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！
〃I stepped to his side。 The Knights were combative； as their noble
predecessors with the same title always were； and it was necessary to
come to a voie de fait。 My straight blow from the shoulder did for
Sir Michael。 Hiram treated Sir Hans to what is technically known as
a cross…buttock。
〃'Naow； Dutchman；' said Hiram； 'if you don't want to be planted in
that are post…hole； y'd better take y'rself out o' this here piece of
private property。 〃Dangerous passin'；〃 as the sign…posts say； abaout
these times。'
〃Sir Michael went down half stunned by my expressive gesture； Sir
Hans did not know whether his hip was out of joint or he had got a
bad sprain； but they were both out of condition for further
hostilities。 Perhaps it was hardly fair to take advantage of their
misfortunes to inflict a discourse upon them； but they had brought it
on themselves； and we each of us gave them a piece of our mind。
〃'I tell you what it is；' said Hiram； 'I'm a free and independent
American citizen； and I an't a…gon' to hev no man tyrannize over me；
if he doos call himself by one o' them noblemen's titles。 Ef I can't
work jes' as I choose； fur folks that wants me to work fur 'em and
that I want to work fur； I might jes' as well go to Sibery and done
with it。 My gran'f'ther fit in Bunker Hill battle。 I guess if our
folks in them days did n't care no great abaout Lord Percy and Sir
William Haowe； we an't a…gon' to be scart by Sir Michael Fagan and
Sir Hans What 's…his…name； nor no other fellahs that undertakes to be
noblemen； and tells us common folks what we shall dew an' what we
sha'n't。 No； sir！'
〃I took the opportunity to explain to Sir Michael and Sir Hans what
it was our fathers fought for； and what is the meaning of liberty。
If these noblemen did not like the country； they could go elsewhere。
If they did n't like the laws； they had the ballot…box； and could
choose new legislators。 But as long as the laws existed they must
obey them。 I could not admit that； because they called themselves by
the titles the Old World nobility thought so much of； they had a
right to interfere in the agreements I entered into with my neighbor。
I told Sir Michael that if he would go home and help Lady Fagan to
saw and split the wood for her fire； he would be better employed than
in meddling with my domestic arrangements。 I advised Sir Hans to ask
Lady Schleimer for her bottle of spirits to use as an embrocation for
his lame hip。 And so my two visitors with the aristocratic titles
staggered off； and left us plain； untitled citizens； Hiram and
myself； to set our posts； and consider the question whether we lived
in a free country or under the authority of a self…constituted order
of quasi…nobility。〃
It is a very curious fact that； with all our boasted 〃free and equal〃
superiority over the communities of the Old World； our people have
the most enormous appetite for Old World titles of distinction。 Sir
Michael and Sir Hans belong to one of the most extended of the
aristocratic orders。 But we have also 〃Knights and Ladies of Honor；〃
and； what is still grander； 〃Royal Conclave of Knights and Ladies；〃
〃Royal Arcanum；〃 and 〃Royal Society of Good Fellows；〃 〃 Supreme
Council；〃 〃Imperial Court；〃 〃Grand Protector；〃 and 〃Grand
Dictator；〃 and so on。 Nothing less than 〃Grand〃 and 11 Supreme〃 is
good enough for the dignitaries of our associations of citizens。
Where does all this ambition for names without realities come from？
Because a Knight of the Garter wears a golden star； why does the
worthy cordwainer； who mends the shoes of his fellow…citizens； want
to wear a tin star； and take a name that had a meaning as used by the
representatives of ancient families； or the men who had made
themselves illustrious by their achievements？
It appears to be a peculiarly American weakness。 The French
republicans of the earlier period thought the term citizen was good
enough for anybody。 At a later period； 〃Roi Citoyen〃the citizen
king was a common title given to Louis Philippe。 But nothing is too
grand for the American； in the way of titles。 The proudest of them
all signify absolutely nothing。 They do not stand for ability； for
public service； for social importance； for large possessions； but； on
the contrary； are oftenest found in connection with personalities to
which they are supremely inapplicable。 We can hardly afford to
quarrel with a national habit which； if lightly handled； may involve
us in serious domestic difficulties。 The 〃Right Worshipful〃
functionary whose equipage stops at my back gate； and whose services
are indispensable to the health and comfort of my household； is a
dignitary whom I must not offend。 I must speak with proper deference
to the lady who is scrubbing my floors； when I remember that her
husband； who saws my wood； carries a string of high…sounding titles
which would satisfy a Spanish nobleman。
After all； every people must have its own forms of ostentation；
pretence； and vulgarity。 The ancient Romans had theirs； the English
and the French have theirs as well；why should not we Americans have
ours？ Educated and refined persons must recognize frequent internal
conflicts between the 〃Homo sum〃 of Terence and the 〃Odi profanum
vulgus〃 of Horace。 The nobler sentiment should be that of every true
American； and it is in that direction that our best civilization is
constantly tending。
We were waited on by a new girl； the other evening。 Our pretty
maiden had left us for a visit to some relative；so the Mistress
said。 I do sincerely hope she will soon come back； for we all like
to see her flitting round the table。
I don't know what to make of it。 I had it all laid out in my mind。
With such a company there must be a love…story。 Perhaps there will
be； but there may be new combinations of the elements which are to
make it up； and here is a bud among the full…blown flowers to which I
must devote a little space。
Delilah。
I must call her by the name we gave her after she had trimmed the
Samson locks of our Professor。 Delilah is a puzzle to most of us。
A pretty creature； dangerously pretty to be in a station not guarded
by all the protective arrangements which surround the maidens of a
higher social order。 It takes a strong cage to keep in a tiger or a
grizzly bear； but what iron bars； what barbed wires； can keep out the
smooth and subtle enemy that finds out the cage where beauty is
imprisoned？ Our young Doctor is evidently attracted by the charming
maiden who serves him and us so modestly and so gracefully。
Fortunately； the Mistress never loses sight of her。 If she were her
own daughter； she could not be more watchful of all her movements。
And yet I do not believe that Delilah needs all this overlooking。 If
I am not mistaken； she knows how to take care of herself； and could
be trusted anywhere； in any company； without a duenna。 She has a
history；I feel sure o