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test was applied to them that would prove them deserving or undeserving。
If one were poor； one ought to be deserving； if one were rich； it did not
so much matter。
It seemed to him very likely that if he asked these men questions they
would tell him lies。 A fantastic association of their double files and
those of the galley…slaves whom Don Quixote released； with the tonguey
Gines de Passamonte at their head； came into his mind。 He smiled； and
then he thought how these men were really a sort of slaves and convicts
slaves to want and self…convicted of poverty。 All at once he fancied
them actually manacled there together； two by two； a coffle of captives
taken in some cruel foray； and driven to a market where no man wanted to
buy。 He thought how old their slavery was； and he wondered if it would
ever be abolished； as other slaveries had been。 Would the world ever
outlive it？ Would some New…Year's day come when some President would
proclaim； amid some dire struggle； that their slavery was to be no more？
That would be fine。
III。
He noticed how still the most of them were。 A few of them stepped a
little out of the line； and stamped to shake off the cold； but all the
rest remained motionless； shrinking into themselves； and closer together。
They might have been their own dismal ghosts； they were so still； with no
more need of defence from the cold than the dead have。
He observed now that not one among them had a fur overcoat on； and at a
second glance he saw that there was not an overcoat of any kind among
them。 He made his reflection that if any of them were impostors； and not
true men； with real hunger； and if they were alive to feel that stiff；
wholesome； Christmas…week cold； they were justly punished for their
deceit。
He was interested by the celerity； the simultaneity of his impressions；
his reflections。 It occurred to him that his abnormal alertness must be
something like that of a drowning person； or a person in mortal peril；
and being perfectly safe and well； he was obscurely flattered by the
fact。
To test his condition further he took note of the fine mass of the great
dry…goods store on the hither corner； blocking itself out of the blue…
black night； and of the Gothic beauty of the church beyond； so near that
the coffle of captives might have issued from its sculptured portal；
after vain prayer。
Fragments of conjecture； of speculation； drifted through his mind。 How
early did these files begin to form themselves for the midnight dole of
bread？ As early as ten； as nine o'clock？ If so； did the fact argue
habitual destitution； or merely habitual leisure？ Did the slaves in the
coffle make acquaintance； or remain strangers to one another； though they
were closely neighbored night after night by their misery？ Perhaps they
joked away the weary hours of waiting； they must have their jokes。 Which
of them were old…comers； and which novices？ Did they ever quarrel over
questions of precedence？ Had they some comity； some etiquette； which a
man forced to leave his place could appeal to； and so get it back？ Could
one say to his next…hand man； 〃Will you please keep my place？〃 and would
this man say to an interloper； 〃Excuse me； this place is engaged〃？ How
was it with them； when the coffle worked slowly or swiftly past the door
where the bread and coffee were given out； and word passed to the rear
that the supply was exhausted？ This must sometimes happen； and what did
they do then？
IV。
My friend did not quite like to think。 Vague； reproachful thoughts for
all the remote and immediate luxury of his life passed through his mind。
If he reformed that and gave the saving to hunger and cold？ But what was
the use？ There was so much hunger； so much cold； that it could not go
round。
The cabman was obeying his orders too faithfully。 He was not only
walking by the Broadway coffle； he was creeping by。 His action caught
the notice of the slaves； and as the coups passed them they all turned
and faced it； like soldiers under review making ready to salute a
superior。 They were perfectly silent； perfectly respectful； but their
eyes seemed to pierce the coupe through and through。
My friend was suddenly aware of a certain quality of representivity； he
stood to these men for all the ease and safety that they could never；
never hope to know。 He was Society： Society that was to be preserved
because it embodies Civilization。 He wondered if they hated him in his
capacity of Better Classes。 He no longer thought of getting out and
watching their behavior as they took their bread and coffee。 He would
have liked to excuse that thought； and protest that he was ashamed of it；
that he was their friend； and wished them wellas well as might be
without the sacrifice of his own advantages or superfluities； which he
could have persuaded them would be perfectly useless。 He put his hand on
that of his companion trembling on his arm with sympathy； or at least
with intelligence。
〃You mustn't mind。 What we are and what we do is all right。 It's what
they are and what they suffer that's all wrong。〃
V。
〃Does that view of the situation still satisfy you？〃 I asked； when he
had told me of this singular experience； I liked his apparently not
coloring it at all。
〃I don't know；〃 he answered。 〃It seems to be the only way out。〃
〃Well； it's an easy way；〃 I admitted； 〃and it's an idea that ought to
gratify the midnight platoon。〃
THE BEACH AT ROCKAWAY
I confess that I cannot hear people rejoice in their summer sojourn as
beyond the reach of excursionists without a certain rebellion； and yet I
have to confess also that after spending a Sunday afternoon of late July；
four or five years ago； with the excursionists at one of the beaches near
New York； I was rather glad that my own summer sojourn was not within
reach of them。 I know very well that the excursionists must go
somewhere； and as a man and a brother I am willing they should go
anywhere； but as a friend of quiet and seclusion I should be sorry to
have them come much where I am。 It is not because I would deny them a
share of any pleasure I enjoy； but because they are so many and I am so
few that I think they would get all the pleasure and I none。 I hope the
reader will see how this attitude distinguishes me from the selfish
people who inhumanly exult in their remoteness from excursionists。
I。
It was at Rockaway Beach that I saw these fellow…beings whose mere
multitude was too much for me。 They were otherwise wholly without
offence towards me； and so far as I noted； towards each other； they were；
in fact； the most entirely peaceable multitude I ever saw in any country；
and the very quietest。
There were thousands； mounting well up towards tens of thousands； of
them； in every variety of age and sex； yet I heard no voice lifted above
the conversational level； except that of some infant ignorant of its
privileges in a day at the sea…side； or some showman crying the
attractions of the spectacle in his charge。 I used to think the American
crowds rather boisterous and unruly； and many years ago； when I lived in
Italy； I celebrate