Ilookbacknowwithacuriousremotenessofspirittothosecrowdeddining-roomswiththeirdispersedtablesandtheirinevitablered-shadedlightsandtheunsympathetic,unskillfulwaiters,andthechoiceof“ThigorGlear,Sir?”I’venotdinedinthatway,inthatsortofplace,nowforfiveyears——itmustbequitefiveyears,sospecialisedandnarrowismylifebecoming。
Myuncle’searliermotor-carphasesworkinwiththeseassociations,andtherestandsoutalittlebrightvignetteofthehalloftheMagnificent,Bexhill-on-Sea,andpeopledressedfordinnerandsittingaboutamidstthescarletfurniture——satinandwhite-enameledwoodworkuntilthegongshouldgatherthem;
andmyauntisthere,verymarvelouslywrappedaboutinadustcloakandacage-likeveil,andtherearehotelportersandunder-portersveryalert,andanobsequiousmanager;andthetallyoungladyinblackfromtheofficeissurprisedintoadmiration,andinthemiddleofthepictureismyuncle,makinghisfirstappearanceinthatEsquimauxcostumeIhavealreadymentioned,ashortfigure,compactlyimmense,hugelygoggled,wearingasortofbrownrubberproboscis,andsurmountedbyatable-landofmotoringcap。
Soitwaswerecognisedournewneedsasfreshinvadersoftheupperlevelsofthesocialsystem,andsetourselvesquiteconsciouslytotheacquisitionofStyleandSavoirFaire。Webecamepartofwhatisnowadaysquiteanimportantelementintheconfusionofourworld,thatmultitudeofeconomicallyascendantpeoplewhoarelearninghowtospendmoney。Itismadeupoffinancialpeople,theownersofthebusinessesthatareeatinguptheircompetitors,inventorsofnewsourcesofwealth,suchasourselves;itincludesnearlyallAmericaasoneseesitontheEuropeanstage。Itisavariousmultitudehavingonlythisincommon:theyareallmoving,andparticularlytheirwomankindaremoving,fromconditionsinwhichmeanswereinsistentlyfinite,thingswerefew,andcustomssimple,towardsalimitlessexpenditureandthesphereofattractionofBondStreet,FifthAvenue,andParis。Theirgeneraleffectisoneofprogressiverevolution,oflimitlessrope。
Theydiscoversuddenlyindulgencestheirmoralcodeneverforesawandhasnoprovisionfor,elaborations,ornaments,possessionsbeyondtheirwildestdreams。Withanimmenseastonishedzesttheybeginshoppingbeginasystematicadaptationtoanewlifecrowdedandbrilliantwiththingsshopped,withjewels,maids,butlers,coachmen,electricbroughams,hiredtownandcountryhouses。Theyplungeintoitasoneplungesintoacareer;asaclass,theytalk,think,anddreampossessions。Theirliterature,theirPress,turnsallonthat;immenseillustratedweekliesofunsurpassedmagnificenceguidethemindomesticarchitecture,intheartofowningagarden,intheachievementofthesumptuousinmotor-cars,inanelaboratesportingequipment,inthepurchaseandcontroloftheirestates,intravelandstupendoushotels。Oncetheybegintomovetheygofarandfast。Acquisitionbecomesthesubstanceoftheirlives。
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