首页 >出版文学> The Theory of the Leisure Class>第40章
  Inallthislatter-dayrangeofleisure-classactivitiesthatproceedonthebasisofanon-invidiousandnon-religiousinterest,itistobenotedthatthewomenparticipatemoreactivelyandmorepersistentlythanthemen——except,ofcourse,inthecaseofsuchworksasrequirealargeexpenditureofmeans。Thedependentpecuniarypositionofthewomendisablesthemforworkrequiringlargeexpenditure。Asregardsthegeneralrangeofameliorativework,themembersofthepriesthoodorclergyofthelessnaivelydevoutsects,orthesecularizeddenominations,areassociatedwiththeclassofwomen。Thisisasthetheorywouldhaveit。Inothereconomicrelations,also,thisclergystandsinasomewhatequivocalpositionbetweentheclassofwomenandthatofthemenengagedineconomicpursuits。Bytraditionandbytheprevalentsenseoftheproprieties,boththeclergyandthewomenofthewell-to-doclassesareplacedinthepositionofavicariousleisureclass;withbothclassesthecharacteristicrelationwhichgoestoformthehabitsofthoughtoftheclassisarelationofsubservience——thatistosay,aneconomicrelationconceivedinpersonalterms;inbothclassesthereisconsequentlyperceptibleaspecialpronenesstoconstruephenomenaintermsofpersonalrelationratherthanofcausalsequence;bothclassesaresoinhibitedbythecanonsofdecencyfromtheceremoniallyuncleanprocessesofthelucrativeorproductiveoccupationsastomakeparticipationintheindustriallifeprocessoftodayamoralimpossibilityforthem。Theresultofthisceremonialexclusionfromproductiveeffortofthevulgarsortistodraftarelativelylargeshareoftheenergiesofthemodernfeminineandpriestlyclassesintotheserviceofotherintereststhantheself-regardingone。Thecodeleavesnoalternativedirectioninwhichtheimpulsetopurposefulactionmayfindexpression。Theeffectofaconsistentinhibitiononindustriallyusefulactivityinthecaseoftheleisure-classwomenshowsitselfinarestlessassertionoftheimpulsetoworkmanshipinotherdirectionsthanthatofbusinessactivity。
  Ashasbeennoticedalready,theeverydaylifeofthewell-to-dowomenandtheclergycontainsalargerelementofstatusthanthatoftheaverageofthemen,especiallythanthatofthemenengagedinthemodernindustrialoccupationsproper。
  Hencethedevoutattitudesurvivesinabetterstateofpreservationamongtheseclassesthanamongthecommonrunofmeninthemoderncommunities。Henceanappreciableshareoftheenergywhichseeksexpressioninanon-lucrativeemploymentamongthesemembersofthevicariousleisureclassesmaybeexpectedtoeventuateindevoutobservancesandworksofpiety。Hence,inpart,theexcessofthedevoutproclivityinwomen,spokenofinthelastchapter。Butitismoretothepresentpointtonotetheeffectofthisproclivityinshapingtheactionandcoloringthepurposesofthenon-lucrativemovementsandorganizationshereunderdiscussion。Wherethisdevoutcoloringispresentitlowerstheimmediateefficiencyoftheorganizationsforanyeconomicendtowhichtheireffortsmaybedirected。Manyorganizations,charitableandameliorative,dividetheirattentionbetweenthedevotionalandthesecularwell-beingofthepeoplewhoseintereststheyaimtofurther。Itcanscarcelyhedoubtedthatiftheyweretogiveanequallyseriousattentionandeffortundividedlytothesecularinterestsofthesepeople,theimmediateeconomicvalueoftheirworkshouldbeappreciablyhigherthanitis。Itmightofcoursesimilarlybesaid,ifthisweretheplacetosayit,thattheimmediateefficiencyoftheseworksofameliorationforthedevoutmightbegreaterifitwerenothamperedwiththesecularmotivesandaimswhichareusuallypresent。
  Somedeductionistobemadefromtheeconomicvalueofthisclassofnon-invidiousenterprise,onaccountoftheintrusionofthedevotionalinterest。Buttherearealsodeductionstobemadeonaccountofthepresenceofotheralienmotiveswhichmoreorlessbroadlytraversetheeconomictrendofthisnon-emulativeexpressionoftheinstinctofworkmanship。Tosuchanextentisthisseentobetrueonacloserscrutiny,that,whenallistold,itmayevenappearthatthisgeneralclassofenterprisesisofanaltogetherdubiouseconomicvalue——asmeasuredintermsofthefullnessorfacilityoflifeoftheindividualsorclassestowhoseameliorationtheenterpriseisdirected。Forinstance,manyoftheeffortsnowinreputablevoguefortheameliorationoftheindigentpopulationoflargecitiesareofthenature,ingreatpart,ofamissionofculture。Itisbythismeanssoughttoacceleratetherateofspeedatwhichgivenelementsoftheupper-classculturefindacceptanceintheeverydayschemeoflifeofthelowerclasses。Thesolicitudeof“settlements,“forexample,isinpartdirectedtoenhancetheindustrialefficiencyofthepoorandtoteachthemthemoreadequateutilizationofthemeansathand;butitisalsonolessconsistentlydirectedtotheinculcation,bypreceptandexample,ofcertainpunctiliosofupper-classproprietyinmannersandcustoms。Theeconomicsubstanceoftheseproprietieswillcommonlybefoundonscrutinytobeaconspicuouswasteoftimeandgoods。Thosegoodpeoplewhogoouttohumanizethepoorarecommonly,andadvisedly,extremelyscrupulousandsilentlyinsistentinmattersofdecorumandthedecenciesoflife。Theyarecommonlypersonsofanexemplarylifeandgiftedwithatenaciousinsistenceonceremonialcleannessinthevariousitemsoftheirdailyconsumption。Theculturalorcivilizingefficacyofthisinculcationofcorrecthabitsofthoughtwithrespecttotheconsumptionoftimeandcommoditiesisscarcelytobeoverrated;norisitseconomicvaluetotheindividualwhoacquiresthesehigherandmorereputableidealsinconsiderable。
  Underthecircumstancesoftheexistingpecuniaryculture,thereputability,andconsequentlythesuccess,oftheindividualisingreatmeasuredependentonhisproficiencyindemeanorandmethodsofconsumptionthatarguehabitualwasteoftimeandgoods。Butasregardstheulterioreconomicbearingofthistraininginworthiermethodsoflife,itistobesaidthattheeffectwroughtisinlargepartasubstitutionofcostlierorlessefficientmethodsofaccomplishingthesamematerialresults,inrelationswherethematerialresultisthefactofsubstantialeconomicvalue。Thepropagandaofcultureisingreatpartaninculcationofnewtastes,orratherofanewscheduleofproprieties,whichhavebeenadaptedtotheupper-classschemeoflifeundertheguidanceoftheleisure-classformulationoftheprinciplesofstatusandpecuniarydecency。Thisnewscheduleofproprietiesisintrudedintothelower-classschemeoflifefromthecodeelaboratedbyanelementofthepopulationwhoselifeliesoutsidetheindustrialprocess;andthisintrusiveschedulecanscarcelybeexpectedtofittheexigenciesoflifefortheselowerclassesmoreadequatelythantheschedulealreadyinvogueamongthem,andespeciallynotmoreadequatelythantheschedulewhichtheyarethemselvesworkingoutunderthestressofmodernindustriallife。
  AllthisofcoursedoesnotquestionthefactthattheprOprietiesofthesubstitutedschedulearemoredecorousthanthosewhichtheydisplace。Thedoubtwhichpresentsitselfissimplyadoubtastotheeconomicexpediencyofthisworkofregeneration——thatistosay,theeconomicexpediencyinthatimmediateandmaterialbearinginwhichtheeffectsofthechangecanbeascertainedwithsomedegreeofconfidence,andasviewedfromthestandpointnotoftheindividualbutofthefacilityoflifeofthecollectivity。Foranappreciationoftheeconomicexpediencyoftheseenterprisesofamelioration,therefore,theireffectiveworkisscarcelytobetakenatitsfacevalue,evenwheretheaimoftheenterpriseisprimarilyaneconomiconeandwheretheinterestonwhichitproceedsisinnosenseself-regardingorinvidious。Theeconomicreformwroughtislargelyofthenatureofapermutationinthemethodsofconspicuouswaste。
  Butsomethingfurtheristobesaidwithrespecttothecharacterofthedisinterestedmotivesandcanonsofprocedureinallworkofthisclassthatisaffectedbythehabitsofthoughtcharacteristicofthepecuniaryculture;andthisfurtherconsiderationmayleadtoafurtherqualificationoftheconclusionsalreadyreached。Ashasbeenseeninanearlierchapter,thecanonsofreputabilityordecencyunderthepecuniarycultureinsistonhabitualfutilityofeffortasthemarkofapecuniarilyblamelesslife。Thereresultsnotonlyahabitofdisesteemofusefuloccupations,butthereresultsalsowhatisofmoredecisiveconsequenceinguidingtheactionofanyorganizedbodyofpeoplethatlaysclaimtosocialgoodrepute。
  Thereisatraditionwhichrequiresthatoneshouldnotbevulgarlyfamiliarwithanyoftheprocessesordetailsthathavetodowiththematerialnecessitiesoflife。Onemaymeritoriouslyshowaquantitativeinterestinthewell-beingofthevulgar,throughsubscriptionsorthroughworkonmanagingcommitteesandthelike。Onemay,perhapsevenmoremeritoriously,showsolicitudeingeneralandindetailfortheculturalwelfareofthevulgar,inthewayofcontrivancesforelevatingtheirtastesandaffordingthemopportunitiesforspiritualamelioration。Butoneshouldnotbetrayanintimateknowledgeofthematerialcircumstancesofvulgarlife,orofthehabitsofthoughtofthevulgarclasses,suchaswouldeffectuallydirecttheeffortsoftheseorganizationstoamateriallyusefulend。Thisreluctancetoavowanundulyintimateknowledgeofthelower-classconditionsoflifeindetailofcourseprevailsinverydifferentdegreesindifferentindividuals;butthereiscommonlyenoughofitpresentcollectivelyinanyorganizationofthekindinquestionprofoundlytoinfluenceitscourseofaction。Byitscumulativeactioninshapingtheusageandprecedentsofanysuchbody,thisshrinkingfromanimputationofunseemlyfamiliaritywithvulgarlifetendsgraduallytosetasidetheinitialmotivesoftheenterprise,infavorofcertainguidingprinciplesofgoodrepute,ultimatelyreducibletotermsofpecuniarymerit。Sothatinanorganizationoflongstandingtheinitialmotiveoffurtheringthefacilityoflifeintheseclassescomesgraduallytobeanostensiblemotiveonly,andthevulgarlyeffectiveworkoftheorganizationtendstoobsolescence。
  Whatistrueoftheefficiencyoforganizationsfornon-invidiousworkinthisrespectistruealsoasregardstheworkofindividualsproceedingonthesamemotives;thoughitperhapsholdstruewithmorequalificationforindividualsthanfororganizedenterprises。Thehabitofgaugingmeritbytheleisure-classcanonsofwastefulexpenditureandunfamiliaritywithvulgarlife,whetheronthesideofproductionorofconsumption,isnecessarilystrongintheindividualswhoaspiretodosomeworkofpublicutility。Andiftheindividualshouldforgethisstationandturnhiseffortstovulgareffectiveness,thecommonsenseofthecommunity-thesenseofpecuniarydecency——wouldpresentlyrejecthisworkandsethimright。Anexampleofthisisseenintheadministrationofbequestsmadebypublic-spiritedmenforthesinglepurposeatleastostensibly
  offurtheringthefacilityofhumanlifeinsomeparticularrespect。Theobjectsforwhichbequestsofthisclassaremostfrequentlymadeatpresentaremostfrequentlymadeatpresentareschools,libraries,hospitals,andasylumsfortheinfirmorunfortunate。Theavowedpurposeofthedonorinthesecasesistheameliorationofhumanlifeintheparticularrespectwhichisnamedinthebequest;butitwillbefoundaninvariablerulethatintheexecutionoftheworknotalittleofothermotives,frequenCyincompatiblewiththeinitialmotive,ispresentanddeterminestheparticulardispositioneventuallymadeofagoodshareofthemeanswhichhavebeensetapartbythebequest。
  Certainfunds,forinstance,mayhavebeensetapartasafoundationforafoundlingasylumoraretreatforinvalids。Thediversionofexpendituretohonorificwasteinsuchcasesisnotuncommonenoughtocausesurpriseoreventoraiseasmile。Anappreciableshareofthefundsisspentintheconstructionofanedificefacedwithsomeaestheticallyobjectionablebutexpensivestone,coveredwithgrotesqueandincongruousdetails,anddesigned,initsbattlementedwallsandturretsanditsmassiveportalsandstrategicapproaches,tosuggestcertainbarbaricmethodsofwarfare。Theinteriorofthestructureshowsthesamepervasiveguidanceofthecanonsofconspicuouswasteandpredatoryexploit。Thewindows,forinstance,togonofartherintodetail,areplacedwithaviewtoimpresstheirpecuniaryexcellenceuponthechancebeholderfromtheoutside,ratherthanwithaviewtoeffectivenessfortheirostensibleendintheconvenienceorcomfortofthebeneficiarieswithin;andthedetailofinteriorarrangementisrequiredtoconformitselfasbestitmaytothisalienbutimperiousrequirementofpecuniarybeauty。
  Inallthis,ofcourse,itisnottohepresumedthatthedonorwouldhavefoundfault,orthathewouldhavedoneotherwiseifhehadtakencontrolinperson;itappearsthatinthosecaseswheresuchapersonaldirectionisexercised——wheretheenterpriseisconductedbydirectexpenditureandsuperintendenceinsteadofbybequest——theaimsandmethodsofmanagementarenotdifferentinthisrespect。Norwouldthebeneficiaries,ortheoutsideobserverswhoseeaseorvanityarenotimmediatelytouched,bepleasedwithadifferentdispositionofthefunds。Itwouldsuitnoonetohavetheenterpriseconductedwithaviewdirectlytothemosteconomicalandeffectiveuseofthemeansathandfortheinitial,materialendofthefoundation。Allconcerned,whethertheirinterestisimmediateandself-regarding,orcontemplativeonly,agreethatsomeconsiderableshareoftheexpenditureshouldgotothehigherorspiritualneedsderivedfromthehabitofaninvidiouscomparisoninpredatoryexploitandpecuniarywaste。Butthisonlygoestosaythatthecanonsofemulativeandpecuniaryreputabilitysofarpervadethecommonsenseofthecommunityastopermitnoescapeorevasion,eveninthecaseofanenterprisewhichostensiblyproceedsentirelyonthebasisofanon-invidiousinterest。