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Nothing the actor or actress can do will satisfy the public。 Men who under
ordinary circumstances would be incapable of insulting a woman； will
whistle and stamp and laugh； at an unfortunate girl who is doing her
utmost to amuse them。 A terrible example of this was given two winters
ago at one of our concert halls； when a family of Western singers were
subjected to absolute ill…treatment at the hands of the public。 The young
girls were perfectly sincere； in their rude way； but this did not prevent men
from offering them every insult malice could devise； and making them a
target for every missile at hand。 So little does the public think for itself in
cases like this； that at the opening of the performance had some well…
known person given the signal for applause； the whole audience would； in
all probability； have been delighted and made the wretched sisters a
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success。
In my youth it was the fashion to affect admiration for the Italian
school of painting and especially for the great masters of the Renaissance。
Whole families of perfectly inartistic English and Americans might then
he heard conscientiously admiring the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel or
Leonardo's Last Supper （Botticelli had not been invented then） in the
choicest guide…book language。
When one considers the infinite knowledge of technique required to
understand the difficulties overcome by the giants of the Renaissance and
to appreciate the intrinsic qualities of their creations； one asks one's self in
wonder what our parents admired in those paintings； and what tempted
them to bring home and adorn their houses with such dreadful copies of
their favorites。 For if they appreciated the originals they never would have
bought the copies； and if the copies pleased them； they must have been
incapable of enjoying the originals。 Yet all these people thought
themselves perfectly sincere。 To…day you will see the same thing going on
before the paintings of Claude Monet and Besnard； the same admiration
expressed by people who； you feel perfectly sure； do not realize why these
works of art are superior and can no more explain to you why they think
as they do than the sheep that follow each other through a hole in a wall；
can give a reason for their actions。
Dress and fashion in clothes are subjects above all others； where the
ineptitude of the human mind is most evident。 Can it be explained in any
other way； why the fashions of yesterday always appear so hideous to us； …
almost grotesque？ Take up an old album of photographs and glance over
the faded contents。 Was there ever anything so absurd？ Look at the top
hats men wore； and at the skirts of the women！
The mother of a family said to me the other day： 〃When I recall the
way in which girls were dressed in my youth； I wonder how any of us ever
got a husband。〃
Study a photograph of the Empress Eugenie； that supreme arbiter of
elegance and grace。 Oh！ those bunchy hooped skirts！ That awful India
shawl pinned off the shoulders； and the bonnet perched on a roll of hair in
the nape of the neck！ What were people thinking of at that time？ Were
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they lunatics to deform in this way the beautiful lines of the human body
which it should be the first object of toilet to enhance； or were they only
lacking in the artistic sense？ Nothing of the kind。 And what is more； they
were convinced that the real secret of beauty in dress had been discovered
by them； that past fashions were absurd； and that the future could not
improve on their creations。 The sculptors and painters of that day （men of
as great talent as any now living）； were enthusiastic in reproducing those
monstrosities in marble or on canvas； and authors raved about the ideal
grace with which a certain beauty draped her shawl。
Another marked manner in which we are influenced by circumambient
suggestion； is in the transient furore certain games and pastimes create。 We
see intelligent people so given over to this influence as barely to allow
themselves time to eat and sleep； begrudging the hours thus stolen from
their favorite amusement。
Ten years ago； tennis occupied every moment of our young people's
time； now golf has transplanted tennis in public favor； which does not
prove； however； that the latter is the better game； but simply that
compelled by the accumulated force of other people's opinions； youths and
maidens； old duffers and mature spinsters are willing to pass many hours
daily in all kinds of weather； solemnly following an indian…rubber ball
across ten…acre lots。
If you suggest to people who are laboring under the illusion they are
amusing themselves that the game； absorbing so much of their attention； is
not as exciting as tennis nor as clever in combinations as croquet； that in
fact it would be quite as amusing to roll an empty barrel several times
around a plowed field； they laugh at you in derision and instantly put you
down in their profound minds as a man who does not understand 〃sport。〃
Yet these very people were tennis…mad twenty years ago and had night
come to interrupt a game of croquet would have ordered lanterns lighted in
order to finish the match so enthralling were its intricacies。
Everybody has known how to play BEZIQUE in this country for years；
yet within the last eighteen months； whole circles of our friends have been
seized with a midsummer madness and willingly sat glued to a card…table
through long hot afternoons and again after dinner until day dawned on
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their folly。
Certain MEMOIRES of Louis Fifteenth's reign tell of an 〃unravelling〃
mania that developed at his court。 It began by some people fraying out old
silks to obtain the gold and silver threads from worn…out stuffs； this
occupation soon became the rage； nothing could restrain the delirium of
destruction； great ladies tore priceless tapestries from their walls and
brocades from their