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〃Foolish！ Do you call a handkerchief with such lace； and all this
magnificent work on it； and which cost a HUNDRED DOLLARS；
foolish？ Is it foolish to have money； or to be thought rich？〃
〃Certainly not the first； though it may be better not to be thought rich。 I
wish to see you always dressed with propriety； for you do credit to
your dress； but this handkerchief is out of place。〃
〃Out of place！ Now； hear me； Clara； though it is to be a great secret。
What do you think Pa is worth？〃
〃Bless me； these are things I never think of。 I do not even know how
much my own father is worth。 Mother tells me how much I may spend；
and I can want to learn no more。〃
〃Well； Mr。 Murray dined with Pa last week； and they sat over their
wine until near ten。 I overheard them talking； and got into this room to
listen； for I thought I should get something new。 At first they said nothing
but 'lotslotsup towndown towntwenty…five feet frontdollar；
dollar； dollar。' La！ child； you never heard such stuff in your life！〃
〃One gets used to these things； notwithstanding；〃 observed Clara； drily。
〃Yes； one DOES hear a great deal of it。 I shall be glad when the
gentlemen learn to talk of something else。 But the best is to come。 At
last； Pa asked Mr。 Murray if he had inventoried lately。〃
〃Did he？〃
〃Yes； he did。 Of course you know what that means？〃
〃It meant to FILL； as they call it； does it not？〃
〃So I thought at first； but it means no such thing。 It means to count up；
and set down how much one is worth。 Mr。 Murray said he did THAT
every month； and of course he knew very well what HE was worth。 I
forget how much it was； for I didn't care； you know George Murray is
not as old as I am； and so I listened to what Pa had inventoried。 Now；
how much do you guess？〃
〃Really； my dear； I haven't the least idea；〃 answered Clara； slightly
gaping〃a thousand dollars； perhaps。〃
〃A thousand dollars！ What； for a gentleman who keeps his coachlives
in Broadwaydresses his daughter as I dress； and gives her hundred…
dollar handkerchiefs。 Two hundred million； my dear； two hundred
million！〃
Eudosia had interpolated the word 〃hundred；〃 quite innocently； for； as
usually happens with those to whom money is new； her imagination ran
ahead of her arithmetic。 〃Yes；〃 she added； 〃two hundred millions；
besides sixty millions of odd money！〃
〃That sounds like a great deal；〃 observed Clara quietly； for； besides
caring very little for these millions； she had not a profound respect for
her friend's accuracy on such subjects。
〃It IS a great deal。 Ma says there are not ten richer men than Pa in the
state。 Now； does not this alter the matter about the pocket…
handkerchief？ It would be mean in me not to have a hundred…dollar
handkerchief； when I could get one。〃
〃It may alter the matter as to the extravagance； but it does not alter it as
to the fitness。 Of what USE is a pocket…handkerchief like this？ A
pocket…handkerchief is made for USE； my dear； not for show。〃
〃You would not have a young lady use her pocket…handkerchief like a
snuffy old nurse； Clara？〃
〃I would have her use it like a young lady； and in no other way。 But it
always strikes me as a proof of ignorance and a want of refinement
when the uses of things are confounded。 A pocket…handkerchief； at the
best； is but a menial appliance； and it is bad taste to make it an object of
attraction。 FINE； it may be； for that conveys an idea of delicacy in its
owner； but ornamented beyond reason； never。 Look what a tawdry and
vulgar thing an embroidered slipper is on a woman's foot。〃
〃Yes； I grant you that； but everybody cannot have hundred…dollar
handkerchiefs； though they may have embroidered slippers。 I shall wear
my purchase at Miss Trotter's ball to…night。〃
To this Clara made no objection； though she still looked disapprobation
of her purchase。 Now； the lovely Eudosia had not a bad heart； she had
only received a bad education。 Her parents had given her a smattering
of the usual accomplishments； but here her superior instruction ended。
Unable to discriminate themselves； for the want of this very education；
they had been obliged to trust their daughter to the care of mercenaries；
who fancied their duties discharged when they had taught their pupil to
repeat like a parrot。 All she acquired had been for effect； and not for
the purpose of every…day use； in which her instruction and her pocket…
handkerchief might be said to be of a piece。
CHAPTER XI。
And here I will digress a moment to make a single remark on a subject
of which popular feeling； in America； under the influence of popular
habits； is apt to take an exparte view。 Accomplishments are derided as
useless； in comparison with what is considered household virtues。 The
accomplishment of a cook is to make good dishes； of a seamstress to
sew well； and of a lady to possess refined tastes； a cultivated mind； and
agreeable and intellectual habits。 The real VIRTUES of all are the same；
though subject to laws peculiar to their station； but it is a very different
thing when we come to the mere accomplishments。 To deride all the
refined attainments of human skill denotes ignorance of the means of
human happiness； nor is it any evidence of acquaintance with the
intricate machinery of social greatness and a lofty civilization。 These
gradations in attainments are inseparable from civilized society； and if
the skill of the ingenious and laborious is indispensable to a solid
foundation； without the tastes and habits of the refined and cultivated； it
never can be graceful or pleasing。
｛exparte = should be 〃ex parte〃one…sided （Latin）｝
Eudosia had some indistinct glimmerings of this fact； though it was not
often that she came to sound and discriminating decisions even in
matters less complicated。 In the present instance she saw this truth only
by halves； and that； too； in its most commonplace aspect； as will appear
by the remark she made on the occasion。
〃Then； Clara； as to the PRICE I have paid for this handkerchief；〃 she
said； 〃you ought to remember what the laws of political economy lay
down on such subjects。 I suppose your Pa makes you study political
economy； my dear？〃
〃Indeed he does not。 I hardly know what it means。〃
〃Well； that is singular； for Pa says； in this age of the world； it is the only
way to be rich。 Now； it is by means of a trade in lots； and political
economy； generally； that he has succeeded so wonderfully； for； to own
the truth to you； Clara； Pa hasn't always been rich。〃
〃No？〃 answered Clara； with a half…suppressed smile； she knowing the
fact already perfectly well。
〃Oh； nofar from itbut we don't speak of this publicly； it being a sort
of disgrace in New York； you know； not to be thought worth at least
half a million。 I dare say your Pa is worth as much as that？〃
〃I have not the least idea he is worth a fourth of it； though I do not
pretend to know。 To me half a million of dollars seems a great deal of
money； and I know my father considers himself poorpoor； at least； for
one of his station。 But what were you about to say of political
economy？ I am curious to hear how THAT can have any thing to do
with your handkerchief。〃
〃Why； my d