original short stories-3-第22部分

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I　mean　to　send　them　down　to　the　kitchen　with　the　servants。

The　men　of　to…day　have　so　little　consideration　for　others　and　so　little
good　manners　that　one　must　be　always　severe　with　them。　　We　live　indeed　in
an　age　of　vulgarity。　　When　they　quarrel；　they　insult　each　other　in　terms
worthy　of　longshoremen；　and；　in　our　presence；　they　do　not　conduct
themselves　even　as　well　as　our　servants。　　It　is　at　the　seaside　that　you
see　this　most　clearly。　　They　are　to　be　found　there　in　battalions；　and　you
can　judge　them　in　the　lump。　　Oh！　　what　coarse　beings　they　are！

Just　imagine；　in　a　train；　a　gentleman　who　looked　well；　as　I　thought　at
first　sight；　thanks　to　his　tailor；　carefully　took　off　his　boots　in　order
to　put　on　a　pair　of　old　shoes！　　Another；　an　old　man　who　was　probably　some
wealthy　upstart　（these　are　the　most　ill…bred）；　while　sitting　opposite　to
me；　had　the　delicacy　to　place　his　two　feet　on　the　seat　quite　close　to　me。
This　is　a　positive　fact。

At　the　watering…places　the　vulgarity　is　unrestrained。　　I　must　here　make
one　admissionthat　my　indignation　is　perhaps　due　to　the　fact　that　I　am
not　accustomed　to　associate；　as　a　rule；　with　the　sort　of　people　one　comes
across　here；　for　I　should　be　less　shocked　by　their　manners　if　I　had　the
opportunity　of　observing　them　oftener。　　In　the　office　of　the　hotel　I　was
nearly　thrown　down　by　a　young　man　who　snatched　the　key　over　my　head。
Another　knocked　against　me　so　violently　without　begging　my　pardon　or
lifting　his　hat；　coming　away　from　a　ball　at　the　Casino；　that　it　gave　me　a
pain　in　the　chest。　　It　is　the　same　way　with　all　of　them。　　Watch　them
addressing　ladies　on　the　terrace；　they　scarcely　ever　bow。　　They　merely
raise　their　hands　to　their　headgear。　　But；　indeed；　as　they　are　all　more
or　less　bald；　it　is　the　best　plan。

But　what　exasperates　and　disgusts　me　particularly　is　the　liberty　they
take　of　talking　in　public；　without　any　kind　of　precaution；　about　the　most
revolting　adventures。　　When　two　men　are　together；　they　relate　to　each
other；　in　the　broadest　language　and　with　the　most　abominable　comments
really　horrible　stories；　without　caring　in　the　slightest　degree　whether　a
woman's　ear　is　within　reach　of　their　voices。　　Yesterday；　on　the　beach；　I
was　forced　to　leave　the　place　where　I　was　sitting　in　order　not　to　be　any
longer　the　involuntary　confidante　of　an　obscene　anecdote；　told　in　such
immodest　language　that　I　felt　just　as　humiliated　as　indignant　at　having
heard　it。　　Would　not　the　most　elementary　good…breeding　teach　them　to
speak　in　a　lower　tone　about　such　matters　when　we　are　near　at　hand。
Etretat　is；　moreover；　the　country　of　gossip　and　scandal。　　From　five　to
seven　o'clock　you　can　see　people　wandering　about　in　quest　of　scandal；
which　they　retail　from　group　to　group。　　As　you　remarked　to　me；　my　dear
aunt；　tittle…tattle　is　the　mark　of　petty　individuals　and　petty　minds。
It　is　also　the　consolation　of　women　who　are　no　longer　loved　or　sought
after。　　It　is　enough　for　me　to　observe　the　women　who　are　fondest　of
gossiping　to　be　persuaded　that　you　are　quite　right。

The　other　day　I　was　present　at　a　musical　evening　at　the　Casino；　given　by
a　remarkable　artist；　Madame　Masson；　who　sings　in　a　truly　delightful
manner。　　I　took　the　opportunity　of　applauding　the　admirable　Coquelin；　as
well　as　two　charming　vaudeville　performers；　M　and　Meillet。　　I　met；　on
this　occasion；　all　the　bathers　who　were　at　the　beach。　　It　is　no　great
distinction　this　year。

Next　day　I　went　to　lunch　at　Yport。　　I　noticed　a　tall　man　with　a　beard；
coming　out　of　a　large　house　like　a　castle。　　It　was　the　painter；　Jean　Paul
Laurens。　　He　is　not　satisfied　apparently　with　imprisoning　the　subjects　of
his　pictures；　he　insists　on　imprisoning　himself。

Then　I　found　myself　seated　on　the　shingle　close　to　a　man　still　young；　of
gentle　and　refined　appearance；　who　was　reading　poetry。　　But　he　read　it
with　such　concentration；　with　such　passion；　I　may　say；　that　he　did　not
even　raise　his　eyes　towards　me。　　I　was　somewhat　astonished　and　asked　the
proprietor　of　the　baths；　without　appearing　to　be　much　concerned；　the　name
of　this　gentleman。　　I　laughed　to　myself　a　little　at　this　reader　of
rhymes；　he　seemed　behind　the　age；　for　a　man。　　This　person；　I　thought；
must　be　a　simpleton。　　Well；　aunt；　I　am　now　infatuated　about　this
stranger。　　Just　fancy；　his　name　is　Sully　Prudhomme！　　I　went　back　and　sat
down　beside　him　again　so　as　to　get　a　good　look　at　him。　　His　face　has　an
expression　of　calmness　and　of　penetration。　　Somebody　came　to　look　for
him；　and　I　heard　his　voice；　which　is　sweet　and　almost　timid。　　He　would
certainly　not　tell　obscene　stories　aloud　in　public　or　knock　up　against
ladies　without　apologizing。　　He　is　assuredly　a　man　of　refinement；　but　his
refinement　is　of　an　almost　morbid；　sensitive　character；　I　will　try　this
winter　to　get　an　introduction　to　him。

I　have　no　more　news；　my　dear　aunt；　and　I　must　finish　this　letter　in
haste；　as　the　mail　will　soon　close。　　I　kiss　your　hands　and　your　cheeks。
Your　devoted　niece；
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　BERTHE　DE　X。

P。　S。I　should　add；　however；　by　way　of　justification　of　French
politeness；　that　our　fellow…countrymen　are；　when　travelling；　models　of
good　manners　in　comparison　with　the　abominable　English；　who　seem　to　have
been　brought　up　in　a　stable；　so　careful　are　they　not　to　discommode
themselves　in　any　way；　while　they　always　discommode　their　neighbors。



　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Madame　de　L。　　to　Madame　de　X。

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　LES　FRESNES；　Saturday。
My　Dear　Child：

Many　of　the　things　you　have　said　to　me　are　very　sensible；　but　that　does
not　prevent　you　from　being　wrong。　　Like　you；　I　used　formerly　to　feel　very
indignant　at　the　impoliteness　of　men；　who；　as　I　supposed；　constantly
treated　me　with　neglect；　but；　as　I　grew　older　and　reflected　on
everything；　putting　aside　coquetry；　and　observing　things　without　taking
any　part　in　them　myself；　I　perceived　this　muchthat　if　men　are　not
always　polite；　women　are　always　indescribably　rude。

We　imagine　that　we　should　be　permitted　to　do　anything；　my　darling；　and　at
the　same　time　we　consider　that　we　have　a　right　to　the　utmost　respect；　and
in　the　most　flagrant　manner　we　commit　actions　devoid　of　that　elementary
good…breeding　of　which　you　speak　so　feelingly。

I　find；　on　the　contrary；　that　men　consider　us　much　more　than　we　consider
them。　　Besides；　darling；　men　must　needs　be；　and　are；　what　we　make　them。
In　a　state　of　society；　where　women　are　all　true　gentlewomen；　all　men
would　become　gentlemen。

Come　now；　just　observe　and　reflect。

Look　at　two　women　meeting　in　the　street。　　What　an　attitude　each　assumes
towards　the　other！　　What　disparaging　looks！　　What　contempt　they　throw
into　each　glance！　　How　they　toss　their　heads　while　they　inspect　each
other　to　find　something　to　condemn！　　And；　if　the　footpath　is　narrow；　do
you　think　one　woman　would　make　room　for　another；　or　would　beg　pardon　as
she　sweeps　by？　　Never！　　When　two　men　jostle　each　other　by　accident　in
some　narrow　lane；　each　of　them　bows　and　at　the　same　time　gets　out　of　the
other's　way；　while　we　women　press　against　each　other　stomach　to　stomach；
face　to　face；　insolently　staring　each　other　out　of　countenance。

Look　at　two　women　who　are　acquaintances　meeting　on　a　staircase　outside
the　door　of　a　friend's　drawing…room；　one　of　them　just　leaving；　the　other
about　to　go　in。　　They　begin　to　talk　to　each　other　and　block　up　all　the
landing。　　If　anyone　happens　to　be　coming　up　behind　them；　man　or　woman；　do
you　imagine　that　they　will　put　themselves　half　an　inch　out　of　their　way？
Never！　never！

I　was　waiting　myself；　with　my　watch　in　my　hands；　one　day　last　winter　at　a
certain　drawing…room　door。　　And；　behind　me；　two　gentlemen　were　also
waiting　without　showing　any　readiness；　as　I　did；　to　lose　their　temper。
The　reason　was　that　they　had　long　grown　accustomed　to　our　unconscionable
insolence。

The　other　day；　before　leaving　Paris；　I　went　to　dine　with　no　less　a　person
than　your　husband；　in　the　Champs　Elysees；　in　order　to　enjoy　the　fresh
air。　　Every　table　was　occupied。　　The　waiter　asked　us　to　wait　and　there
would　soon　be　a　vacant　table。

At　that　moment　I　noticed　an　elderly　lady　of　noble　figure；　who；　having
paid　for　her　dinner；　seemed　on　the　point　of　going　away。　　She　saw　me；
scanned　me　from　head　to　foot；　and　did　not　budge。　　For　more　than　a　quarter
of　an　hour　she　sat　there；　immovable；　putting　on　her　gloves；　and　calmly
staring　at　those　who　were　waiting　like　myself。　　Now；　two　young　men　who
were　just　finishing　their　dinner；　having　seen　me　in　their　turn；　hastily
summoned　the　waiter；　paid　what　they　owed；　and　at　once　offered　me　their
seats；　even　insisting　on　standing　while　waiting　for　their　change。　　And；
bear　in　mind；　my　fair　niece；　that　I　am　no　longer　pretty；　like　you；　but
old　and　white…haired。

It　is　we；　you　see；　who　should　be　taught　politeness；　and　the　task　would　be
such　a　difficult　one　that　Hercules　himself　would　not　be　equal　to　it。　　You
speak　to　me　about　Etretat　and　about　the　people　who　indulged　in　〃tittle…
tattle〃　along　the　beach　of　that　delightful　watering…place。　　It　is　a　spot
now　lost　to　me；　a　thing　of　the　past；　but　I　found　much　amusement　therein
days　gone　by。

There　were　only　a　few　of　us；　people　in　good　society；　really　good　society；
and　a　few　artists；　and　we　all　fraternized。　　We　paid　little　attention　to
gossip　in　those　days。

As　we　had　no　monotonous　Casino；　where　people　only　gather　for　show；　where
they　whisper；　where　they　dance　stupidly；　where　they　succeed　in　thoroughly
boring　one　another；　we　sought　some　other　way　of　passing　our　evenings
pleasantly。　　Now；　just　guess　what　came　into　the　head　of　one　of　our
husbands？　　Nothing　less　than　to　go　and　dance　each　night　in　one　of　the
farm…houses　in　the　neighborhood。

We　started　out　in　a　group　with　a　street…organ；　generally　played　by　Le
Poittevin；　the　painter；　with　a　cotton　nightcap　on　his　head。　　Two　men
carried　lanterns。　　We　followed　in　procession；　laughing　and　chattering
like　a　pack　of　fools。

We　woke　up　the　farmer　and　his　servant…maids　and　farm　hands。　　We　got　them
to　make　onion　soup　（horror！）；　and　we　danced　under　the　apple　trees；　to　the
sound　of　the　barrel…organ。　　The　cocks　waking　up　began　to　crow　in　the
darkness　of　the　out…houses；　the　horses　began　prancing　on　the　straw　of
the