north america-1-第9章
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ng that it would be possible either to describe or remember。 The Americans of the United States have had time to build and populate vast cities； but they have not yet had time to surround themselves with pretty scenery。 Outlying grand scenery is given by nature； but the prettiness of home scenery is a work of art。 It comes from the thorough draining of land； from the planting and subsequent thinning of trees； from the controlling of waters； and constant use of minute patches of broken land。 In another hundred years or so； Rhode Island may be； perhaps； as pretty as the Isle of Wight。 The horses which we got were not good。 They were unhandy and badly mouthed； and that which my wife rode was altogether ignorant of the art of walking。 We hired them from an Englishman who had established himself at New York as a riding…master for ladies； and who had come to Newport for the season on the same business。 He complained to me with much bitterness of the saddle… horses which came in his wayof course thinking that it was the special business of a country to produce saddle…horses； as I think it the special business of a country to produce pens； ink； and paper of good quality。 According to him； riding has not yet become an American art； and hence the awkwardness of American horses。 〃Lord bless you； sir！ they don't give an animal a chance of a mouth。〃 In this he alluded only； I presume； to saddle…horses。 I know nothing of the trotting horses； but I should imagine that a fine mouth must be an essential requisite for a trotting match in harness。 As regards riding at Newport； we were not tempted to repeat the experiment。 The number of carriages which we saw there remembering as I did that the place was comparatively emptyand their general smartness； surprised me very much。 It seemed that every lady； with a house of her own； had also her own carriage。 These carriages were always open； and the law of the land imperatively demands that the occupants shall cover their knees with a worked worsted apron of brilliant colors。 These aprons at first I confess seemed tawdry； but the eye soon becomes used to bright colors； in carriage aprons as well as in architecture； and I soon learned to like them。 Rhode Island； as the State is usually called； is the smallest State in the Union。 I may perhaps best show its disparity to other States by saying that New York extends about two hundred and fifty miles from north to south； and the same distance from east to west； whereas the State called Rhode Island is about forty miles long by twenty broad； independently of certain small islands。 It would； in fact； not form a considerable addition if added on to many of the other States。 Nevertheless； it has all the same powers of self… government as are possessed by such nationalities as the States of New York and Pennsylvania； and sends two Senators to the Senate at Washington； as do those enormous States。 Small as the State is； Rhode Island itself forms but a small portion of it。 The authorized and proper name of the State is Providence Plantation and Rhode Island。 Roger Williams was the first founder of the colony； and he established himself on the mainland at a spot which he called Providence。 Here now stands the City of Providence； the chief town of the State； and a thriving； comfortable town it seems to be； full of banks； fed by railways and steamers； and going ahead quite as quickly as Roger Williams could in his fondest hopes have desired。 Rhode Island； as I have said； has all the attributes of government in common with her stouter and more famous sisters。 She has a governor； and an upper house and a lower house of legislature； and she is somewhat fantastic in the use of these constitutional powers； for she calls on them to sit now in one town and now in another。 Providence is the capital of the State； but the Rhode Island parliament sits sometimes at Providence and sometimes at Newport。 At stated times also it has to collect itself at Bristol； and at other stated times at Kingston； and at others at East Greenwich。 Of all legislative assemblies it is the most peripatetic。 Universal suffrage does not absolutely prevail in this State； a certain property qualification being necessary to confer a right to vote even for the State representatives。 I should think it would be well for all parties if the whole State could be swallowed up by Massachusetts or by Connecticut； either of which lie conveniently for the feat； but I presume that any suggestion of such a nature would be regarded as treason by the men of Providence Plantation。 We returned back to Boston by Attleborough； a town at which； in ordinary times； the whole population is supported by the jewelers' trade。 It is a place with a specialty； upon which specialty it has thriven well and become a town。 But the specialty is one ill adapted for times of war and we were assured that the trade was for the present at an end。 What man could now…a…days buy jewels； or even what woman； seeing that everything would be required for the war？ I do not say that such abstinence from luxury has been begotten altogether by a feeling of patriotism。 The direct taxes which all Americans will now be called on to pay； have had and will have much to do with such abstinence。 In the mean time the poor jewelers of Attleborough have gone altogether to the wall。
CHAPTER III。 MAINE； NEW HAMPSHIRE； AND VERMONT。
Perhaps I ought to assume that all the world in England knows that that portion of the United States called New England consists of the six States of Maine； New Hampshire； Vermont； Massachusetts； Connecticut； and Rhode Island。 This is especially the land of Yankees； and none can properly be called Yankees but those who belong to New England。 I have named the States as nearly as may be in order from the north downward。 Of Rhode Island； the smallest State in the Union； I have already said what little I have to say。 Of these six States Boston may be called the capital。 Not that it is so in any civil or political sense； it is simply the capital of Massachusetts。 But as it is the Athens of the Western world； as it was the cradle of American freedom； as everybody of course knows that into Boston harbor was thrown the tea which George III。 would tax； and that at Boston； on account of that and similar taxes； sprang up the new revolution； and as it has grown in wealth； and fame； and size beyond other towns in New England； it may be allowed to us to regard it as the capital of these six Northern States； without guilt of lese majeste toward the other five。 To me； I confess this Northern division of our once…unruly colonies is； and always has been； the dearest。 I am no Puritan myself； and fancy that； had I lived in the days of the Puritans； I should have been anti…Puritan to the full extent of my capabilities。 But I should have been so through ignorance and prejudice； and actuated by that love of existing rights and wrongs which men call loyalty。 If the Canadas were to rebel now； I should be for putting down the Canadians with a strong hand； but not the less have I an idea that it will become the Canadas to rebel and assert their independence at some future period； unless it be conceded to them without such rebellion。 Who； on looking back； can now refuse to admire the political aspirations of the English Puritans； or decline to acknowledge the beauty and fitness of what they did？ It was by them that these States of New England were colonized。 They came hither； stating themselves to be pilgrims； and as such they first placed their feet on that hallowed rock at Plymouth； on the shore of Massachusetts。 They came here driven by no thirst of conquest； by no greed for gold； dreaming of no Western empire such as Cortez had achieved and Raleigh had meditated。 They desired to earn their bread in the sweat of their brow； worshiping God according to their own lights； living in harmony under their own laws； and feeling that no master could claim a right to put a heel upon their necks。 And be it remembered that here in England； in those days； earthly masters were still apt to put their heels on the necks of men。 The Star Chamber was gone； but Jeffreys had not yet reigned。 What earthly aspirations were ever higher than
