more¡¡or¡¡less¡¡dependent¡¡upon¡¡him¡¡
for¡¡their¡¡amusement¡¡or¡¡more¡¡material¡¡advantages£»¡¡that¡¡his¡¡marriage¡¡
to¡¡an¡¡heiress¡¡¡¡¡meaning¡¡to¡¡them¡¡the¡¡re¡opening¡¡of¡¡a¡¡long¡closed¡¡
CHATEAU¡¡and¡¡the¡¡beginning¡¡of¡¡a¡¡period¡¡of¡¡prosperity¡¡for¡¡the¡¡
district¡¡¡¡¡should¡¡excite¡¡his¡¡neighbors¡¡is¡¡not¡¡to¡¡be¡¡wondered¡¡at¡£
It¡¡is¡¡well¡¡known¡¡that¡¡whole¡¡regions¡¡have¡¡been¡¡made¡¡prosperous¡¡by¡¡
the¡¡residence¡¡of¡¡a¡¡court£»¡¡witness¡¡the¡¡wealth¡¡and¡¡trade¡¡brought¡¡into¡¡
Scotland¡¡by¡¡the¡¡Queen's¡¡preference¡¡for¡¡¡¨the¡¡Land¡¡of¡¡Cakes£»¡¨¡¡and¡¡the¡¡
discontent¡¡and¡¡poverty¡¡in¡¡Ireland¡¡from¡¡absenteeism¡¡and¡¡persistent¡¡
avoidance¡¡of¡¡that¡¡country¡¡by¡¡the¡¡court¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡in¡¡this¡¡land£»¡¡where¡¡
every¡¡reason¡¡for¡¡interesting¡¡one¡¡class¡¡in¡¡another¡¡seems¡¡lacking£»¡¡
that¡¡thousands¡¡of¡¡well¡to¡do¡¡people¡¡£¨half¡¡the¡¡time¡¡not¡¡born¡¡in¡¡this¡¡
hemisphere£©£»¡¡should¡¡delightedly¡¡devour¡¡columns¡¡of¡¡incorrect¡¡
information¡¡about¡¡New¡¡York¡¡dances¡¡and¡¡Lenox¡¡house¡parties£»¡¡winter¡¡
cruises£»¡¡or¡¡Newport¡¡coaching¡¡parades£»¡¡strikes¡¡the¡¡observer¡¡as¡¡the¡¡
¡¨unexpected¡¨¡¡in¡¡its¡¡purest¡¡form¡£
That¡¡this¡¡interest¡¡exists¡¡is¡¡absolutely¡¡certain¡£¡¡¡¡During¡¡a¡¡trip¡¡in¡¡
the¡¡West£»¡¡some¡¡seasons¡¡ago£»¡¡I¡¡was¡¡dumbfounded¡¡to¡¡find¡¡that¡¡the¡¡
members¡¡of¡¡a¡¡certain¡¡New¡¡York¡¡set¡¡were¡¡familiarly¡¡spoken¡¡of¡¡by¡¡
their¡¡first¡¡names£»¡¡and¡¡was¡¡assailed¡¡with¡¡all¡¡sorts¡¡of¡¡eager¡¡
questions¡¡when¡¡it¡¡was¡¡discovered¡¡that¡¡I¡¡knew¡¡them¡£¡¡¡¡A¡¡certain¡¡young¡¡
lady£»¡¡at¡¡that¡¡time¡¡a¡¡belle¡¡in¡¡New¡¡York£»¡¡wa
СÌáʾ£º°´ »Ø³µ [Enter] ¼ü ·µ»ØÊéÄ¿£¬°´ ¡û ¼ü ·µ»ØÉÏÒ»Ò³£¬ °´ ¡ú ¼ü ½øÈëÏÂÒ»Ò³¡£
ÔÞÒ»ÏÂ
Ìí¼ÓÊéÇ©¼ÓÈëÊé¼Ü