north america-1-第62章
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！
e be neither grace nor weakness。 A man should yield everything to a woman for a word； for a smileto one look of entreaty。 But if there be no look of entreaty； no word； no smile； I do not see that he is called upon to yield much。 The happy privileges with which women are at present blessed have come to them from the spirit of chivalry。 That spirit has taught man to endure in order that women may be at their ease； and has generally taught women to accept the ease bestowed on them with grace and thankfulness。 But in America the spirit of chivalry has sunk deeper among men than it has among women。 It must be borne in mind that in that country material well…being and education are more extended than with us； and that； therefore； men there have learned to be chivalrous who with us have hardly progressed so far。 The conduct of men to women throughout the States is always gracious。 They have learned the lesson。 But it seems to me that the women have not advanced as far as the men have done。 They have acquired a sufficient perception of the privileges which chivalry gives them； but no perception of that return which chivalry demands from them。 Women of the class to which I allude are always talking of their rights； but seem to have a most indifferent idea of their duties。 They have no scruple at demanding from men everything that a man can be called on to relinquish in a woman's behalf； but they do so without any of that grace which turns the demand made into a favor conferred。 I have seen much of this in various cities of America； but much more of it in New York than elsewhere。 I have heard young Americans complain of it； swearing that they must change the whole tenor of their habits toward women。 I have heard American ladies speak of it with loathing and disgust。 For myself； I have entertained on sundry occasions that sort of feeling for an American woman which the close vicinity of an unclean animal produces。 I have spoken of this with reference to street cars； because in no position of life does an unfortunate man become more liable to these anti…feminine atrocities than in the center of one of these vehicles。 The woman； as she enters； drags after her a misshapen； dirty mass of battered wirework； which she calls her crinoline； and which adds as much to her grace and comfort as a log of wood does to a donkey when tied to the animal's leg in a paddock。 Of this she takes much heed； not managing it so that it may be conveyed up the carriage with some decency； but striking it about against men's legs； and heaving it with violence over people's knees。 The touch of a real woman's dress is in itself delicate； but these blows from a harpy's fins are as loathsome as a snake's slime。 If there be two of them they talk loudly together； having a theory that modesty has been put out of court by women's rights。 But； though not modest； the woman I describe is ferocious in her propriety。 She ignores the whole world around her as she sits； with a raised chin and face flattened by affectation； she pretends to declare aloud that she is positively not aware that any man is even near her。 She speaks as though to her； in her womanhood； the neighborhood of men was the same as that of dogs or cats。 They are there； but she does not hear them； see them； or even acknowledge them by any courtesy of motion。 But her own face always gives her the lie。 In her assumption of indifference she displays her nasty consciousness； and in each attempt at a would…be propriety is guilty of an immodesty。 Who does not know the timid retiring face of the young girl who when alone among men unknown to her feels that it becomes her to keep herself secluded？ As many men as there are around her； so many knights has such a one； ready bucklered for her service； should occasion require such services。 Should it not； she passes on unmolestedbut not； as she herself will wrongly think； unheeded。 But as to her of whom I am speaking； we may say that every twist of her body and every tone of her voice is an unsuccessful falsehood。 She looks square at you in the face； and you rise to give her your seat。 You rise from a deference to your own old convictions； and from that courtesy which you have ever paid to a woman's dress； let it be worn with ever such hideous deformities。 She takes the place from which you have moved without a word or a bow。 She twists herself round； banging your shins with her wires； while her chin is still raised； and her face is still flattened； and she directs her friend's attention to another seated man； as though that place were also vacant； and necessarily at her disposure。 Perhaps the man opposite has his own ideas about chivalry。 I have seen such a thing； and have rejoiced to see it。 You will meet these women daily； hourly； everywhere in the streets。 Now and again you will find them in society； making themselves even more odious there than elsewhere。 Who they are； whence they come； and why they are so unlike that other race of women of which I have spoken； you will settle for yourself。 Do we not all say of our chance acquaintances； after half an hour's conversation； nay； after half an hour spent in the same room without conversation； that this woman is a lady； and that that other woman is not？ They jostle each other even among us； but never seem to mix。 They are closely allied； but neither imbues the other with her attributes。 Both shall be equally well born； or both shall be equally ill born； but still it is so。 The contrast exists in England； but in America it is much stronger。 In England women become ladylike or vulgar。 In the States they are either charming or odious。 See that female walking down Broadway。 She is not exactly such a one as her I have attempted to describe on her entrance into the street car； for this lady is well dressed； if fine clothes will make well dressing。 The machinery of her hoops is not battered； and altogether she is a personage much more distinguished in all her expenditures。 But yet she is a copy of the other woman。 Look at the train which she drags behind her over the dirty pavement； where dogs have been； and chewers of tobacco； and everything concerned with filth except a scavenger。 At every hundred yards some unhappy man treads upon the silken swab which she trails behind herloosening it dreadfully at the girth one would say； and then see the style of face and the expression of features with which she accepts the sinner's half muttered apology。 The world； she supposes； owes her everything because of her silken train； even room enough in a crowded thoroughfare to drag it along unmolested。 But； according to her theory； she owes the world nothing in return。 She is a woman with perhaps a hundred dollars on her back； and having done the world the honor of wearing them in the world's presence； expects to be repaid by the world's homage and chivalry。 But chivalry owes her nothingnothing； though she walk about beneath a hundred times a hundred dollarsnothing； even though she be a woman。 Let every woman learn this； that chivalry owes her nothing unless she also acknowledges her debt to chivalry。 She must acknowledge it and pay it； and then chivalry will not be backward in making good her claims upon it。 All this has come of the street cars。 But as it was necessary that I should say it somewhere； it is as well said on that subject as on any other。 And now to continue with the street cars。 They run； as I have said； the length of the town； taking parallel lines。 They will take you from the Astor House； near the bottom of the town； for miles and miles northwardhalf way up the Hudson Riverfor； I believe； five pence。 They are very slow； averaging about five miles an hour； but they are very sure。 For regular inhabitants； who have to travel five or six miles perhaps to their daily work； they are excellent。 I have nothing really to say against the street cars。 But they do not fill the place of cabs。 There are； however； public carriagesroomy vehicles； dragged by two horses； clean and nice； and very well suited to ladies visiting the city。 But they have none of the attributes of the cab。 As a rule； they are not to be found standing about。 They are very slow。 They are very dear。 A dollar an hour is t
