the ways of men(人们的手段)-第43章
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give the speaking voice。 Each syllable seemed to ring out with a bell…like
clearness。 As she gradually rose in the last act to the scene with Orestes； I
understood the use of the great wall behind the actors。 It increased the
power of the voices and lent them a sonority difficult to believe。 The effect
was overwhelming when； unable to escape death； Clytemnestra cries out
her horrible imprecations。
Mounet…Sully surpassed himself。 Paul Mounet gave us the complete
illusion of a monster thirsting for blood； even his mother's！ When striking
her as she struck his father； he answers her despairing query； 〃Thou
wouldst not slay thy mother？〃 〃Woman； thou hast ceased to be a mother！〃
Dudlay （as Cassandra） reaches a splendid climax when she prophesies the
misfortune hanging over her family； which she is powerless to avert。
It is impossible in feeble prose to give any idea of the impression those
lines produce in the stupendous theatre； packed to its utmost limits … the
wild night； with a storm in the air； a stage which seems like a clearing in
some forest inhabited by Titans； the terrible tragedy of AEschylus
following the graceful fete of Apollo。
After the unavoidable confusion at the beginning； the vast audience
listen in profound silence to an expression of pure art。 They are no longer
actors we hear； but demi…gods。 With voices of the storm； possessed by
some divine afflatus； thundering out verses of fire … carried out of
themselves in a whirlwind of passion； like antique prophets and Sibyls
foretelling the misfortunes of the world！
That night will remain immutably fixed in my memory； if I live to be
as old as the theatre itself。 We were so moved； my companion and I； and
had seen the crowd so moved； that fearing to efface the impression if we
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returned the second night to see ANTIGONE； we came quietly away；
pondering over it all； and realizing once again that a thing of beauty is a
source of eternal delight。
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CHAPTER 26 … Pre…palatial
Newport
THE historic Ocean House of Newport is a ruin。 Flames have laid
low the unsightly structure that was at one time the best…known hotel in
America。 Its fifty…odd years of existence； as well as its day； are over。
Having served a purpose； it has departed； together with the generation and
habits of life that produced it； into the limbo where old houses； old
customs； and superannuated ideas survive； … the memory of the few who
like to recall other days and wander from time to time in a reconstructed
past。
There was a certain appropriateness in the manner of its taking off。
The proud old structure had doubtless heard projects of rebuilding
discussed by its owners （who for some years had been threatening to tear
it down）； wounded doubtless by unflattering truths； the hotel decided that
if its days were numbered； an exit worthy of a leading role was at least
possible。 〃Pull me down； indeed！ That is all very well for ordinary
hostleries； but from an establishment of my pretensions； that has received
the aristocracy of the country； and countless foreign swells； something
more is expected！〃
So it turned the matter over and debated within its shaky old brain
（Mrs。 Skewton fashion） what would be the most becoming and effective
way of retiring from the social whirl。 Balls have been overdone； people
are no longer tempted by receptions； a banquet was out of the question。
Suddenly the wily building hit on an idea。 〃I'll give them a FEU
D'ARTIFICE。 There hasn't been a first…class fire here since I burned
myself down fifty…three years ago！ That kind of entertainment hasn't been
run into the ground like everything else in these degenerate days！ I'll do it
in the best and most complete way； and give Newport something to talk
about； whenever my name shall be mentioned in the future！〃
Daudet； in his L'IMMORTEL； shows us how some people are born
lucky。 His 〃Loisel of the Institute；〃 although an insignificant and
commonplace man； succeeded all through life in keeping himself before
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the public； and getting talked about as a celebrity。 He even arranged （to the
disgust and envy of his rivals） to die during a week when no event of
importance was occupying public attention。 In consequence； reporters；
being short of 〃copy；〃 owing to a dearth of murders and 〃first nights；〃
seized on this demise and made his funeral an event。
The truth is； the Ocean House had lived so long in an atmosphere of
ostentatious worldliness that； like many residents of the summer city； it
had come to take itself and its 〃position〃 seriously； and imagine that the
eyes of the country were fixed upon and expected something of it。
The air of Newport has always proved fatal to big hotels。 One after
another they have appeared and failed； the Ocean House alone dragging
out a forlorn existence。 As the flames worked their will and the careless
crowd enjoyed the spectacle； one could not help feeling a vague regret for
the old place； more for what it represented than for any intrinsic value of
its own。 Without greatly stretching a point it might be taken to represent a
social condition； a phase； as it were； in our development。 In a certain
obscure way； it was an epoch… marking structure。 Its building closed the
era of primitive Newport； its decline corresponded with the end of the pre…
palatial period … an era extending from 1845 to 1885。
During forty years Newport had a unique existence； unknown to the
rest of America； and destined to have a lasting influence on her ways； an
existence now as completely forgotten as the earlier boarding…house
MATINEE DANSANTE time。 * The sixties； seventies； and eighties in
Newport were pleasant years that many of us regret in spite of modern
progress。 Simple； inexpensive days； when people dined at three （looking
on the newly introduced six o'clock dinners as an English innovation and
modern 〃frill〃）； and 〃high…teaed〃 together dyspeptically off 〃sally lunns〃
and 〃preserves；〃 washed down by coffee and chocolate； which it was the
toilsome duty of a hostess to dispense from a silver…laden tray； days when
〃rockaways〃 drawn by lean； long…tailed horses and driven by mustached
darkies were； if not the rule； far from being an exception。
* 〃Newport of the Past；〃 WORLDLY WAYS AND BY…WAYS。
〃Dutch treat〃 picnics； another archaic amusement； flourished then；
directed by a famous organizer at his farm； each guest being told what
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share of the eatables it was his duty to provide； an edict from which there
was no appeal。
Sport was little known then； youn
