north america-2-第51章
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een wrong in their fears。 It is not better to rule in hell than serve in heaven。 Of course a Southern gentleman will not admit the premises which are here by me taken for granted。 The hell to which I allude is； the sad position of a low and debased nation。 Such； I think； will be the fate of the Gulf States； if they succeed in obtaining secessionof a low and debased nation； or； worse still； of many low and debased nations。 They will have lost their cotton monopoly by the competition created during the period of the war； and will have no material of greatness on which either to found themselves or to flourish。 That they had much to bear when linked with the North； much to endure on account of that slavery from which it was all but impossible that they should disentangle themselves； may probably be true。 But so have all political parties among all free nations much to bear from political opponents； and yet other free nations do not go to pieces。 Had it been possible that the slaveowners and slave properties should have been scattered in parts through all the States and not congregated in the South； the slave party would have maintained itself as other parties do； but in such case； as a matter of course； it would not have thought of secession。 It has been the close vicinity of slaveowners to each other； the fact that their lands have been coterminous； that theirs was especially a cotton district； which has tempted them to secession。 They have been tempted to secession； and will； as I think； still achieve it in those Gulf States； much to their misfortune。 And the fears of the North are； I think； equally wrong。 That they will be deceived as to that Monroe doctrine is no doubt more than probable。 That ambition for an entire continent under one rule will not； I should say； be gratified。 But not on that account need the nation be less great； or its civilization less extensive。 That hook in its nose and that thorn in its jaw will； after all； be but a hook of the imagination and an ideal thorn。 Do not all great men suffer such ere their greatness be established and acknowledged？ There is scope enough for all that manhood can do between the Atlantic and the Pacific； even though those hot； swampy cotton fields be taken away； even though the snows of the British provinces be denied to them。 And as for those rivers and that sea…board； the Americans of the North will have lost much of their old energy and usual force of will if any Southern confederacy be allowed to deny their right of way or to stop their commercial enterprises。 I believe that the South will be badly off without the North； but I feel certain that the North will never miss the South when once the wounds to her pride have been closed。 From Washington I journeyed back to Boston through the cities which I had visited in coming thither； and stayed again on my route； for a few days； at Baltimore； at Philadelphia； and at New York。 At each town there were those whom I now regarded almost as old friends； and as the time of my departure drew near I felt a sorrow that I was not to be allowed to stay longer。 As the general result of my sojourn in the country； I must declare that I was always happy and comfortable in the Eastern cities； and generally unhappy and uncomfortable in the West。 I had previously been inclined to think that I should like the roughness of the West； and that in the East I should encounter an arrogance which would have kept me always on the verge of hot water； but in both these surmises I found myself to have been wrong。 And I think that most English travelers would come to the same conclusion。 The Western people do not mean to be harsh or uncivil； but they do not make themselves pleasant。 In all the Eastern citiesI speak of the Eastern cities north of Washingtona society may be found which must be esteemed as agreeable by Englishmen who like clever； genial men； and who love clever； pretty women。 I was forced to pass twice again over the road between New York and Boston； as the packet by which I intended to leave America was fixed to sail from the former port。 I had promised myself； and had promised others； that I would spend in Boston the last week of my sojourn in the States； and this was a promise which I was by no means inclined to break。 If there be a gratification in this world which has no alloy； it is that of going to an assured welcome。 The belief that arms and hearts are open to receive oneand the arms and hearts of women； too； as far as they allow themselves to open themis the salt of the earth； the sole remedy against sea… sickness； the only cure for the tedium of railways； the one preservative amid all the miseries and fatigue of travail。 These matters are private； and should hardly be told of in a book； but in writing of the States； I should not do justice to my own convictions of the country if I did not say how pleasantly social intercourse there will ripen into friendship； and how full of love that friendship may become。 I became enamored of Boston at last。 Beacon Street was very pleasant to me； and the view over Boston Common was dear to my eyes。 Even the State House； with its great yellow… painted dome； became sightly； and the sunset over the western waters that encompass the city beats all other sunsets that I have seen。 During my last week there the world of Boston was moving itself on sleighs。 There was not a wheel to be seen in the town。 The omnibuses and public carriages had been dismounted from their axles and put themselves upon snow…runners； and the private world had taken out its winter carriages； and wrapped itself up in buffalo robes。 Men now spoke of the coming thaw as of a misfortune which must come； but which a kind Providence might perhaps postponeas we all； in short； speak of death。 In the morning the snow would have been hardened by the night's frost； and men would look happy and contented。 By an hour after noon the streets would be all wet and the ground would be slushy； and men would look gloomy and speak of speedy dissolution。 There were those who would always prophesy that the next day would see the snow converted into one dull； dingy river。 Such I regarded as seers of tribulation； and endeavored with all my mind to disbelieve their interpretations of the signs。 That sleighing was excellent fun。 For myself I must own that I hardly saw the best of it at Boston； for the coming of the end was already at hand when I arrived there； and the fresh beauty of the hard snow was gone。 Moreover； when I essayed to show my prowess with a pair of horses on the established course for such equipage； the beasts ran away； knowing that I was not practiced in the use of snow chariots； and brought me to grief and shame。 There was a lady with me in the sleigh； whom； for awhile； I felt that I was doomed to consign to a snowy gravewhom I would willingly have overturned into a drift of snow； so as to avoid worse consequences； had I only known how to do so。 But Providence； even though without curbs and assisted only by simple snaffles； did at last prevail； and I brought the sleigh horses； and lady alive back to Boston； whether with or without permanent injury I have never yet ascertained。 At last the day of tribulation came； and the snow was picked up and carted out of Boston。 Gangs of men； standing shoulder to shoulder； were at work along the chief streets； picking； shoveling； and disposing of the dirty blocks。 Even then the snow seemed to be nearly a foot thick； but it was dirty； rough； half melted in some places； though hard as stone in others。 The labor and cost of cleansing the city in this way must be very great。 The people were at it as I left； and I felt that the day of tribulation had in truth come。 Farewell to thee； thou Western Athens！ When I have forgotten thee； my right hand shall have forgotten its cunning； and my heart forgotten its pulses。 Let us look at the list of names with which Boston has honored itself in our days； and then ask what other town of the same size has done more。 Prescott； Bancroft； Motley； Longfellow； Lowell； Emerson； Dana； Agassiz； Holmes； Hawthorne！ Who is there among us in England who has not been the better for these men？ Who does not owe to some of them a debt of gratit
