the ways of men-第43章
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nce。 The latter long ago gave up going to the play in New York； except during two short seasons； one in the autumn； 〃before things get going；〃 and again in the spring； after the season is over； before they flit abroad or to the country。 During these periods 〃smart〃 people generally attend in bands called 〃theatre parties；〃 an infliction unknown outside of this country； an arrangement above all others calculated to bring the stage into contempt； as such parties seldom arrive before the middle of the second act； take ten minutes to get seated； and then chat gayly among themselves for the rest of the evening。
The theatre； having ceased to form an integral part of our social life； has come to be the pastime of people with nothing better to do； … the floating population of our hotels； the shop…girl and her young man enjoying an evening out。 The plays produced by the gentlemen who； I am told； control the stage in this country for the moment； are adapted to the requirements of an audience that； having no particular standard from which to judge the literary merits of a play； the training； accent； or talent of the actors； are perfectly contented so long as they are amused。 To get a laugh； at any price； has become the ambition of most actors and the dream of managers。
A young actress in a company that played an American translation of MME。 SANS GENE all over this continent asked me recently what I thought of their performance。 I said I thought it 〃a burlesque of the original！〃 〃If you thought it a burlesque here in town；〃 she answered； 〃it's well you didn't see us on the road。 There was no monkey trick we would not play to raise a laugh。〃
If one of my readers doubts the assertion that the better classes have ceased to attend our theatres； except on rare occasions； let him inquire about； among the men and women whose opinions he values and respects； how many of last winter's plays they considered intellectual treats； or what piece tempted them to leave their cosy dinner…tables a second time。 It is surprising to find the number who will answer in reply to a question about the merits of a play EN VOGUE； 〃I have not seen it。 In fact I rarely go to a theatre unless I am in London or on the Continent！〃
Little by little we have taken to turning in a vicious and ever…narrowing circle。 The poorer the plays； the less clever people will make the effort necessary to see them； and the less such elite attend； the poorer the plays will become。
That this state of affairs is going to last； however； I do not believe。 The darkest hour is ever the last before the dawn。 As it would he difficult for the performances in most of our theatres to fall any lower in the scale of frivolity or inanity； we may hope for a reaction that will be deep and far… reaching。 At present we are like people dying of starvation because they do not know how to combine the flour and water and yeast before them into wholesome bread。 The materials for a brilliant and distinctly national stage undoubtedly exist in this country。 We have men and women who would soon develop into great actors if they received any encouragement to devote themselves to a higher class of work； and certainly our great city does not possess fewer appreciative people than it did twenty years ago。
The great dinner…giving mania will eat itself out； and managers； feeling once more that they can count on discriminating audiences； will no longer dare to give garbled versions of French farces or feeble dramas as compiled from English novels； but； turning to our own poets and writers； will ask them to contribute towards the formation of an American stage literature。
When； finally； one of our poets gives us a lyric drama like CYRANO DE BERGERAC； the attractions of the dinner…table will no longer be strong enough to keep clever people away from the theatre； and the following conversation； which sums up the present situation； will become impossible。
BANKER （to Crushed Tragedian）。 … No； I haven't seen you act。 I have not been inside a theatre for two years！
C。T。 … It's five years since I've been inside a bank！
Chapter 31 … The Modern ASPASIA
MOST of the historic cities of Europe have a distinct local color； a temperament； if one may be allowed the expression； of their own。 The austere calm of Bruges or Ghent； the sensuous beauty of Naples； attract different natures。 Florence has passionate devotees； who are insensible to the artistic grace of Venice or the stately quiet of Versailles。 In Cairo one experiences an exquisite BIEN ETRE； a mindless； ambitionless contentment which； without being languor； soothes the nerves and tempts to indolent lotus…eating。 Like a great hive； Rome depends on the memories that circle around her； storing； like bees； the centuries with their honey。 Each of these cities must therefore leave many people unmoved； who after a passing visit； wander away； wondering at the enthusiasm of the worshippers。
Paris alone seems to possess the charm that bewitches all conditions； all ages； all degrees。 To hold the frivolous… minded she paints her face and dances； leading them a round of folly； exhaustive alike to health and purse。 For the student she assumes another mien； smiling encouragement； and urging him upward towards the highest standards； while posing as his model。 She takes the dreaming lover of the past gently by the hand； and leading him into quiet streets and squares where she has stored away a wealth of hidden treasure； enslaves him as completely as her more sensual admirers。
Paris is no less adored by the vacant…minded； to whom neither art nor pleasure nor study appeal。 Her caprices in fashion are received by the wives and daughters of the universe as laws； and obeyed with an unwavering faith； a mute obedience that few religions have commanded。 Women who yawn through Italy and the East have； when one meets them in the French capital； the intense manner； the air of separation from things mundane； that is observable in pilgrims approaching the shrine of their deity。 Mohammedans at Mecca must have some such look。 In Paris women find themselves in the presence of those high priests whom they have long worshipped from a distance。 It is useless to mention other subjects to the devotee； for they will not fix her attention。 Her thoughts are with her heart； and that is far away。
When visiting other cities one feels that they are like honest married women； living quiet family lives； surrounded by their children。 The French Aspasia； on the contrary； has never been true to any vow； but has； at the dictate of her passions； changed from royal and imperial to republican lovers； and back again； ruled by no laws but her caprices； and discarding each favorite in turn with insults when she has wearied of him。 Yet sovereigns are her slaves； and leave their lands to linger in her presence； and rich strangers from the four corners of the earth come to throw their fortunes at her feet and bask a moment in her smiles。
Like her classic prototype； Paris is also the companion of the philosophers and leads the arts in her train。 Her palaces are the meeting…places of the poets； the sculptors； the dramatists； and the painters； who are never weary of celebrating her perfections； nor of working for her adornment and amusement。
Those who live in the circle of her influence are caught up in a whirlwind of artistic production； and consume their brains and bodies in the vain hope of pleasing their idol and attracting her attention。 To be loved by Paris is an ordeal that few natures can stand； for she wrings the lifeblood from her devotees and then casts them aside into oblivion。 Paris； said one of her greatest writers； 〃AIME A BRISER SES IDOLES！〃 As Ulysses and his companions fell； in other days； a prey to the allurements of Circe； so our powerful young nation has fallen more than any other under the influence of the French siren； and brings her a yearly tribute of gold which she receives with avidity； although in her heart there is little fondness for the giver。
Americans who were in Paris two years ago had an excellent o
