north america-1-第75章
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； attached to the establishment a large reading… room supplied with papers and magazines； open to the public of Boston on the same terms。 Of course I asked whether a great many of the books were not lost； stolen； and destroyed； and of course I was told that there were no losses； no thefts； and no destruction。 As to thefts； the librarian did not seem to think that any instance of such an occurrence could be found。 Among the poorer classes； a book might sometimes be lost when they were changing their lodgings； but anything so lost was more than replaced by the fines。 A book is taken out for a week； and if not brought back at the end of that weekwhen the loan can be renewed if the reader wishesa fine； I think of two cents； is incurred。 The children； when too late with the books； bring in the two cents as a matter of course； and the sum so collected fully replaces all losses。 It was all couleur de rose； the librarianesses looked very pretty and learned； and； if I remember aright； mostly wore spectacles； the head librarian was enthusiastic； the nice； instructive books were properly dogs…eared； my own productions were in enormous demand； the call for books over the counter was brisk； and the reading…room was full of readers。 It has； I dare say； occurred to other travelers to remark that the proceedings at such institutions； when visited by them on their travels； are always rose colored。 It is natural that the bright side should be shown to the visitor。 It may be that many books are called for and returned unread； that many of those taken out are so taken by persons who ought to pay for their novels at circulating libraries； that the librarian and librarianesses get very tired of their long hours of attendance； for I found that they were very long； and that many idlers warm themselves in that reading…room。 Nevertheless the fact remainsthe library is public to all the men and women in Boston； and books are given out without payment to all who may choose to ask for them。 Why should not the great Mr。 Mudie emulate Mr。 Bates； and open a library in London on the same system？ The librarian took me into one special room； of which he himself kept the key； to show me a present which the library had received from the English government。 The room was filled with volumes of two sizes； all bound alike； containing descriptions and drawings of all the patents taken out in England。 According to this librarian； such a work would be invaluable as to American patents； but he conceived that the subject had become too confused to render any such an undertaking possible。 〃I never allow a single volume to be used for a moment without the presence of myself or one of my assistants；〃 said the librarian； and then he explained to me； when I asked him why he was so particular； that the drawings would； as a matter of course； be cut out and stolen if he omitted his care。 〃But they may be copied；〃 I said。 〃Yes； but if Jones merely copies one； Smith may come after him and copy it also。 Jones will probably desire to hinder Smith from having any evidence of such a patent。〃 As to the ordinary borrowing and returning of books； the poorest laborer's child in Boston might be trusted as honest； but when a question of trade came upof commercial competitionthen the librarian was bound to bethink himself that his countrymen are very smart。 〃I hope；〃 said the librarian； 〃you will let them know in England how grateful we are for their present。〃 And I hereby execute that librarian's commission。 I shall always look back to social life in Boston with great pleasure。 I met there many men and women whom to know is a distinction； and with whom to be intimate is a great delight。 It was a Puritan city； in which strict old Roundhead sentiments and laws used to prevail； but now…a…days ginger is hot in the mouth there； and； in spite of the war； there were cakes and ale。 There was a law passed in Massachusetts in the old days that any girl should be fined and imprisoned who allowed a young man to kiss her。 That law has now； I think； fallen into abeyance； and such matters are regulated in Boston much as they are in other large towns farther eastward。 It still； I conceive； calls itself a Puritan city； but it has divested its Puritanism of austerity； and clings rather to the politics and public bearing of its old fathers than to their social manners and pristine severity of intercourse。 The young girls are； no doubt； much more comfortable under the new dispensationand the elderly men also； as I fancy。 Sunday； as regards the outer streets； is sabbatical。 But Sunday evenings within doors I always found to be what my friends in that country call 〃quite a good time。〃 It is not the thing in Boston to smoke in the streets during the day； but the wisest； the sagest； and the most holyeven those holy men whom the lecturer saw around him seldom refuse a cigar in the dining…room as soon as the ladies have gone。 Perhaps even the wicked weed would make its appearance before that sad eclipse； thereby postponing or perhaps absolutely annihilating the melancholy period of widowhood to both parties； and would light itself under the very eyes of those who in sterner cities will lend no countenance to such lightings。 Ah me； it was very pleasant！ I confess I like this abandonment of the stricter rules of the more decorous world。 I fear that there is within me an aptitude to the milder debaucheries which makes such deviations pleasant。 I like to drink and I like to smoke； but I do not like to turn women out of the room。 Then comes the question whether one can have all that one likes together。 In some small circles in New England I found people simple enough to fancy that they could。 In Massachusetts the Maine liquor law is still the law of the land； but； like that other law to which I have alluded； it has fallen very much out of use。 At any rate； it had not reached the houses of the gentlemen with whom I had the pleasure of making acquaintance。 But here I must guard myself from being misunderstood。 I saw but one drunken man through all New England； and he was very respectable。 He was； however； so uncommonly drunk that he might be allowed to count for two or three。 The Puritans of Boston are； of course； simple in their habits and simple in their expenses。 Champagne and canvas…back ducks I found to be the provisions most in vogue among those who desired to adhere closely to the manner of their forefathers。 Upon the whole； I found the ways of life which had been brought over in the 〃Mayflower〃 from the stern sects of England； and preserved through the revolutionary war for liberty； to be very pleasant ways； and I made up my mind that a Yankee Puritan can be an uncommonly pleasant fellow。 I wish that some of them did not dine so early； for when a man sits down at half…past two； that keeping up of the after…dinner recreations till bedtime becomes hard work。 In Boston the houses are very spacious and excellent； and they are always furnished with those luxuries which it is so difficult to introduce into an old house。 They have hot and cold water pipes into every room； and baths attached to the bedchambers。 It is not only that comfort is increased by such arrangements； but that much labor is saved。 In an old English house it will occupy a servant the best part of the day to carry water up and down for a large family。 Everything also is spacious； commodious； and well lighted。 I certainly think that in house…building the Americans have gone beyond us； for even our new houses are not commodious as are theirs。 One practice which they have in their cities would hardly suit our limited London spaces。 When the body of the house is built； they throw out the dining…room behind。 It stands alone； as it were； with no other chamber above it； and removed from the rest of the house。 It is consequently behind the double drawing…rooms which form the ground floor； and is approached from them and also from the back of the hall。 The second entrance to the dining…room is thus near the top of the kitchen stairs； which no doubt is its proper position。 The whole of the upper part of the house is thus kept for the private uses of the family。 To me this plan of building recommended itself as being very
