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execution。 Will it be credited that I became willing something should
happen； anything； to vary it？ I asked myself why； if some of the more
exciting incidents of the hunting…field which I had read of must befall；
I should not see them。 Several of the horses had balked at the barriers；
and almost thrown their riders across them over their necks； but not
quite done it； several had carried away the green…tufted top rail with
their heels； when suddenly there came a loud clatter from the farther
side of the ellipse； where a whole panel of fence had gone down。 I
looked eagerly for the prostrate horse and rider under the bars； but they
were cantering safely away。
IV。
It was enough； however。 I perceived that I was becoming demoralized； and
that if I were to write of the Horse Show with at all the superiority one
likes to feel towards the rich and great； I had better come away。 But I
came away critical； even in my downfall； and feeling that； circus for
circus； the Greatest Show on Earth which I had often seen in that place
had certain distinct advantages of the Horse Show。 It had three rings
and two platforms； and； for another thing； the drivers and riders in the
races； when they won； bore the banner of victory aloft in their hands；
instead of poorly letting a blue or red ribbon flicker at their horses'
ears。 The events were more frequent and rapid； the costumes infinitely
more varied and picturesque。 As for the people in the boxes； I do not
know that they were less distinguished than these at the Horse Show； but
if they were not of the same high level in which distinction was
impossible； they did not show it in their looks。
The Horse Show； in fine； struck me as a circus of not all the first
qualities； and I had moments of suspecting that it was no more than the
evolution of the county cattle show。 But in any case I had to own that
its great success was quite legitimate； for the horse； upon the whole；
appeals to a wider range of humanity； vertically as well as horizontally；
than any other interest； not excepting politics or religion。 I cannot；
indeed； regard him as a civilizing influence； but then we cannot be
always civilizing。
THE PROBLEM OF THE SUMMER
It has sometimes seemed to me that the solution of the problem how and
where to spend the summer was simplest with those who were obliged to
spend it as they spent the winter； and increasingly difficult in the
proportion of one's ability to spend it wherever and however one chose。
Few are absolutely released to this choice； however； and those few are
greatly to be pitied。 I know that they are often envied and hated for it
by those who have no such choice； but that is a pathetic mistake。 If we
could look into their hearts； indeed； we should witness there so much
misery that we should wish rather to weep over them than to reproach them
with their better fortune； or what appeared so。
I。
For most people choice is a curse； and it is this curse that the summer
brings upon great numbers who would not perhaps otherwise be afflicted。
They are not in the happy case of those who must stay at home； their hard
necessity is that they can go away； and try to be more agreeably placed
somewhere else； but although I say they are in great numbers； they are an
infinitesimal minority of the whole bulk of our population。 Their bane
is not； in its highest form； that of the average American who has no
choice of the kind； and when one begins to speak of the summer problem；
one must begin at once to distinguish。 It is the problem of the East
rather than of the West （where people are much more in the habit of
staying at home the year round）； and it is the problem of the city and
not of the country。 I am not sure that there is one practical farmer in
the whole United States who is obliged to witness in his household those
sad dissensions which almost separate the families of professional men as
to where and how they shall pass the summer。 People of this class； which
is a class with some measure of money； ease； and taste； are commonly of
varying and decided minds； and I once knew a family of the sort whose
combined ideal for their summer outing was summed up in the simple desire
for society and solitude； mountain…air and sea…bathing。 They spent the
whole months of April； May； and June in a futile inquiry for a resort
uniting these attractions； and on the first of July they drove to the
station with no definite point in view。 But they found that they could
get return tickets for a certain place on an inland lake at a low figure；
and they took the first train for it。 There they decided next morning to
push on to the mountains； and sent their baggage to the station； but
before it was checked they changed their minds； and remained two weeks
where they were。 Then they took train for a place on the coast； but in
the cars a friend told them they ought to go to another place； they
decided to go there； but before arriving at the junction they decided
again to keep on。 They arrived at their original destination； and the
following day telegraphed for rooms at a hotel farther down the coast。
The answer came that there were no rooms； and being by this time ready to
start； they started； and in due time reported themselves at the hotel。
The landlord saw that something must be done； and he got them rooms； at a
smaller house； and 'mealed' them （as it used to be called at Mt。 Desert）
in his own。 But upon experiment of the fare at the smaller house they
liked it so well that they resolved to live there altogether； and they
spent a summer of the greatest comfort there； so that they would hardly
come away when the house closed in the fall。
This was an extreme case； and perhaps such a venture might not always
turn out so happily； but I think that people might oftener trust
themselves to Providence in these matters than they do。 There is really
an infinite variety of pleasant resorts of all kinds now； and one could
quite safely leave it to the man in the ticket…office where one should
go； and check one's baggage accordingly。 I think the chances of an
agreeable summer would be as good in that way as in making a hard…and…
fast choice of a certain place and sticking to it。 My own experience is
that in these things chance makes a very good choice for one； as it does
in most non…moral things。
II。
A joke dies hard； and I am not sure that the life is yet quite out of the
kindly ridicule that was cast for a whole generation upon the people who
left their comfortable houses in town to starve upon farm…board or stifle
in the narrow rooms of mountain and seaside hotels。 Yet such people were
in the right； and their mockers were in the wrong； and their patient
persistence in going out of town for the summer in the face of severe
discouragements has multiplied indefinitely the kinds of summer resorts；
and reformed them altogether。 I believe the city boarding…house remains
very much what it used to be； but I am bound to say that the country
boarding…house has vastly improved since I began to know it。 As for the
summer hotel； by steep or by strand； it leaves little to be compla