Home as Found by James Fenimore Cooper (easy novels to read .txt) 📖

him _un malheureux accident_. I believe

that will contain all the difference."

 

"Your republicanism is indomitable, Miss Effingham, and I shall

abandon the attempt to convert you to safer principles, more

especially as I find you supported by both the Mr. Effinghams, who,

while they condemn so much at home, seem singularly attached to their

own system at the bottom."

 

"They condemn, Sir George Templemore, because they know that

perfection is hopeless, and because they feel it to be unsafe and

unwise to eulogize defects, and they are attached, because near views

of other countries have convinced them that, comparatively at last,

bad as we are, we are still better than most of our neighbours."

 

"I can assure you," said Grace, "that many of the opinions of Mr John

Effingham, in particular, are not at all the opinions that are most

in vogue here; he rather censures what we like, and likes what we

censure. Even my dear uncle is thought to be a little heterodox on

such subjects."

 

"I can readily believe it," returned Eve, steadily. "These gentlemen,

having become familiar with better things, in the way of the tastes,

and of the purely agreeable, cannot discredit their own knowledge so

much as to extol that which their own experience tells them is

faulty, or condemn that which their own experience tells them is

relatively good. Now, Grace, if you will reflect a moment, you will

perceive that people necessarily like the best of their own tastes,

until they come to a knowledge of better; and that they as

necessarily quarrel with the unpleasant facts that surround them;

although these facts, as consequences of a political system, may be

much less painful than those of other systems of which they have no

knowledge. In the one case, they like their own best, simply because

it is their own best; and they dislike their own worst, because it is

their own worst. We cherish a taste, in the nature of things, without

entering into any comparisons, for when the means of comparison

offer, and we find improvements, it ceases to be a taste at all;

while to complain of any positive grievance, is the nature of man, I

fear!"

 

"I think a republic odious!"

 

"_Le republique est une horreur!_"

 

Grace thought a republic odious, without knowing any thing of any

other state of society, and because it contained odious things; and

Mademoiselle Viefville called a republic _une horreur_, because heads

fell and anarchy prevailed in her own country, during its early

struggles for liberty. Though Eve seldom spoke more sensibly, and

never more temperately, than while delivering the foregoing opinions,

Sir George Templemore doubted whether she had all that exquisite

_finesse_ and delicacy of features, that he had so much admired; and

when Grace burst out in the sudden and senseless exclamation we have

recorded, he turned towards her sweet and animated countenance,

which, for the moment, he fancied the loveliest of the two.

 

Eve Effingham had yet to learn that she had just entered into the

most intolerant society, meaning purely as society, and in connexion

with what are usually called liberal sentiments, in Christendom. We

do not mean by this, that it would be less safe to utter a generous

opinion in favour of human rights in America than in any other

country, for the laws and the institutions become active in this

respect, but simply, that the resistance of the more refined to the

encroachments of the unrefined, has brought about a state of

feeling--a feeling that is seldom just and never philosophical--which

has created a silent, but almost unanimous bias against the effects

of the institutions, in what is called the world. In Europe, one

rarely utters a sentiment of this nature, under circumstances in

which it is safe to do so at all, without finding a very general

sympathy in the auditors; but in the circle into which Eve had now

fallen, it was almost considered a violation of the proprieties. We

do not wish to be understood as saying more than we mean, however,

for we have no manner of doubt that a large portion of the

dissentients even, are so idly, and without reflection; or for the

very natural reasons already given by our heroine; but we do wish to

be understood as meaning that such is the outward appearance which

American society presents to every stranger, and to every native of

the country too, on his return from a residence among other people.

Of its taste, wisdom and safety we shall not now speak, but content

ourselves with merely saying that the effect of Grace's exclamation

on Eve was unpleasant, and that, unlike the baronet, she thought her

cousin was never less handsome than while her pretty face was covered

with the pettish frown it had assumed for the occasion.

 

Sir George Templemore had tact enough to perceive there had been a

slight jar in the feelings of these two young women, and he adroitly

changed the conversation. With Eve he had entire confidence on the

score of provincialisms, and, without exactly anticipating the part

Grace would be likely to take in such a discussion, he introduced the

subject of general society in New-York.

 

"I am desirous to know," he said, "if you have your sets, as we have

them in London and Paris. Whether you have your _Faubourg St.

Germain_ and your _Chaussee d'Antin;_ your Piccadilly, Grosvenor and

Russel Squares."

 

"I must refer you to Miss Van Cortlandt for an answer to that

question," said Eve.

 

Grace looked up blushing, for there were both novelty and excitement

in having an intelligent foreigner question her on such a subject.

 

"I do not know that I rightly understand the allusion," she said,

"although I am afraid Sir George Templemore means to ask if we have

distinctions in society?"

 

"And why _afraid_, Miss Van Cortlandt?"

 

"Because it strikes me such a question would imply a doubt of our

civilization."

 

"There are frequently distinctions made, when the differences are not

obvious," observed Eve. "Even London and Paris are not above the

imputation of this folly. Sir George Templemore, if I understand him,

wishes to know if we estimate gentility by streets, and quality by

squares."

 

"Not exactly that either, Miss Effingham--but, whether among those,

who may very well pass for gentlemen and ladies, you enter into the

minute distinctions that are elsewhere found. Whether you have your

exclusive, and your _elegants_ and _elegantes_; or whether you deem

all within the pale as on an equality."

 

"_Les femmes Americaines sont bien jolies!_" exclaimed Mademoiselle

Viefville.

 

"It is quite impossible that _coteries_ should not form in a town of

three hundred thousand souls."

 

"I do not mean exactly even that. Is there no distinction between

_coteries;_ is not one placed by opinion, by a silent consent, if not

by positive ordinances, above another?"

 

"Certainly, that to which Sir George Templemore alludes, is to be

found," said Grace, who gained courage to speak, as she found the

subject getting to be more clearly within her comprehension. "All the

old families, for instance, keep more together than the others;

though it is the subject of regret that they are not more particular

than they are."

 

"Old families!" exclaimed Sir George Templemore, with quite as much

stress as a well-bred man could very well lay on the words, in such

circumstances.

 

"Old families," repeated Eve, with all that emphasis which the

baronet himself had hesitated about giving. "As old, at least, as two

centuries can make them; and this, too, with origins beyond that

period, like those of the rest of the world. Indeed, the American has

a better gentility than common, as, besides his own, he may take root

in that of Europe."

 

"Do not misconceive me, Miss Effingham; I am fully aware that the

people of this country are exactly like the people of all other

civilized countries, in this respect; but my surprise is that, in a

republic, you should have such a term even as that of 'old

families.'"

 

"The surprise has arisen, I must be permitted to say, from not having

sufficiently reflected on the real state of the country. There are

two great causes of distinction every where, wealth and merit. Now,

if a race of Americans continue conspicuous in their own society,

through either or both of these causes, for a succession of

generations, why have they not the same claims to be considered

members of old families, as Europeans under the same circumstances? A

republican history is as much history as a monarchical history; and a

historical name in one, is quite as much entitled to consideration,

as a historical name in another. Nay, you admit this in your European

republics, while you wish to deny it in ours."

 

"I must insist on having proofs; if we permit these charges to be

brought against us without evidence, Mademoiselle Viefville, we shall

finally be defeated through our own neglect."

 

"_C'est une belle illustration, celle de l'antiquite_" observed the

governess, in a matter of course tone.

 

"If you insist on proof, what answer can you urge to the _Capponi_?

'_Sonnez vos trompettes, et je vais faire sonner mes cloches_,'--or

to the _Von Erlachs_, a family that has headed so many resistances to

oppression and invasion, for five centuries?"

 

"All this is very true," returned Sir George, "and yet I confess it

is not the way in which it is usual with us to consider American

society."

 

"A descent from Washington, with a character and a social position to

correspond, would not be absolutely vulgar, notwithstanding!"

 

"Nay, if you press me so hard, I must appeal to Miss Van Cortlandt

for succour."

 

"On this point you will find no support in that quarter. Miss Van

Cortlandt has an historical name herself, and will not forego an

honest pride, in order to relieve one of the hostile powers from a

dilemma."

 

"While I admit that time and merit must, in a certain sense, place

families in America in the same situation with families in Europe, I

cannot see that it is in conformity with your institutions to lay the

same stress on the circumstance."

 

"In that we are perfectly of a mind, as I think the American has much

the best reason to be proud of his family," said Eve, quietly.

 

"You delight in paradoxes, apparently, this evening, Miss Effingham,

for I now feel very certain you can hardly make out a plausible

defence of this new position."

 

"If I had my old ally, Mr. Powis, here," said Eve touching the fender

unconsciously with her little foot, and perceptibly losing the

animation and pleasantry of her voice, in tones that were gentler, if

not melancholy, "I should ask him to explain this matter to you, for

he was singularly ready in such replies. As he is absent, however, I

will attempt the duty myself. In Europe, office, power, and

consequently, consideration, are all hereditary; whereas, in this

country, they are not, but they depend on selection. Now, surely, one

has more reason to be proud of ancestors who have been chosen to fill

responsible stations, than of ancestors who have filled them through

the accidents, _heureux ou malkeureux_, of birth. The only difference

between England and America, as respects family, is that you add

positive rank to that to which we only give consideration. Sentiment

is at the bottom of our nobility, and the great seal at the bottom of

yours. And now, having established the fact that there are families

in America, let us return whence we started, and enquire how far they

have an influence in every-day society."

 

"To ascertain which, we must apply to Miss Van Cortlandt."

 

"Much less than they ought, if my opinion is to be taken," said

Grace, laughing, "for the great inroad of strangers has completely

deranged all the suitablenesses, in that respect."

 

"And yet, I dare say, these very strangers do good," rejoined Eve.

"Many of them must have been respectable in their native places, and

ought to be an acquisition to a society that, in its nature, must be,

Grace, _tant soit peu_, provincial."

 

"Oh!" cried Grace, "I can tolerate any thing but the Hajjis!"

 

"The what?" asked Sir George, eagerly--"will you suffer me to ask an

explanation, Miss Van Cortlandt."

 

"The Hajjis," repeated Grace laughing, though she blushed to the

eyes.

 

The baronet looked from one cousin to the other, and then turned an

inquiring glance on Mademoiselle Viefville. The latter gave a slight

shrug, and seemed to ask an explanation of the young lady's meaning

herself.

 

"A Hajji is one of a class, Sir George Templemore," Eve at length

said, "to which you and I have both the honour of belonging."

 

"No, not Sir George Templemore," interrupted Grace, with a

precipitation that she instantly regretted; "he is not an American."

 

"Then I, alone, of all present, have that honour. It means the

pilgrimage to Paris, instead of Mecca; and the Pilgrim must be an

American, instead of a Mahommedan."

 

"Nay, Eve, _you_ are not a Hajji, neither."

 

"Then there is some qualification with which I am not yet acquainted.

Will you relieve our doubts, Grace, and let us know the precise

character of the animal."

 

"_You_ stayed too long to be a