Thenhesaid："Idon’tcontendthatitisintellectual，butIsaythatitisoftencleverandcharmingattheten—centshows，justasitislessoftencleverandcharmingintheten—centmagazines。Ithinktheaverageofproprietyisratherhigherthanitisatthetwo—dollartheatres;anditismuchmoreinstructiveattheten—centshows，ifyoucometothat。
Theotherday，"saidmyfriend，andinsquaringhimselfcomfortablyinhischairandfindingroomforhiselbowonthecornerofmytableheknockedoffsomebooksforreview，"IwenttoadimemuseumforanhourthatIhadbetweentwoappointments，andImustsaythatIneverpassedanhour’stimemoreagreeably。Inthecuriohall，asoneofthelecturersonthecurioscalledit——theyhadseverallecturersinwhitewigsandscholars’capsandgowns——therewasnotagreatdealtosee，I
confess;buteverythingwasveryhigh—class。Therewastheinventorofaperpetualmotion，wholectureduponitandexplaineditfromadiagram。
Therewasafortune—tellerinathree—foottentwhomIdidnotinterview;
therewerefivemacawsinonecage，andtwogloomyapesinanother。OnaplatformattheendofthehallwasanAustralianfamilyagooddealgloomierthantheapes，whosatinthecostumeofourlatitude，staringdowntheroomwithvaryingexpressionsallverginguponmelancholymadness，andwhogavemesuchapangofcompassionasIhaveseldomgotfromthetragedyofthetwo—dollartheatres。Theyallowedmetocomequitecloseuptothem，andtofeedmypityupontheirwilddejectioninexilewithoutstint。Icouldn’tenterintoconversationwiththem，andexpressmyregretatfindingthemsofarfromtheirnativeboomerangsandkangaroosandpinetreegrubs，butIknowtheyfeltmysympathy，itwassoevident。Ididn’tseetheirperformance，andIdon’tknowthattheyhadany。Theymaysimplyhavebeenthereethnologically，butthiswasagoodobject，andthesightoftheirspiritualmiserywasaloneworththepriceofadmission。
"Aftertheinventoroftheperpetualmotionhadbroughthisharanguetoaclose，weallwentroundtothedaiswherealadyinbluespectacleslecturedusuponafire—escapewhichshehadinvented，andoperatedasmallmodelofit。Noneoftheeventsweresoexcitingthatwecouldregretitwhenthechieflecturerannouncedthatthiswastheendoftheentertainmentinthecuriohall，andthatnowtheperformanceinthetheatrewasabouttobegin。Heinvitedustobuyticketsatanadditionalchargeoffive，ten，orfifteencentsforthegallery，orchestracircle，ororchestra。
"IthoughtIcouldaffordanorchestrastall，foronce。Wewerethreeintheorchestra，anothermanandayoungmother，notcountingthelittleboyshehadwithher;thereweretwopeopleinthegallery，andadozenatleastintheorchestracircle。Anattendantshouted，’Hatsoff！’andtheothermanandIuncovered，andaladycameupfromunderthestageandbegantoplaythepianoinfrontofit。Thecurtainrose，andtheentertainmentbeganatonce。Itwasapassageapparentlyfromreallife，anditinvolvedadissatisfiedboarderandthedaughterofthelandlady。
Therewasnotmuchcoherenceinit，buttherewasagooddealofconscienceonthepartoftheactors，whotoiledthroughitwithunflaggingenergy。Theyoungwomanwasequippedforthedanceshebroughtintoitatonepointratherthanforthepartshehadtosustaininthedrama。Itwasaveryblamelessdance，andshegaveitasifshewastiredofit，butwasnotgoingtofalter。Shedeliveredherlineswithahard，Southwesternaccent，andIlikedfancyingherhavingcomeupinasimpler—heartedsectionofthecountrythanours，encouragedbyastronglocalbeliefthatshewasdestinedtodoJulietandLadyMacbeth，orPegWoffingtonattheleast;butverylikelyshehadnot。
"Herperformancewasfollowedbyaneventinvolvingasinglecharacter。
Theactor，naturally，wasblackenedastohisskin，butastohisdresshewasallinwhite，andatthefirstglanceIcouldseethathehadtemperament。IsuspectthathethoughtIhad，too，forhebegantoaddresshisentiredramatome。Thiswasnotsurprising，foritwouldnothavebeenthethingforhimtosingleouttheyoungmother;andtheothermanintheorchestrastallsseemedavagueandinexperiencedyouth，whomhewouldhardlyhavegiventhepreferenceoverme。Ifeltthecompliment，butuponthewholeitembarrassedme;itwastoointimate，anditgavemeapublicityIwouldwillinglyhaveforegone。IdidwhatI
couldtorejectit，byfeigninganindifferencetohisjokes;Ievenfrownedameasureofdisapproval;butthismerelystimulatedhisambition。Hewasreallyamerrycreature，andwhenhehadgotoffanumberofverygoodthingswhichwerereceivedinperfectsilence，andlookedoverhisaudiencewithawoe—begoneeye，andsaid，withaneffectofdelicateapology，’IhopeI’mnotdisturbingyouany，’Ibrokedownandlaughed，andthatdeliveredmeintohishand。Heimmediatelysaidtomethatnowhewouldtellmeaboutafriendofhis，whohadaprettylargefamily，eightofthemliving，andoneinPhiladelphia;andthenfornoreasonheseemedtochangehismind，andsaidhewouldsingmeasongwrittenexpresslyforhim——byanexpressman;andhewentonfromonewildgayetytoanother，untilhehadworkedhisaudienceuptoquiteafrenzyofenthusiasm，andalmosthadarecallwhenhewentoff。
"Iwasrathergladtoberidofhim，andIwasgladthatthenextperformers，whowerealadyandagentlemancontortionistofSpanish—
Americanextraction，behavedmoreimpartially。Theywerereallyremarkableartistsintheirway，andthoughit’sapainfulway，I
couldn’thelpadmiringtheirgiftinbowknotsandotherdifficultposes。
Thegentlemangotabundantapplause，buttheladyatfirstgotnone。I
thinkperhapsitwasbecause，withthecorrectfeelingthatprevailedamongus，wecouldnotseealadycontortherselfwithsomuchapprovalasagentleman，andthattherewasawoundtooursenseofproprietyinwitnessingherskill。ButIcouldseethatthepoorgirlwashurtinherartistpridebyourseverity，andatthenextthingshedidIledofftheapplausewithmyumbrella。Sheinstantlylightedupwithajoyfulsmile，andtheyoungmotherintheorchestraleanedforwardtonodhersympathytomewhilesheclapped。Wewerefastbecomingadomesticcircle，anditwasverypleasant，butIthoughtthatuponthewholeIhadbettergo。"
"Anddoyouthinkyouhadaprofitablehouratthatshow？"Iasked，withasmilethatwasmeanttobesceptical。
"Profitable？"saidmyfriend。"Isaidagreeable。Idon’tknowabouttheprofit。Butitwasverygoodvariety，anditwasverycheap。I
understandthatthisisthekindofthingyouwantthetwo—dollartheatretocomedownto，orupto。"
"Notexactly，ornotquite，"Ireturned，thoughtfully，"thoughImustsayIthinkyourtimewasaswellspentasitwouldhavebeenatmostoftheplaysIhaveseenthiswinter。"
Myfriendleftthepoint，andsaid，withadreamyair："Itwasallverypathetic，inaway。Threeoutofthosefivepeoplewerereallyclever，andcertainlyartists。Thatcoloredbrotherwasalmostagenius，averycommonvarietyofgenius，butstillagenius，withagiftforhiscallingthatcouldn’tbedisputed。Hewasagenuinehumorist，andIsorrowedoverhim——afterIgotsafelyawayfromhisintimacy——asIshouldoversomeauthorwhowasstrugglingalongwithoutwinninghispublic。Whynot？Oneisasmuchintheshowbusinessastheother。Thereisadifferenceofqualityratherthanofkind。Perhapsby—and—bymycoloredhumoristwillmakeastrikewithhisbranchofthepublic，asyouarealwayshopingtodowithyours。"
"Youdon’tthinkyou’remakingyourselfratheroffensive？"Isuggested。
"Notintentionally。Aren’ttheartsone？Howcanyousaythatanyartishigherthantheothers？Whyisitnoblertocontortthemindthantocontortthebody？"
"Iamalwayssayingthatitisnotatallnobletocontortthemind，"
Ireturned，"andIfeelthattoaimatnothinghigherthantheamusementofyourreadersistobringyourselfmostdistinctlytotheleveloftheshowbusiness。"
"Yes，Iknowthatisyourpose，"saidmyfriend。"AndIdaresayyoureallythinkthatyoumakeadistinctioninfactswhenyoumakeadistinctioninterms。Ifyoudon’tamuseyourreaders，youdon’tkeepthem;practically，youceasetoexist。Youmaycallitinterestingthem，ifyoulike;but，really，whatisthedifference？Youdoyourlittleact，andbecausethestageislargeandthehouseisfine，youfancyyouarenotofthatsadbrotherhoodwhichaimstopleaseinhumblerplaces，withperhapscrudermeans——"
"Idon’tknowwhetherIlikeyoursawslessthanyourinstances，oryourinstanceslessthanyoursaws，"Ibrokein。"Haveyoubeenatthecircusyet？"
II。
"Yet？"demandedmyfriend。"Iwentthefirstnight，andIhavebeenagooddealinterestedintheexaminationofmyemotionseversince。
Ican’tfindoutjustwhyIhavesomuchpleasureinthetrapeze。
HalfthetimeIwanttoshutmyeyes，andagoodpartofthetimeIdolookaway;butIwouldn’tspareanyactorthemostdangerousfeat。
Oneofthepoorgirls，thatnight，droppedawkwardlyintothenetafterherperformance，andlimpedofftothedressing—roomwithasprainedankle。Itmademerathersadtothinkthatnowshemustperhapsgiveupherperilousworkforawhile，andpayadoctor，andlosehersalary，butitdidn’ttakeawaymyinterestintheothertrapezistsflyingthroughtheairaboveanothernet。
"IfIhadhonestlycomplainedofanythingitwouldhavebeenofthesuperfluitywhichgluttedratherthanfedme。Howcanyouwatchthreesetsoftrapezistsatonce？Youreallyseeneitherwell。It’sthesamewiththethreerings。Thereshouldbeonering，andeachactshouldhaveafairchancewiththespectator，ifittooksixhours;Iwouldwillinglygivethetime。Fancythreestagesatthetheatre，withthreeplaysgoingonatonce！"
"No，don’tfancythat！"Ientreated。"Oneplayisbadenough。"
"Orfancyreadingthreenovelssimultaneously，andlisteningatthesametimetoalectureandasermon，whichcouldrepresentthetwoplatformsbetweentherings，"myfriendcalmlypersisted。"Thethreeringsareanabuseandanoutrage，butIdon’tknowbutIobjectstillmoretothesilencingoftheclowns。Theyhaveagreatmanyclownsnow，buttheyarealldumb，andyouonlygethalfthegoodyouusedtogetoutofthesingleclownoftheoldone—ringcircus。Why，it’sasiftheliteraryhumoristweretoleaduptoacharmingconceitorasubtlejest，andthenputasteriskswherethehumoroughttocomein。"
"Don’tyouthinkyouaregoingfrombadtoworse？"Iasked。
Myfriendwenton："I’mafraidthecircusisspoiledforme。Ithasbecometoomuchofagoodthing;foritisagoodthing;almostthebestthinginthewayofanentertainmentthatthereis。I’mstillveryfondofit，butIcomeawaydefeatedanddefraudedbecauseIhavebeenembarrassedwithriches，andhavebeengivenmorethanIwasabletograsp。Mygreedhasbeenoverfed。IthinkImustkeeptothoseentertainmentswhereyoucancomeatteninthemorningandstaytilltenatnight，withaperpetualchangeofbill，onlyonestage，andnofallofthecurtain。Isupposeyouwouldobjecttothembecausethey’regettingratherdear;atthebestofthemnowtheyaskyouadollarforthefirstseats。"
IsaidthatIdidnotthinkthistoomuchfortwelvehours，iftheintellectualcharacteroftheentertainmentwascorrespondinglyhigh。
"It’sashighasthatofsomemagazines，"saidmyfriend，"thoughIcouldsometimeswishitwerehigher。It’slikethematterintheSundaypapers——aboutthataverage。Someofit’sgood，andmostofitisn’t。
Someofitcouldhardlybeworse。Butthereisagreatdealofit，andyougetitconsecutivelyandnotsimultaneously。Thatconstitutesitsadvantageoverthecircus。"
Myfriendstopped，withavaguesmile，andIasked：
"Then，doIunderstandthatyouwouldadvisemetorecommendthedimemuseums，thecircus，andtheperpetual—motionvarietiesintheplaceofthetheatres？"
"Youhaverecommendedbooksinstead，andthatnotiondoesn’tseemtohavemetwithmuchfavor，thoughyouurgedtheircomparativecheapness。Now，whynotsuggestsomethingthatisreallylevelwiththepopulartaste？"
AMERICANLITERATUREINEXILE
ArecentlylecturingEnglishmanisreportedtohavenotedtheunenviableprimacyoftheUnitedStatesamongcountrieswherethestruggleformaterialprosperityhasbeendisastroustothepursuitofliterature。
Hesaid，orissaidtohavesaid（onecannotbetoocarefulinattributingtoapublicmanthethoughtsthatmaybereallyduetoanimaginativeframeinthereporter），thatamongus，"theoldraceofwritersofdistinction，suchasLongfellow，Bryant，Holmes，andWashingtonIrving，have（sic）diedout，andtheAmericanswhoaremostprominentincultivatedEuropeanopinioninartorliterature，likeSargent，HenryJames，orMarionCrawford，livehabituallyoutofAmerica，anddrawtheirinspirationfromEngland，France，andItaly。"
I。
Ifthisweretrue，IconfessthatIamsoindifferenttowhatmanyAmericansgloryinthatitwouldnotdistressme，orwoundmeinthesortofself—lovewhichcallsitselfpatriotism。Ifitwouldatallhelptoputanendtothatstruggleformaterialprosperitywhichhaseventuatedwithusinsomanymillionairesandsomanytramps，Ishouldbegladtobelievethatitwasdrivingourliterarymenoutofthecountry。Thiswouldbeatremendousobject—lesson，andmightbeawarningtothemillionairesandthetramps。ButIamafraiditwouldnothavethiseffect，forneitherourveryrichnorourverypoorcareatallforthestateofpolitelearningamongus;thoughforthematterofthat，I
believethateconomicconditionshavelittletodowithit;andthatifageneralmediocrityoffortuneprevailedandtherewerenohastetoberichandtogetpoor，thestateofpolitelearningwouldnotbeconsiderablyaffected。Asmattersstand，IthinkwemayreasonablyaskwhethertheAmericans"mostprominentincultivatedEuropeanopinion，"
theAmericanswho"livehabituallyoutofAmerica，"arenotlessexilesthanadvanceagentsoftheexpansionnowadvertisingitselftotheworld。
Theymaybethevanguardofthegreatarmyofadventurersdestinedtooverruntheearthfromtheseshores，andexploitallforeigncountriestoouradvantage。Theyprobablythemselvesdonotknowit，butintheactof"drawingtheirinspiration"fromalienscenes，ortakingtheirownwheretheyfindit，arenottheysimplytransportingtoEurope"thestruggleformaterialprosperity"whichSirLepelsupposestobefataltothemhere？
Thereisaquestion，however，whichcomesbeforethis，andthatisthequestionwhethertheyhavequittedusinsuchnumbersasjustlytoalarmourpatriotism。Qualitatively，intheauthorsnamedandinthelateMr。
BretHarte，Mr。HarryHarland，andthelateMr。HaroldFrederic，aswellasinMarkTwain，oncetemporarilyresidentabroad，thedefectionisverygreat;butquantitativelyitisnotsuchastoleaveuswithoutafairmeasureofhome—keepingauthorship。OurdestitutionisnotnearlysogreatnowintheabsenceofMr。JamesandMr。Crawfordasitwasinthetimesbeforethe"struggleformaterialprosperity"whenWashingtonIrvingwentandlivedinEnglandandontheEuropeancontinentwell—nighhalfhislife。
SirLepelGriffin——orSirLepelGriffin’sreporter——seemstoforgetthefactofIrving’slongabsenteeismwhenheclasseshimwith"theoldrace"
ofeminentAmericanauthorswhostayedathome。Butreallynoneofthosehenamesweresoconstanttoourairasheseems——orhisreporterseems——
tothink。LongfellowsojournedthreeorfouryearsinGermany，Spain，andItaly;HolmesspentasgreattimeinParis;Bryantwasafrequenttraveller，andeachofthem"drewhisinspiration"nowandthenfromaliensources。LowellwasmanyyearsinItaly，Spain，andEngland;
Motleyspentmorethanhalfhislifeabroad;Hawthornewasawayfromusnearlyadecade。
II。
IfIseemtobeprovingtoomuchinoneway，IdonotfeelthatIamprovingtoomuchinanother。Myfactsgotoshowthattheliteraryspiritisthetrueworld—citizen，andisathomeeverywhere。IfanygoodAmericanweredistressedbytheabsenteeismofourauthors，IshouldfirstadvisehimthatAmericanliteraturewasnotderivedfromthefolk—
loreoftheredIndians，butwas，asIhavesaidoncebefore，aconditionofEnglishliterature，andwasindependentevenofourindependence。
ThenIshouldentreathimtoconsiderthecaseofforeignauthorswhohadfounditmorecomfortableormoreprofitabletoliveoutoftheirrespectivecountriesthaninthem。IshouldallegeforhisconsolationthecaseofByron，Shelley，andLeighHunt，andmorelatterlythatoftheBrowningsandWalterSavageLandor，whopreferredanItaliantoanEnglishsojourn;andyetmorerecentlythatofMr。RudyardKipling，whovoluntarilylivedseveralyearsinVermont，andhas"drawnhisinspiration"innotableinstancesfromthelifeoftheseStates。ItwillservehimalsotoconsiderthatthetwogreatestNorwegianauthors，BjornsenandIbsen，havebothlivedlonginFranceandItaly。HeinrichHeinelovedtoliveinParismuchbetterthaninDusseldorf，oreveninHamburg;andTourgueniefhimself，whosaidthatanyman’scountrycouldgetonwithouthim，butnomancouldgetonwithouthiscountry，managedtodispensewithhisownintheFrenchcapital，anddiedthereafterhewasquitefreetogobacktoSt。Petersburg。InthelastcenturyRousseaulivedinFranceratherthanSwitzerland;VoltaireatleasttriedtoliveinPrussia，andwasobligedtoalongexileelsewhere;GoldonileftfameandfriendsinVeniceforthefavorofprincesinParis。
Literaryabsenteeism，itseemstome，isnotpeculiarlyanAmericanviceoranAmericanvirtue。Itisanexpressionandaproofofthemodernsensewhichenlargesone’scountrytotheboundsofcivilization。
Icannotthinkitjustlyareproachintheeyesoftheworld，andifanyAmericanfeelsitagrievance，IsuggestthathedowhathecantohaveembodiedintheplatformofhispartyaplankaffirmingtherightofAmericanauthorstoapublicprovisionthatwillenablethemtoliveasagreeablyathomeastheycanabroadonthesamemoney。Inthemeantime，theirabsenteeismisnotaconsequenceof"thestruggleformaterialprosperity，"notahighdisdainofthestrifewhichgoesonnotlessinEuropethaninAmerica，andmust，ofcourse，gooneverywhereaslongascompetitiveconditionsendure，butistheresultofchancesandpreferenceswhichmeannothingnationallycalamitousordiscreditable。
THEHORSESHOW
"Asgoodasthecircus——notsogoodasthecircus——betterthanthecircus。"Theseweremyvaryingimpressions，asIsatlookingdownuponthetanbark，theotherday，attheHorseShowinMadisonSquareGarden;
andIcameawaywiththeirblendformyfinalopinion。
I。
ImightthinkthattheHorseShow（whichissolargelyaManShowandaWomanShow）wasbetterorworsethanthecircus，oraboutasgood;butI
couldnotgetawayfromthecircus，inmyimpressionofit。Perhapsthecircusisthenormofallsplendorswherethehorseandhismasterarejoinedforaneffectupontheimaginationofthespectator。IamsurethatIhaveneverbeenablequitetodissociatefromitthepicturesquenessofchivalry，andthatitwillhereafteralwayssuggesttomethelastcorrectnessoffashion。Itisthroughthehorsethatthesefarextremesmeet;inalltimesthehorsehasbeenthesupremeexpressionofaristocracy;anditmayverywellbethatadreamoftheelderworldprophesiedtheultimatetypeofthefuture，whentheSwellshallhaveevolvedintotheCentaur。
Somesuchteasingnotionoftheirmysticalaffinityiswhathauntsyouasyoumakeyourroundofthevastellipse，withthewell—groomedmenaboutyouandthewell—groomedhorsesbeyondthebarrier。
Inthisfirstaffairofthenew——comer，thehorsesarenotsomuchonshowastheswells;yougetonlyglimpsesofshiningcoatsandtossingmanes，withaglinthereandthereofaflyinghoofthroughthelinesofpeoplecomingandgoing，andtheranksofpeople，threeorfourfeetdeep，againsttherailsoftheellipse;buttheswellsarethereinperfectrelief，anditistheywhofinallyembodytheHorseShowtoyou。
Thefactisthattheyaretheretosee，ofcourse，buttheeffectisthattheyaretheretobeseen。
Thewholespectaclehadanhistoricalquality，whichItastedwithpleasure。Itwasthethingthathadeventuatedineverycivilization，andtheAmericanmightfeelacharacteristicpridethatwhatcametoRomeinfivehundredyearshadcometoAmericainasinglecentury。Therewassomethingfineintheabsolutelyfatalnatureoftheresult，andI
perceivedthatnowhereelseinourlife，whichisapttobereclusiveinitsexclusiveness，istheprimemotiveatworkinitsodramaticallyapparent。"Yes，"Ifoundmyselfthinking，"thisiswhatitallcomesto：
the’subitiguadagni’ofthenewrich，madeinlargemassesandseekingaswiftandeagerexploitation，andtheslowlyaccumulatedfortunes，puttogetherfromsparingandscrimping，fromslavingandenslaving，informertimes，andnowinthestainlesswhitehandsofthesecondorthirdgeneration，theybothmeetheretothepurposeofacommonostentation，andcreateaHorseShow。"
Icannotsaythatitscreatorslookedmuchasiftheylikedit，nowtheyhadgotit;and，sofarasIhavebeenabletoobservethem，peopleofwealthandfashionalwaysdissembletheirjoy，andhavetheairofbeingboredinthemidstoftheiramusements。Thisreserveofrapturemaybetheirdelicacy，theirunwillingnesstoawakenenvyinthelessprospered;
andIshouldnothaveobjectedtotheswellsattheHorseShowlookingdrearyiftheyhadlookedmorelikeswells;exceptforacertainhardnessofthecountenance（whichIfoundmyownsympatheticallytakingon）I
shouldnothavethoughtthemverypatrician，andthishardnessmayhavebeenmerelytheconsequenceofbeingsomuchstaredat。Perhaps，indeed，theywerenotswellswhomIsawintheboxes，butonlycompaniesofordinarypeoplewhohadclubbedtogetherandhiredtheirboxes;
Iunderstandthatthiscanbedone，andthestudentofcivilizationsofarmisled。Butcertainlyiftheywereswellstheydidnotlookquiteuptothemselves;though，forthatmatter，neitherdothenobilitiesofforeigncountries，andononeortwooccasionswhenIhaveseenthem，kingsandemperorshavefailedmeinlikemanner。TheyhaveallwantedthatindescribablesomethingwhichIhavefoundsosatisfyinginaristocraciesandroyaltiesonthestage;andhereattheHorseShow，whileImademytour，Iconstantlymethandsome，actor—likefolkonfootwhocouldmuchbetterhavetakentheroleofthepeopleintheboxes。
Thepromenadersmaynothavebeenactorsatall;theymayhavebeentherealthingforwhichIwasinvainscanningtheboxes，buttheylookedlikeactors，whoindeedsetanexampletousallinpersonalbeautyandincorrectnessofdress。
Imeannothingoffensiveeithertoswellsortoactors。Wehavenotdistinction，asapeople;MatthewArnoldnotedthat;anditisnotourbusinesstohaveit：Whenitisourbusinessourswellswillhaveit，justasouractorsnowhaveit，especiallyouractorsofEnglishbirth。
Ihadnotthisreflectionaboutmeatthetimetoconsolemeformydisappointment，anditonlynowoccurstomethatwhatItookforanabsenceofdistinctionmayhavebeensuchauniversalprevalenceofitthattheresultwasnecessarilyaspeciesofindistinction。ButinthecomplexionofanysocialassemblyweAmericansareatadisadvantagewithEuropeansfromthewantofuniforms。Afewmilitaryscatteredaboutinthoseboxes，orevenafewsportingbishopsinshovel—hatsandaprons，wouldhavedonemuchtorelievethemfromthereproachIhavebeenheapinguponthem。Ourwomen，indeed，poorthings，alwaysdotheirdutyinpersonalsplendor，anditisnotofapovertyintheirmodesattheHorseShowthatIamcomplaining。Ifthemenhadbornetheirpartaswell，therewouldnothavebeenthesetears：andyet，whatamIsaying？
Therewashereandthereaclean—shavenface（whichIwillnotbelievewasalwaysanactor’s），andhereandthereafiguresuperblysetup，andsofaultlesslyappointedastoshoes，trousers，coat，tie，hat，andglovesastohaveasaliencefromthemassofgoodlooksandgoodclotheswhichIwillnotatlastcalllessthandistinction。
II。
Atanyrate，ImissedthesemarkedpresenceswhenIleftthelinesofthepromenadersaroundtheellipse，andclimbedtoaseatsometiersabovetheboxes。Iamratheranxioustohaveitknownthatmyseatwasnotoneofthosecheaponesintheuppergallery，butwaswiththevirtuouspoorwhocouldaffordtopayadollarandahalffortheirtickets。Iboughtitofaspeculatoronthesidewalk，whosaiditwashislast，sothatI
conceiveditthelastinthehouse;butIfoundthechairsbynomeansallfilled，thoughitwasasgoodanaudienceasIhavesometimesseeninthesameplaceatothercircuses。ThepeopleaboutmeweresuchasIhadnotedattheothercircuses，hotel—sojourners，kindly—lookingcomersfromprovincialtownsandcities，whomIinstantlyfeltmyselfathomewith，andfreetoputoffthatgloomyseverityofaspectwhichhadgrownuponmeduringmyassociationwiththeswellsbelow。Myneighborsweresufficientlywelldressed，andiftheyhadnomoredistinctionthantheirbetters，ortheirrichers，theyhadnottheburdenoftheoccasionuponthem，andseemedreallygladofwhatwasgoingoninthering。
ThereagainIwassensibleofthevastadvantageofcostume。Thebuglerwhostoodupatoneendofthecentralplatformandblewafinefanfare（Ihopeitwasafanfare）towardsthegateswherethehorsesweretoenterfromtheirstallsinthebasementwasahussar—likeshapethatfilledmyromanticsoulwithjoy;andtheotherfiguresofthemanagementIthoughtveryfortunatecompromisesbetweengroomsandringmasters。Atanyrate，theirnondescriptcostumesweregay，andarelieffromthefashionsintheboxesandthepromenade;theywerecostumes，andcostumesarealwaysmoresincere，ifnotmoreeffective，thanfashions。AsIhavehinted，Idonotknowjustwhatcostumestheywere，buttheytookthelightwellfromthegirandolefaraloofandfromthethousandsoflittleelectricbulbsthatbeadedtheroofinlonglines，anddispersedthesullennessofthedull，rainyafternoon。Whentheknightsenteredthelistsontheseatsoftheirdog—carts，withtheirsquiresbesidethem，andtheirshiningtandemsbeforethem，theytookthelightwell，too，andthespectaclewassobrilliantthatItrustmyimagerymaybeforgivenanovelistpiningforthepageantriesofthepast。Idonotknowtothismomentwhethertheseknightswerebonafidegentlemen，oronlytheirdeputies，drivingtheirtandemsforthem，andIamequallyatalosstoaccountforthevariety，oftheirhats。Someworetall，shiningsilkhats;someflat—topped，brownderbys;somesimpleblackpot—hats;——andisthere，then，norigorastothehead—gearofpeopledrivingtandems？
Ifeltthatthereoughttobe，andthatthereoughttobesomeruleastowherethenumberofeachtandemshouldbedisplayed。Asitwas，thiswassometimescarelesslystuckintotheseatofthecart;sometimesitwaswornatthebackofthegroom’swaist，andsometimesfulluponhisstomach。Inthelastpositionitgaveatouchofburlesquewhichwoundedme;forthesearevitalmatters，andIfoundmyselfveryexactinginthem。
WiththehorsesthemselvesIcouldfindnofaultuponthegroundsofmycensureoftheshowinsomeotherways。Theyhaddistinction;theywerepatrician;theywereswell。Theyfeltit，theyshowedit，theyrejoicedinit;andthemostreluctantobservercouldnotdenythemthegloryofblood，ofbirth，whichthethoroughbredhorsehasexpressedinalllandsandages。Theirlordlyportwasathingthatnoonecoulddispute，andforanaristocracyIsupposethattheyhadahighaverageofintelligence，thoughtheremightbetwomindsaboutthis。Theymademethinkofmettledyouthsandhaughtydames;theyabashedthehumblespiritofthebeholderwiththeprideoftheirhigh—stepping，theircurvettingandcaracoling，astheyjingledintheirshiningharnessaroundthelongring。Theirnobleuselessnesstookthefancy，forIsupposethatthereisnothingsosuperblysuperfluousasatandem，outsideorinsideofthebestsociety。Itissomethingwhichonlytheambitionofwealthandunbrokenleisurecanmountto;andIwasgladthatthedisplayoftandemswasthefirsteventoftheHorseShowwhichIwitnessed，foritseemedtomethatitmustbeyondallotherstypifythepowerwhichcreatedtheHorseShow。Iwishedthatthehumansideofitcouldhavebeenmoreunquestionablyadequate，buttheequinesideoftheeventwasperfect。
Still，Ifeltacertainrelief，asinsomethinginnocentandsimpleandchildlike，inthenextevent。
III。
Thiswastheinundationofthetan—barkwithtroopsofprettyShetlandponiesofallages，sizes，andcolors。Acryofdelightwentupfromagroupoflittlepeoplenearme，andthespelloftheHorseShowwasbroken。Itwasnolongerasolemnityoffashion，itwasasweetandkindlypleasurewhicheveryonecouldshare，oreveryonewhohadeverhad，oreverwishedtohave，aShetlandpony;thetouchofnaturemadethewholeshowkin。Icouldnotseethatthefreakish，kittenishcreaturesdidanythingtoclaimouradmiration，buttheywonouraffectionbyeverytraitofponyishcapriceandobstinacy。Thesmallcoltsbrokeawayfromthesmallmares，andgambolledoverthetanbarkinwantongroups，withgayorplaintivewhinnyings，whichmightwellhavetouchedaresponsivechordinthebosomoffashionitself：Idaresayitisnotsohardasitlooks。Thesceneremandedustoamomentofchildhood;andIfoundmyselfsofondofalltheponiesthatIfeltitinvidiousofthejudgestochooseamongthemfortheprizes;theyoughteveryonetohavehadtheprize。
IsupposeaShetlandponyisnotaveryusefulanimalinourconditions;
nodoubtagood，tough，stubbeddonkeywouldbeworthalltheirtribewhenitcamedowntohardwork;butwecannotallbehard—workingdonkeys，andsomeofusmaybetoysandplaythingswithouttoogreatreproach。Igazedafterthebroken，refluentwaveoftheseamiablecreatures，withthevaguetolerationhereformulated，butIwasnotquiteatpeaceinit，orfullyconsoledinmyhabitualethicismtillthenexteventbroughtthehunterswiththeirhigh—jumpingintothering。ThesenobleanimalsuniteuseandbeautyinsuchmeasurethatthecensormustbeofCatonianseveritywhocanrefusethemhispraise。WhenIreflectedthatbythemandtheirdevotedridersourcivilizationhadbeenassimilatedtothatofthemother—countryinitsfinestexpression，andanothertieaddedtothosethatbindustoherthroughthelanguageofShakespeareandMilton;thattheyhadtamedthehaughtyspiritoftheAmericanfarmerinseveralpartsofthecountrysothathesubmittedforaconsiderationtohavehiscropsriddenover，andthattheyhadallbutexterminatedtheferociousanise—seedbag，oncesocommonanddestructiveamongus，Iwasinafitmoodtowelcomethebarsandhurdleswhichwerenowsetupatfourorfiveplacesforthepurposesofthehigh—jumping。
Astothebeautyofthehunting—horse，though，IthinkImusthedgealittle，whileIstandfirmlytomyadmirationofhisuse。Tobehonest，thetandemhorseismoretomytaste。Heisbettershaped，andhebearshimselfmoreproudly。Thehunterisapttobehave，whateverhisreserveofintelligence，likeanexcitedhen;heisapttobeewe—neckedandbredawaytonothingwheretheidealhorseabounds;hehasthebehaviorofaturkey—henwhennotbehavinglikethecommonorgardenhen。Buttherecanbenoquestionofhisjumping，whichseemstobehischiefbusinessinaworldwhereweareallappointedourseveralduties，andIatoncebegantotakeavividpleasureinhisproficiency。Ihavealwaysfeltablindandinsensatejoyinrunningraces，whichhasnorelationtoanyparticularhorse，andInowexperiencedanimpartialraptureintheperformancesofthesehunters。Theylookedverymuchalike，andifithadnotbeenforthechangingnumbersonthesign—boardinthecentreoftheringannouncingthat650，675，or602wasnowjumping，Imighthavethoughtitwas650allthetime。
Ahighjumpisnotsofineasightasarunningracewhenthehorseshavegothalfamileawayandlooklikeacoveyofswiftbirds，butitisstillafinesight。Ibecameveryfastidiousastowhichmomentofitwasthefinest，whetherwhenthehorseroseinprofile，orwhenhisaerialhooftouchedtheground（withtheeffectofhalfjerkinghisrider’sheadhalfoff），orwhenheshowedaflyingheelinperspective;
andIdonotknowtothishourwhichIprefer。ButIsupposeIwasbecominggraduallyspoiledbymypleasure，forastimewentonInoticedthatIwasnotsatisfiedwiththemonotonousexcellenceofthehorses’
execution。WillitbecreditedthatIbecamewillingsomethingshouldhappen，anything，tovaryit？Iaskedmyselfwhy，ifsomeofthemoreexcitingincidentsofthehunting—fieldwhichIhadreadofmustbefall;
Ishouldnotseethem。Severalofthehorseshadbalkedatthebarriers，andalmostthrowntheirridersacrossthemovertheirnecks，butnotquitedoneit;severalhadcarriedawaythegreen—tuftedtoprailwiththeirheels;whensuddenlytherecamealoudclatterfromthefarthersideoftheellipse，whereawholepaneloffencehadgonedown。I
lookedeagerlyfortheprostratehorseandriderunderthebars，buttheywerecanteringsafelyaway。
IV。
Itwasenough，however。IperceivedthatIwasbecomingdemoralized，andthatifIweretowriteoftheHorseShowwithatallthesuperiorityonelikestofeeltowardstherichandgreat，Ihadbettercomeaway。ButI
cameawaycritical，eveninmydownfall，andfeelingthat，circusforcircus，theGreatestShowonEarthwhichIhadoftenseeninthatplacehadcertaindistinctadvantagesoftheHorseShow。Ithadthreeringsandtwoplatforms;and，foranotherthing，thedriversandridersintheraces，whentheywon，borethebannerofvictoryaloftintheirhands，insteadofpoorlylettingablueorredribbonflickerattheirhorses’
ears。Theeventsweremorefrequentandrapid;thecostumesinfinitelymorevariedandpicturesque。Asforthepeopleintheboxes，IdonotknowthattheywerelessdistinguishedthantheseattheHorseShow，butiftheywerenotofthesamehighlevelinwhichdistinctionwasimpossible，theydidnotshowitintheirlooks。
TheHorseShow，infine，struckmeasacircusofnotallthefirstqualities;andIhadmomentsofsuspectingthatitwasnomorethantheevolutionofthecountycattleshow。ButinanycaseIhadtoownthatitsgreatsuccesswasquitelegitimate;forthehorse，uponthewhole，appealstoawiderrangeofhumanity，verticallyaswellashorizontally，thananyotherinterest，notexceptingpoliticsorreligion。Icannot，indeed，regardhimasacivilizinginfluence;butthenwecannotbealwayscivilizing。
THEPROBLEMOFTHESUMMER
Ithassometimesseemedtomethatthesolutionoftheproblemhowandwheretospendthesummerwassimplestwiththosewhowereobligedtospenditastheyspentthewinter，andincreasinglydifficultintheproportionofone’sabilitytospenditwhereverandhoweveronechose。
Fewareabsolutelyreleasedtothischoice，however，andthosefewaregreatlytobepitied。Iknowthattheyareoftenenviedandhatedforitbythosewhohavenosuchchoice，butthatisapatheticmistake。Ifwecouldlookintotheirhearts，indeed，weshouldwitnesstheresomuchmiserythatweshouldwishrathertoweepoverthemthantoreproachthemwiththeirbetterfortune，orwhatappearedso。
I。
Formostpeoplechoiceisacurse，anditisthiscursethatthesummerbringsupongreatnumberswhowouldnotperhapsotherwisebeafflicted。
Theyarenotinthehappycaseofthosewhomuststayathome;theirhardnecessityisthattheycangoaway，andtrytobemoreagreeablyplacedsomewhereelse;butalthoughIsaytheyareingreatnumbers，theyareaninfinitesimalminorityofthewholebulkofourpopulation。Theirbaneisnot，initshighestform，thatoftheaverageAmericanwhohasnochoiceofthekind;andwhenonebeginstospeakofthesummerproblem，onemustbeginatoncetodistinguish。ItistheproblemoftheEastratherthanoftheWest（wherepeoplearemuchmoreinthehabitofstayingathometheyearround），anditistheproblemofthecityandnotofthecountry。IamnotsurethatthereisonepracticalfarmerinthewholeUnitedStateswhoisobligedtowitnessinhishouseholdthosesaddissensionswhichalmostseparatethefamiliesofprofessionalmenastowhereandhowtheyshallpassthesummer。Peopleofthisclass，whichisaclasswithsomemeasureofmoney，ease，andtaste，arecommonlyofvaryinganddecidedminds，andIonceknewafamilyofthesortwhosecombinedidealfortheirsummeroutingwassummedupinthesimpledesireforsocietyandsolitude，mountain—airandsea—bathing。TheyspentthewholemonthsofApril，May，andJuneinafutileinquiryforaresortunitingtheseattractions，andonthefirstofJulytheydrovetothestationwithnodefinitepointinview。Buttheyfoundthattheycouldgetreturnticketsforacertainplaceonaninlandlakeatalowfigure，andtheytookthefirsttrainforit。Theretheydecidednextmorningtopushontothemountains，andsenttheirbaggagetothestation，butbeforeitwascheckedtheychangedtheirminds，andremainedtwoweekswheretheywere。Thentheytooktrainforaplaceonthecoast，butinthecarsafriendtoldthemtheyoughttogotoanotherplace;theydecidedtogothere，butbeforearrivingatthejunctiontheydecidedagaintokeepon。Theyarrivedattheiroriginaldestination，andthefollowingdaytelegraphedforroomsatahotelfartherdownthecoast。
Theanswercamethattherewerenorooms，andbeingbythistimereadytostart，theystarted，andinduetimereportedthemselvesatthehotel。
Thelandlordsawthatsomethingmustbedone，andhegotthemrooms，atasmallerhouse，and’mealed’them（asitusedtobecalledatMt。Desert）
inhisown。Butuponexperimentofthefareatthesmallerhousetheylikeditsowellthattheyresolvedtolivetherealtogether，andtheyspentasummerofthegreatestcomfortthere，sothattheywouldhardlycomeawaywhenthehouseclosedinthefall。
Thiswasanextremecase，andperhapssuchaventuremightnotalwaysturnoutsohappily;butIthinkthatpeoplemightoftenertrustthemselvestoProvidenceinthesemattersthantheydo。Thereisreallyaninfinitevarietyofpleasantresortsofallkindsnow，andonecouldquitesafelyleaveittothemanintheticket—officewhereoneshouldgo，andcheckone’sbaggageaccordingly。Ithinkthechancesofanagreeablesummerwouldbeasgoodinthatwayasinmakingahard—and—
fastchoiceofacertainplaceandstickingtoit。Myownexperienceisthatinthesethingschancemakesaverygoodchoiceforone，asitdoesinmostnon—moralthings。
II。
Ajokedieshard，andIamnotsurethatthelifeisyetquiteoutofthekindlyridiculethatwascastforawholegenerationuponthepeoplewholefttheircomfortablehousesintowntostarveuponfarm—boardorstifleinthenarrowroomsofmountainandseasidehotels。Yetsuchpeoplewereintheright，andtheirmockerswereinthewrong，andtheirpatientpersistenceingoingoutoftownforthesummerinthefaceofseverediscouragementshasmultipliedindefinitelythekindsofsummerresorts，andreformedthemaltogether。Ibelievethecityboarding—houseremainsverymuchwhatitusedtobe;butIamboundtosaythatthecountryboarding—househasvastlyimprovedsinceIbegantoknowit。Asforthesummerhotel，bysteeporbystrand，itleaveslittletobecomplainedofexcepttheprices。Itakeitforgranted，therefore，thattheout—of—
townsummerhascometostay，forallwhocanaffordit，andthatthechiefsorrowattendingitisthatcurseofchoice，whichIhavealreadyspokenof。
Ihaveratherfavoredchancethanchoice，because，whateverchoiceyoumake，youareprettysuretoregretit，withabittersenseofresponsibilityadded，whichyoucannotfeelifchancehaschosenforyou。
Iobservethatpeoplewhoownsummercottagesareoftenapttowishtheydidnot，andwerefoot—loosetoroamwheretheylisted，andIhavebeentoldthatevenayachtisnotasourceofunmixedcontent，thoughsoeminentlydetachable。TogreatnumbersEuropelooksfromthisshorelikeasaferefugefromtheAmericansummerproblem;andyetIamnotsurethatitisaltogetherso;foritisnotenoughmerelytogotoEurope;
onehastochoosewheretogowhenonehasgotthere。AEuropeancityiscertainlyalwaysmoretolerablethananAmericancity，butonecannotverywellpassthesummerinParis，oreveninLondon。Theheartthere，ashere，willyearnforsomeblessedseatWherefallsnothail，orrain，oranysnow，Noreverwindblowsloudly;butitliesDeep—meadow’d，happy，fairwithorchardlawnsAndboweryhollowscrown’dwithsummersea，"
andstill，afteryourkeeltouchesthestrandofthatalluringoldworld，youmustbuyyourticketandregisteryourtrunkforsomewhereinparticular。
III。
Itistrulyaterriblestress，thissummerproblem，and，asIsay，myheartachesmuchmoreforthosewhohavetosolveitandsuffertheconsequencesoftheirchoicethanforthosewhohavenochoice，butmuststaythesummerthroughwheretheirworkis，andbehumblygladthattheyhaveanyworktokeepthemthere。Iamnotmeaningnow，ofcourse，businessmenobligedtoremaininthecitytoearnthebread——or，morecorrectly，thecake——oftheirfamiliesinthecountry，oreventheirclerksandbookkeepers，andportersandmessengers，butsuchpeopleasI
sometimescatchsightoffromtheelevatedtrains（inmyreluctantmidsummerflightsthroughthecity），swelteringinupperroomsoversewing—machinesorlap—boards，orstewinginthebreathlesstenementstreets，ordrivingclangoroustrucks，ormonotonouscars，orbendingoverwash—tubsatopenwindowsforbreathsoftheno—airwithout。
Theseallgetonsomehow，andattheendofthesummertheyhavenottoaccusethemselvesoffollyingoingtooneplaceratherthananother。
Theirfateisdecidedforthem，andtheysubmittoit;whereasthosewhodecidetheirfatearealwaysrebellingagainstit。TheyitiswhomIamtrulysorryfor，andwhomIwriteofwithtearsinmyink。Theircaseishard，anditwillseemalltheharderifweconsiderhowfoolishtheywilllookandhowflattheywillfeelatthejudgment—day，whentheyareaskedabouttheirsummeroutings。Idonotreallysupposeweshallbeheldtoaverystrictaccountforourpleasuresbecauseeverybodyelsehasnotenjoyedthem，too;thatwouldbeapityofourlives;andyetthereisanold—fashionedcompunctionwhichwillsometimesvisittheheartifwetakeourpleasuresungraciously，whensomanyhavenopleasurestotake。Iwouldsuggest，then，tothoseonwhomthecurseofchoicebetweenpleasuresrests，thattheyshouldkeepinmindthosewhohavechieflypainstotheirportioninlife。
Iamnot，Ihope，urgingmyreaderstoanyactivebenevolence，orcounsellingthemtosharetheirpleasureswithothers;ithasbeenaccuratelyascertainedthattherearenotpleasuresenoughtogoround，asthingsnoware;butIwouldseriouslyentreatthemtoconsiderwhethertheycouldnotsomewhatalleviatethehardshipsoftheirownlotatthesea—sideoramongthemountains，bycontrastingitwiththelotofothersinthesweat—shopsandtheboiler—factoriesoflife。Iknowverywellthatitisnolongerconsideredverygoodsenseorverygoodmoralitytotakecomfortinone’sadvantagesfromthedisadvantagesofothers，andthisisnotquitewhatImeantoteach。PerhapsImeannothingmorethananoverhaulingofthewholesubjectofadvantagesanddisadvantages，whichwouldbealightandagreeableoccupationfortheleisureofthesummerouter。Itmightbeveryinteresting，andpossiblyitmightbeamusing，foronestretcheduponthebeachorswayinginthehammocktoinquireintothereasonsforhisorherbeingsofavored，anditisnotbeyondtheboundsofexpectationthataconsensusofsummeropiniononthissubjectwouldgofartoenlightentheworlduponaquestionthathasvexedtheworldeversincemankindwasdividedintothosewhoworktoomuchandthosewhoresttoomuch。
AESTHETICNEWYORKFIFTY—ODDYEARSAGO
AstudyofNewYorkcivilizationin1849haslatelycomeintomyhands，withamortifyingeffect，whichIshouldliketosharewiththereader，tomyprideofmodernity。Ihadsomehowbelievedthatafterhalfacenturyofmaterialprosperity，suchastheworldhasneverseenbefore，NewYorkin1902mustbeverydifferentfromNewYorkin1849，butifI
amtotrusteithertheimpressionsoftheearlierstudentormyown，NewYorkisessentiallythesamenowthatitwasthen。Thespiritoftheplacehasnotchanged;itisasitwas，splendidlyandsordidlycommercial。Eventhebodyofithasundergonelittleornoalteration;
itwasasshapeless，asincongruous;asuglywhentheauthorof’NewYorkinSlices’wroteasitisatthiswriting;ithassimplygrown，orovergrown，onthemoralandmateriallineswhichseemtohavebeenstructuralinitfromthebeginning。Hefeltinhistimethesamevulgarity，thesameviolence，initsarchitecturalanarchythatIhavefeltinmytime，andhenotedhowalldignityandbeautyperished，amidthewarringforms，withaprescienceofmyownaffliction，whichdeprivesmeofthesatisfactionofadiscovererandleavesmemerelythesenseofbeingratherold—fashionedinmypainfulemotions。
I。
IwishIcouldpretendthatmyauthorphilosophizedthefactsofhisNewYorkwithsomethinglessthantherawhasteoftheyoungjournalist;butIamafraidImustownthat’NewYorkinSlices’affectsoneashavingfirstbeenprintedinaneveningpaper，andthatthewriterbringstothestudyofthemetropolissomethingliketheeagerhorrorofacountryvisitor。Thisprobablyenabledhimtoheightentheeffecthewishedtomakewithreadersofakindredtradition，andformeitaddsacertaininnocentcharmtohiswork。ImaymakemyselfbetterunderstoodifIsaythathisattitudetowardsthedepravitiesofasmallerNewYorkismuchthesameasthatofMr。SteadtowardsthewickednessofamuchlargerChicago。Heseizeswithsomesuchavidityuponthedarkerfactsoftheprisons，theslums，thegambling—houses，themockauctions，thetoughs（whothencalledthemselvesb’hoysandg’hals），thequacks，thetheatres，andeventheintelligenceoffices，andexploitstheiriniquitieswithareadyvirtuewhichthewickedestreadercanenjoywithhim。
Butifhetreatedofthesethingsalone，Ishouldnotperhapshavebroughthiscuriouslittlebooktothepolitenoticeofmyreaders。
Hetreatsalsoofthepress，thedrama，theart，and，aboveall，"theliterarysoirees"ofthatremoteNewYorkofhisinamannertomakeuslatestNew—Yorkersfeelourcloseproximitytoit。Fifty—oddyearsagojournalismhadalreadybecome"theabsorbing，remorseless，clamorousthing"wenowknow，andverydifferentfromthethingitwaswhen"expresseswereunheardof，andtelegraphswereuncrystallizedfromthelightning’sblueandfieryfilm。"Reporterismwasbeginningtoassumeitspresentimportance，butithadnotyetbecometheparamountintellectualinterest，anddidnotyet"standshouldertoshoulder"withthecounting—roominauthority。Greateditors，thenasnow，rankedgreatauthorsinthepublicesteem，orachievedadoubleprimacybyunitingjournalismandliteratureinthesamepersonality。Theywereoftentheownersaswellasthewritersoftheirrespectivepapers，andtheyindulgedfortheadvantageofthecommunitytherancorousrivalries，recriminations，andscurrilitieswhichoftenformthecharm，ifnotthechiefuse，ofourcontemporaneousjournals。Apparently，however，notariallyauthenticatedboastsofcirculationhadnotyetbeenmadethedelightoftheirreaders，andthepresshadnotbecomethedetectiveagencythatitnowis，northeorganizeranddistributerofcharities。
Butasdarkacloudofdoubtresteduponitsrelationstothetheatreasstilleclipsesthepopularfaithindramaticcriticism。"Howcanyouexpect，"ourauthorasks，"afrankandunbiassedcriticismupontheperformanceofGeorgeFrederickCookeSnooks……whentheeditororreporterwhoistowriteithasjustbeensuppingonbeefsteakandstewedpotatoesatWindust’s，andregalinghimselfonbrandy—and—watercold，without，attheexpenseoftheaforesaidGeorgeFrederickCookeSnooks？"
Theseverestcensorofthepress，however，wouldhardlydeclarenowthat"astosuchathingasimpartialandindependentcriticismupontheatresinthepresentstateoftherelationsbetweeneditors，reporters，managers，actors——andactresses——thethingispalpablyoutofthequestion，"andifmatterswerereallyatthepasshinted，thepresshascertainlyimprovedinfiftyyears，ifonemayjudgefromitspresentfrankcondemnationsofplaysandplayers。Thetheatreapparentlyhasnot，forwereadthatatthatperiod"averygreatmajorityofthestandardplaysandfarcesonthestagedependmostlyfortheirpiquancyandtheirpowerofinterestinganaudienceuponintrigueswithmarriedwomen，elopements，seductions，bribery，cheating，andfraudofeverydescription……Stagecostume，too，whereverthereishalfachance，isusuallymadeaslasciviousandimmodestaspossible;andafreedomandimproprietyprevailsamongthecharactersofthepiecewhichwouldbekickedoutofprivatesocietytheinstantitwouldhavetheaudacitytomakeitsappearancethere。"
II。
IhopeprivatesocietyinNewYorkwouldstillbefoundascorrectifnotquitesoviolent;andIwishIcouldbelievethatthefineartswerepresentlyinasflourishingaconditionamongusastheywerein1849。
ThatwastheprosperousdayoftheArtUnions，inwhichtheartistsclubbedtheiroutput，andthesubscriberspartedtheworksamongthemselvesbysomethingsoverylikerafflingthattheArtUnionswerefinallysuppressedunderthelawagainstlotteries。Whiletheylasted，however，theyhadexhibitionsthrongedbyourwealth，fashion，andintellect（tonamethemintheordertheyholdtheNewYorkmind），asourprivateviewsnoware，oroughttobe;andtheauthor"devotesanentirenumber"ofhisseries"toasingleinstitution"——fearlessofbeingaccusedofpartialitybyanywhorightlyappreciatetheinfluencesofthefineartsuponthemoralsandrefinementofmankind。"
Hedevotesevenmorethananentirenumbertoliterature;for，besidestreatingofvariousliterarycelebritiesatthe"literarysoirees，"heimaginesencounteringseveralofthematthehigh—classrestaurants。
AtDelmonico’s，whereifyouhad"Frenchandmoney"youcouldgetinthatday"adinnerwhich，asaworkofart，rankswithapicturebyHuntington，apoembyWillis，orastatuebyPowers，"hemeetssuchamusicalcriticasRichardGrantWhite，suchanintellectualepicureanasN。P。Willis，suchalyricpoetasCharlesFennoHoffman。ButitwouldbeawarmdayforDelmonico’swhentheobserverinthisepochcouldchanceuponsomuchgeniusatitstables，perhapsbecausegeniusamongushasnolongertheFrenchorthemoney。Indeed，theauthorof’NewYorkinSlices’seemsfinallytothinkthathehasgonetoofar，evenforhisownperiod，andbringshimselfupwiththequalifyingreservationthatifWillisandHoffmanneverdiddinetogetheratDelmonico’s，theyoughttohavedoneso。Hehasapparentlynomisgivingsastothefamousmusicalcritic，andhehasnoscrupleinassemblingforusathis"literarysoiree"adozendistinguished—lookingmenand"twiceasmanywomen……
listeningtoatall，deaconlyman，whostandsbetweentwocandlesheldbyacoupleofstickssummonedfromtherecessesofthebackparlor，readingabasketfulofgilt—edgednotes。Itis……theannualValentineParty，towhichallthemaleandfemaleauthorshavecontributedforthepurposeofsayingonpapercharmingthingsofeachother，andatwhich，forafewhours，allaregratifiedwiththefullmeedofthatpraisewhichacoldworldischaryofbestowinguponitsliterarycobweb—
spinners。"
Itmustbeownedthatwehavenolongeranythingsolikea’salon’asthis。Itis，indeed，ratherterrible，anditisofaqualityinitscelebritieswhichmaywellcarrydismaytoanyamonguspresentlyintendingimmortality。Shallwe，oneday，wewhoarenowintherichandfullenjoymentofourfar—reachingfame，affecttheimaginationofposterityasthesephantomsofthepastaffectours？Shallwe，too，appearinsomepalelimboofunimportanceasthinandfadedas"JohnInman，thegetter—upofinnumerablethingsfortheannualsandmagazines，"orasDr。RufusGriswold，supposedforpicturesquepurposestobe"stalkingaboutwithanimmensequartovolumeunderhisarm……
anearlycopyofhisforthcoming’FemalePoetsofAmerica’";orasLewisGaylordClark，the"sunnyfaced，smiling"editoroftheKnickerbockerMagazine，"whodon’tlookasiftheInk—Fiendhadeverheardofhim，"
ashestandsuptodanceapolkawith"ademureladywhohasevidentlyspilledtheinkstandoverherdress";oras"thestatelyMrs。SebaSmith，bendingaristocraticallyoverthecentre—table，andtalkinginabright，cold，steadystream，likeanantiquefountainbymoonlight";oras"thespiritualanddaintyFannyOsgood，clappingherhandsandcrowinglikeababy，"whereshesits"nestledunderashawlofheraldicdevices，likeabirdescapedfromitscage";orasMargaretFuller，"herlarge，grayeyesTampinginspiration，andherthin，quiveringlipprophesyinglikeaPythoness"？
Ihopenot;Iearnestlyhopenot。WhateverIsaidattheoutset，affirmingthepersistentequalityofNewYorkcharacteristicsandcircumstances，Iwishtotakebackatthispoint;andIwishtowarnmalignforeignobservers，ofthesortwhohavesooftenrefusedtoseeusasweseeourselves，thattheymustnotexpecttofindusnowgroupedinthetasteof1849。Possiblyitwasnotsomuchthetasteof1849astheauthorof’NewYorkinSlices’wouldhaveusbelieve;andperhapsanyonewhotrustedhispicturesoflifeamongusotherwisewouldbedeceivedbyaparityofthespiritinwhichtheyareportrayedwiththatofourmodern"societyjournalism。"