按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
Yes； he looks very pretty nowhandsome pattern； if the colors are fast
and it does not fadefeels soft and warm to the touch。 How will he stand
the world's rough weather？ How will he stand life's wear and tear？
He looks so manly and brave。 His hair curls so divinely。 He dresses
so well （I wonder if the tailor's bill is paid？） He kisses your hand so
gracefully。 He calls you such pretty names。 His arm feels so strong a
round you。 His fine eyes are so full of tenderness as they gaze down into
yours。
Will he kiss your hand when it is wrinkled and old？ Will he call you
pretty names when the baby is crying in the night； and you cannot keep it
quietor； better still； will he sit up and take a turn with it？ Will his arm be
strong around you in the days of trouble？ Will his eyes shine above you
full of tenderness when yours are growing dim？
And you boys； you silly boys！ what materials for a wife do you think
you will get out of the empty…headed coquettes you are raving and tearing
your hair about。 Oh！ yes； she is very handsome； and she dresses with
exquisite taste （the result of devoting the whole of her heart； mind and soul
to the subject； and never allowing her thoughts to be distracted from it by
4
… Page 5…
Evergreens
any other mundane or celestial object whatsoever）； and she is very
agreeable and entertaining and fascinating； and she will go on looking
handsome； and dressing exquisitely； and being agreeable and entertaining
and fascinating just as much after you have married her as beforemore so；
if anything。
But _you_ will not get the benefit of it。 Husbands will be charmed
and fascinated by her in plenty； but _you_ will not be among them。 You
will run the show； you will pay all the expenses； do all the work。 Your
performing lady will be most affable and enchanting to the crowd。 They
will stare at her； and admire her； and talk to her； and flirt with her。 And
you will be able to feel that you are quite a benefactor to your fellow…men
and womento your fellow…men especiallyin providing such delightful
amusement for them； free。 But _you_ will not get any of the fun yourself。
You will not get the handsome looks。 _You_ will get the jaded face；
and the dull； lusterless eyes； and the untidy hair with the dye showing on it。
You will not get the exquisite dresses。 _You_ will get dirty； shabby
frocks and slommicking dressing…gowns； such as your cook would be
ashamed to wear。 _You_ will not get the charm and fascination。 _You_
will get the after…headaches； the complainings and grumblings； the silence
and sulkiness； the weariness and lassitude and ill…temper that comes as
such a relief after working hard all day at being pleasant！
It is not the people who shine in society； but the people who brighten
up the back parlor； not the people who are charming when they are out；
but the people who are charming when they are in； that are good to _live_
with。 It is not the brilliant men and women； but the simple； strong；
restful men and women； that make the best traveling companions for the
road of life。 The men and women who will only laugh as they put up the
umbrella when the rain begins to fall； who will trudge along cheerfully
through the mud and over the stony placesthe comrades who will lay
their firm hand on ours and strengthen us when the way is dark and we are
growing weakthe evergreen men and women； who； like the holly； are at
their brightest and best when the blast blows chilliestthe stanch men and
women！
It is a grand thing this stanchness。 It is the difference between a dog
5
… Page 6…
Evergreens
and a sheepbetween a man and an oyster。
Women； as a rule； are stancher than men。 There are women that you
feel you could rely upon to the death。 But very few men indeed have this
dog…like virtue。 Men； taking them generally； are more like cats。 You may
live with them and call them yours for twenty years； but you can never
feel _quite_ sure of them。 You never know exactly what they are
thinking of。 You never feel easy in your mind as to the result of the next…
door neighbor's laying down a Brussels carpet in his kitchen。
We have no school for the turning…out of stanch men in this nineteenth
century。 In the old； earnest times； war made men stanch and true to each
other。 We have learned up a good many glib phrases about the
wickedness of war； and we thank God that we live in these peaceful；
trading times； wherein we canand dodevote the whole of our thoughts
and energies to robbing and cheating and swindling one anotherto
〃doing〃 our friends； and overcoming our enemies by trickery and lies
wherein； undisturbed by the wicked ways of fighting…men； we can
cultivate to better perfection the 〃smartness；〃 the craft； and the cunning；
and all the other 〃business…like〃 virtues on which we so pride ourselves；
and which were so neglected and treated with so little respect in the bad
old age of violence； when men chose lions and eagles for their symbols
rather than foxes。
There is a good deal to be said against war。 I am not prepared to
maintain that war did not bring with it disadvantages； but there can be no
doubt that； for the noblest work of Naturethe making of menit was a
splendid manufactory。 It taught men courage。 It trained them in
promptness and determination； in strength of brain and strength of hand。
From its stern lessons they learned fortitude in suffering； coolness in
danger； cheerfulness under reverses。 Chivalry； Reverence； and Loyalty
are the beautiful children of ugly War。 But； above all gifts； the greatest
gift it gave to men was stanchness。
It first taught men to be true to one another； to be true to their duty；
true to their post； to be in all things faithful； even unto death。
The martyrs that died at the stake； the explorers that fought with
Nature and opened up the world for us； the reformers （they ha