the american claimant-第18章
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themselves ladies and gentlemen； there is no question about that
election。 It does make absolute equality； and there is no fiction about
it； while over yonder the inequality； （by decree of the infinitely
feeble； and consent of the infinitely strong；） is also absoluteas real
and absolute as our equality。〃
Tracy had shrunk promptly into his English shell when this speech began；
notwithstanding he had now been in severe training several weeks for
contact and intercourse with the common herd on the common herd's terms；
but he lost no time in pulling himself out again； and so by the time the
speech was finished his valves were open once more； and he was forcing
himself to accept without resentment the common herd's frank fashion of
dropping sociably into other people's conversations unembarrassed and
uninvited。 The process was； not very difficult this time； for the man's
smile and voice and manner were persuasive and winning。 Tracy would even
have liked him on the spot； but for the factfact which he was not
really aware ofthat the equality of men was not yet a reality to him；
it was only a theory； the mind perceived； but the man failed to feel it。
It was Hattie's ghost over again； merely turned around。 Theoretically
Barrow was his equal； but it was distinctly distasteful to see him
exhibit it。 He presently said：
〃I hope in all sincerity that what you have said is true； as regards the
Americans； for doubts have crept into my mind several times。 It seemed
that the equality must be ungenuine where the sign…names of castes were
still in vogue； but those sign…names have certainly lost their offence
and are wholly neutralized； nullified and harmless if they are the
undisputed property of every individual in the nation。 I think I realize
that caste does not exist and cannot exist except by common consent of
the masses outside of its limits。 I thought caste created itself and
perpetuated itself； but it seems quite true that it only creates itself；
and is perpetuated by the people whom it despises； and who can dissolve
it at any time by assuming its mere sign…names themselves。〃
〃It's what I think。 There isn't any power on earth that can prevent
England's thirty millions from electing themselves dukes and duchesses
to…morrow and calling themselves so。 And within six months all the
former dukes and duchesses would have retired from the business。
I wish they'd try that。 Royalty itself couldn't survive such a process。
A handful of frowners against thirty million laughers in a state of
irruption： Why； it's Herculaneum against Vesuvius； it would take another
eighteen centuries to find that Herculaneum after the cataclysm。 What's
a Colonel in our South？ He's a nobody； because they're all colonels down
there。 No； Tracy〃 （shudder from Tracy） 〃nobody in England would call you
a gentleman and you wouldn't call yourself one； and I tell you it's a
state of things that makes a man put himself into most unbecoming
attitudes sometimesthe broad and general recognition and acceptance of
caste as caste does； I mean。 Makes him do it unconsciouslybeing bred
in him； you see； and never thought over and reasoned out。 You couldn't
conceive of the Matterhorn being flattered by the notice of one of your
comely little English hills； could you？〃
〃Why； no。〃
〃Well； then； let a man in his right mind try to conceive of Darwin
feeling flattered by the notice of a princess。 It's so grotesque that
itwell； it paralyzes the imagination。 Yet that Memnon was flattered by
the notice of that statuette； he says so…says so himself。 The system
that can make a god disown his godship and profane itoh； well； it's all
wrong； it's all wrong and ought to be abolished； I should say。〃
The mention of Darwin brought on a literary discussion； and this topic
roused such enthusiasm in Barrow that he took off his coat and made
himself the more free and comfortable for it； and detained him so long
that he was still at it when the noisy proprietors of the room came
shouting and skylarking in and began to romp； scuffle； wash； and
otherwise entertain themselves。 He lingered yet a little longer to offer
the hospitalities of his room and his book shelf to Tracy and ask him a
personal question or two：
〃What is your trade？〃
〃Theywell； they call me a cowboy； but that is a fancy。 I'm not that。
I haven't any trade。〃
〃What do you work at for your living？〃
Oh； anythingI mean I would work at； anything I could get to do； but
thus far I haven't been able to find an occupation。〃
〃Maybe I can help you； I'd like to try。〃
〃I shall be very glad。 I've tried； myself； to weariness。〃
〃Well； of course where a man hasn't a regular trade he's pretty bad off
in this world。 What you needed； I reckon； was less book learning and
more bread…and…butter learning。 I don't know what your father could have
been thinking of。 You ought to have had a trade； you ought to have had a
trade； by all means。 But never mind about that； we'll stir up something
to do； I guess。 And don't you get homesick； that's a bad business。
We'll talk the thing over and look around a little。 You'll come out all
right。 Wait for meI'll go down to supper with you。〃
By this time Tracy had achieved a very friendly feeling for Barrow and
would have called him a friend； maybe； if not taken too suddenly on a
straight…out requirement to realize on his theories。 He was glad of his
society； anyway； and was feeling lighter hearted than before。 Also he
was pretty curious to know what vocation it might be which had furnished
Barrow such a large acquaintanceship with books and allowed him so much
time to read。
CHAPTER XII。
Presently the supper bell began to ring in the depths of the house； and
the sound proceeded steadily upward； growing in intensity all the way up
towards the upper floors。 The higher it came the more maddening was the
noise； until at last what it lacked of being absolutely deafening； was
made up of the sudden crash and clatter of an avalanche of boarders down
the uncarpeted stairway。 The peerage did not go to meals in this
fashion； Tracy's training had not fitted him to enjoy this hilarious
zoological clamor and enthusiasm。 He had to confess that there was
something about this extraordinary outpouring of animal spirits which he
would have to get inured to before he could accept it。 No doubt in time
he would prefer it； but he wished the process might be modified and made
just a little more gradual； and not quite so pronounced and violent。
Barrow and Tracy followed the avalanche down through an ever increasing
and ever more and more aggressive stench of bygone cabbage and kindred
smells； smells which are to be found nowhere but in a cheap private
boarding house； smells which once encountered can never be forgotten；
smells which encountered generations later are instantly recognizable；
but never recognizable with pleasure。 To Tracy these odors were
suffocating； horrible； almost unendurable； but he held his peace and said
nothing。 Arrived in the basement； they entered a large dining…room where
thirty…five or forty people sat at a long table。 They took their places。
The feast had already begun and the conversation was going on in the
liveliest way from one end of the table to the other。 The table cloth
was of very coarse material and was liberally spotted with coffee stains
and grease。 The knives and forks were iron； with bone handles； the
spoons appeared to be iron or sheet iron or something of the sort。
The tea and coffee cups were of the commonest and heaviest and most
durable stone ware。 All the furniture of the table was of the commonest
and cheapest sort。 There was a single large thick slice of bread by each
boarder's plate； and it was observable that he economized it as if he
were not expecting it to be duplicated。 Dishes of butter were
distributed along the table within reach of people's arms； if they had
long ones； but there were no private butter plates。 The butter was
perhaps good enough； and was quiet and well behaved； but it had more
bouquet than was necessary； though nobody commented upon that fact or
seemed in any way disturbed by it。 The main feature of
