贝壳电子书 > 英文原著电子书 > worldly ways and byways >

第38章

worldly ways and byways-第38章

小说: worldly ways and byways 字数: 每页4000字

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!




board; lodge; and feed him indefinitely; or make him honorary 

member of all their clubs。  It is a constant source of pleasure to 

me to watch this younger generation; so plainly do I see in them 

the influence of their mothers … women I knew as girls; and who 

were so far ahead of their brothers and husbands in refinement and 

culture。  To have seen these girls marry and bring up their sons so 

well has been a satisfaction and a compensation for many 

disillusions。  Woman's influence will always remain the strongest 

lever that can be brought to bear in raising the tone of a family; 

it is impossible not to see about these young men a reflection of 

what we found so charming in their mothers。  One despairs at times 

of humanity; seeing vulgarity and snobbishness riding triumphantly 

upward; but where the tone of the younger generation is as high as 

I have lately found it; there is still much hope for the future。









CHAPTER 32 … An Ideal Hostess





THE saying that 〃One…half of the world ignores how the other half 

lives〃 received for me an additional confirmation this last week; 

when I had the good fortune to meet again an old friend; now for 

some years retired from the stage; where she had by her charm and 

beauty; as well as by her singing; held all the Parisian world at 

her pretty feet。



Our meeting was followed on her part by an invitation to take 

luncheon with her the next day; 〃to meet a few friends; and talk 

over old times。〃  So half…past twelve (the invariable hour for the 

〃second breakfast;〃 in France) the following day found me entering 

a shady drawing…room; where a few people were sitting in the cool 

half…light that strayed across from a canvas…covered balcony 

furnished with plants and low chairs。  Beyond one caught a glimpse 

of perhaps the gayest picture that the bright city of Paris offers; 

… the sweep of the Boulevard as it turns to the Rue Royale; the 

flower market; gay with a thousand colors in the summer sunshine; 

while above all the color and movement; rose; cool and gray; the 

splendid colonnade of the Madeleine。  The rattle of carriages; the 

roll of the heavy omnibuses and the shrill cries from the street 

below floated up; softened into a harmonious murmur that in no way 

interfered with our conversation; and is sweeter than the finest 

music to those who love their Paris。



Five or six rooms EN SUITE opening on the street; and as many more 

on a large court; formed the apartment; where everything betrayed 

the ARTISTE and the singer。  The walls; hung with silk or tapestry; 

held a collection of original drawings and paintings; a fortune in 

themselves; the dozen portraits of our hostess in favorite roles 

were by men great in the art world; a couple of pianos covered with 

well…worn music and numberless photographs signed with names that 

would have made an autograph…fiend's mouth water。



After a gracious; cooing welcome; more whispered than spoken; I was 

presented to the guests I did not know。  Before this ceremony was 

well over; two maids in black; with white caps; opened a door into 

the dining…room and announced luncheon。  As this is written on the 

theme that 〃people know too little how their neighbors live;〃 I 

give the MENU。  It may amuse my readers and serve; perhaps; as a 

little object lesson to those at home who imagine that quantity and 

not quality is of importance。



Our gracious hostess had earned a fortune in her profession (and I 

am told that two CHEFS preside over her simple meals); so it was 

not a spirit of economy which dictated this simplicity。  At first; 

HORS D'OEUVRES were served; … all sorts of tempting little things; 

… very thin slices of ham; spiced sausages; olives and caviar; and 

eaten … not merely passed and refused。  Then came the one hot dish 

of the meal。  〃One!〃  I think I hear my reader exclaim。  Yes; my 

friend; but that one was a marvel in its way。  Chicken A 

L'ESPAGNOLE; boiled; and buried in rice and tomatoes cooked whole … 

a dish to be dreamed of and remembered in one's prayers and 

thanksgivings!  After at least two helpings each to this CHEF…

D'OEUVRE; cold larded fillet and a meat pate were served with the 

salad。  Then a bit of cheese; a beaten cream of chocolate; fruit; 

and bon…bons。  For a drink we had the white wine from which 

champagne is made (by a chemical process and the addition of many 

injurious ingredients); in other words; a pure BRUT champagne with 

just a suggestion of sparkle at the bottom of your glass。  All the 

party then migrated together into the smoking…room for cigarettes; 

coffee; and a tiny glass of LIQUEUR。



These details have been given at length; not only because the meal 

seemed to me; while I was eating it; to be worthy of whole columns 

of print; but because one of the besetting sins of our dear land is 

to serve a profusion of food no one wants and which the hostess 

would never have dreamed of ordering had she been alone。



Nothing is more wearisome than to sit at table and see course after 

course; good; bad; and indifferent; served; after you have eaten 

what you want。  And nothing is more vulgar than to serve them; for 

either a guest refuses a great deal of the food and appears 

uncivil; or he must eat; and regret it afterwards。  If we ask 

people to a meal; it should be to such as we eat; as a general 

thing; ourselves; and such as they would have at home。  Otherwise 

it becomes ostentation and vulgarity。  Why should one be expelled 

to eat more than usual because a friend has been nice enough to ask 

one to take one's dinner with him; instead of eating it alone?  It 

is the being among friends that tempts; not the food; the fact at 

skilful waiters have been able to serve a dozen varieties of fish; 

flesh; and fowl during the time you were at table has added little 

to any one's pleasure。  On the contrary!  Half the time one eats 

from pure absence of mind; a number of most injurious mixtures and 

so prepares an awful to…morrow and the foundation of many 

complicated diseases。



I see Smith and Jones daily at the club; where we dine cheerfully 

together on soup; a cut of the joint; a dessert; and drink a pint 

of claret。  But if either Mrs。 Smith or Mrs。 Jones asks me to 

dinner; we have eight courses and half as many wines; and Smith 

will say quite gravely to me; 〃Try this '75 'Perrier Jouet';〃 as if 

he were in the habit of drinking it daily。  It makes me smile; for 

he would as soon think of ordering a bottle of that wine at the 

club as he would think of ordering a flask of nectar。



But to return to our 〃mutton。〃  As we had none of us eaten too much 

(and so become digesting machines); we were cheerful and sprightly。  

A little music followed and an author repeated some of his poetry。  

I noticed that during the hour before we broke up our hostess 

contrived to have a little talk with each of her guests; which she 

made quite personal; appearing for the moment as though the rest of 

the world did not exist for her; than which there is no more subtle 

flattery; and which is the act of a well…bred and appreciative 

woman。  Guests cannot be treated EN MASSE any more than food; to 

ask a man to your house is not enough。  He should be made to feel; 

if you wish him to go away with a pleasant remembrance of the 

entertainment; that his presence has in some way added to it and 

been a personal pleasure to his host。



A good soul that all New York knew a few years ago; whose 

entertainments were as though the street had been turned into a 

SALON for the moment; used to go about among her guests saying; 

〃There have been one hundred and seventy…five people here this 

Thursday; ten more than last week;〃 with such a satisfied smile; 

that you felt that she had little left to wish for; and found 

yourself wondering just which number you represented in her mind。  

When you entered she must have murmured a numeral to

返回目录 上一页 下一页 回到顶部 1 1

你可能喜欢的