north america-2-第47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！
saw every house in the place； although my visit to Seymour was made in the night； and at both I was lamentably at a loss for something to do。 At Crestline I was all alone； and began to feel that the hours which I knew must pass before the missing train could come would never make away with themselves。 There were many others stationed there as I was； but to them had been given a capability for loafing which niggardly Nature has denied to me。 An American has the power of seating himself in the close vicinity of a hot stove and feeding in silence on his own thoughts by the hour together。 It may be that he will smoke； but after awhile his cigar will come to an end。 He sits on； however； certainly patient； and apparently contented。 It may be that he chews； but if so； he does it with motionless jaws； and so slow a mastication of the pabulum upon which he feeds； that his employment in this respect only disturbs the absolute quiet of the circle when； at certain long； distant intervals； he deposits the secretion of his tobacco in an ornamental utensil which may probably be placed in the farthest corner of the hall。 But during all this time he is happy。 It does not fret him to sit there and think and do nothing。 He is by no means an idle manprobably one much given to commercial enterprise。 Idle men out there in the West we may say there are none。 How should any idle man live in such a country？ All who were sitting hour after hour in that circle round the stove of the Crestline Hotel hallsitting there hour after hour in silence； as I could not sitwere men who earned their bread by labor。 They were farmers； mechanics； storekeepers； there was a lawyer or two； and one clergyman。 Sufficient conversation took place at first to indicate the professions of many of them。 One may conclude that there could not be place there for an idle man。 But they all of them had a capacity for a prolonged state of doing nothing which is to me unintelligible； and which is by me very much to be envied。 They are patient as cows which from hour to hour lie on the grass chewing their cud。 An Englishman； if he be kept waiting by a train in some forlorn station in which he can find no employment； curses his fate and all that has led to his present misfortune with an energy which tells the story of his deep and thorough misery。 Such； I confess； is my state of existence under such circumstances。 But a Western American gives himself up to 〃loafing；〃 and is quite happy。 He balances himself on the back legs of an arm…chair； and remains so； without speaking； drinking or smoking for an hour at a stretch； and while he is doing so he looks as though he had all that he desired。 I believe that he is happy； and that he has all that he wants for such an occasionan arm…chair in which to sit； and a stove on which he can put his feet and by which he can make himself warm。 Such was not the phase of character which I had expected to find among the people of the West。 Of all virtues patience would have been the last which I should have thought of attributing to them。 I should have expected to see them angry when robbed of their time； and irritable under the stress of such grievances as railway delays； but they are never irritable under such circumstances as I have attempted to describe； nor； indeed； are they a people prone to irritation under any grievances。 Even in political matters they are long…enduring； and do not form themselves into mobs for the expression of hot opinion。 We in England thought that masses of the people would rise in anger if Mr。 Lincoln's government should consent to give up Slidell and Mason； but the people bore it without any rising。 The habeas corpus has been suspended； the liberty of the press has been destroyed for a time； the telegraph wires have been taken up by the government into their own hands； but nevertheless the people have said nothing。 There has been no rising of a mob； and not even an expression of an adverse opinion。 The people require to be allowed to vote periodically； and； having acquired that privilege； permit other matters to go by the board。 In this respect we have； I think； in some degree misunderstood their character。 They have all been taught to reverence the nature of that form of government under which they live； but they are not specially addicted to hot political fermentation。 They have learned to understand that democratic institutions have given them liberty； and on that subject they entertain a strong conviction which is universal。 But they have not habitually interested themselves deeply in the doings of their legislators or of their government。 On the subject of slavery there have been and are different opinions； held with great tenacity and maintained occasionally with violence； but on other subjects of daily policy the American people have not； I think； been eager politicians。 Leading men in public life have been much less trammeled by popular will than among us。 Indeed with us the most conspicuous of our statesmen and legislators do not lead； but are led。 In the States the noted politicians of the day have been the leaders； and not unfrequently the coercers of opinion。 Seeing this； I claim for England a broader freedom in political matters than the States have as yet achieved。 In speaking of the American form of government； I will endeavor to explain more clearly the ideas which I have come to hold on this matter。 I survived my delay at Seymour； after which I passed again through Cincinnati； and then survived my subsequent delay at Crestline。 As to Cincinnati； I must put on record the result of a country walk which I took there； or rather on which I was taken by my friend。 He professed to know the beauties of the neighborhood and to be well acquainted with all that was attractive in its vicinity。 Cincinnati is built on the Ohio； and is closely surrounded by picturesque hills which overhang the suburbs of the city。 Over these I was taken； plowing my way through a depth of mud which cannot be understood by any ordinary Englishman。 But the depth of mud was not the only impediment nor the worst which we encountered。 As we began to ascend from the level of the outskirts of the town we were greeted by a rising flavor in the air； which soon grew into a strong odor； and at last developed itself into a stench that surpassed in offensiveness anything that my nose had ever hitherto suffered。 When we were at the worst we hardly knew whether to descend or to proceed。 It had so increased in virulence that at one time I felt sure that it arose from some matter buried in the ground beneath my feet。 But my friend； who declared himself to be quite at home in Cincinnati matters； and to understand the details of the great Cincinnati trade； declared against this opinion of mine。 Hogs； he said； were at the bottom of it。 It was the odor of hogs going up to the Ohio heavensof hogs in a state of transit from hoggish nature to clothes…brushes； saddles； sausages； and lard。 He spoke with an authority that constrained belief； but I can never forgive him in that he took me over those hills； knowing all that he professed to know。 Let the visitors to Cincinnati keep themselves within the city； and not wander forth among the mountains。 It is well that the odor of hogs should ascend to heaven and not hang heavy over the streets； but it is not well to intercept that odor in its ascent。 My friend became ill with fever； and had to betake himself to the care of nursing friends； so that I parted company with him at Cincinnati。 I did not tell him that his illness was deserved as well as natural； but such was my feeling on the matter。 I myself happily escaped the evil consequences which his imprudence might have entailed on me。 I again passed through Pittsburg； and over the Alleghany Mountains by Altoona； and down to Baltimoreback into civilization； secession； conversation； and gastronomy。 I never had secessionist sympathies and never expressed them。 I always believed in the North as a peoplediscrediting； however； to the utmost the existing Northern government； or； as I should more properly say； the existing Northern cabinet； but nevertheless； with such feelings and such belief I found myself very happy at Baltimore。 Putti
