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and entertaining； in short； the thousand and one nothings composing that
agreeable whole； a cultivated member of society； are inferior to their
womankind。 I feel sure that all Americans who have travelled and have
seen their compatriot in his social relations with foreigners； will agree with
this； reluctant as I am to acknowledge it。
That a sister and brother brought up together； under the same
influences； should later differ to this extent seems incredible。 It is just this
that convinces me we have made a false start as regards the education and
ambitions of our young men。
To find the reasons one has only to glance back at our past。 After the
struggle that insured our existence as a united nation； came a period of
great prosperity。 When both seemed secure； we did not pause and take
breath； as it were； before entering a new epoch of development； but dashed
ahead on the old lines。 It is here that we got on the wrong road。 Naturally
enough too； for our peculiar position on this continent； far away from the
centres of cultivation and art； surrounded only by less successful states
with which to compare ourselves； has led us into forming erroneous ideas
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as to the proportions of things； causing us to exaggerate the value of
material prosperity and undervalue matters of infinitely greater importance；
which have been neglected in consequence。
A man who； after fighting through our late war； had succeeded in
amassing a fortune； naturally wished his son to follow him on the only
road in which it had ever occurred to him that success was of any
importance。 So beyond giving the boy a college education； which he had
not enjoyed； his ambition rarely went； his idea being to make a practical
business man of him； or a lawyer； that he could keep the estate together
more intelligently。 In thousands of cases； of course； individual taste and
bent over…ruled this influence； and a career of science or art was chosen；
but in the mass of the American people； it was firmly implanted that the
pursuit of wealth was the only occupation to which a reasonable human
being could devote himself。 A young man who was not in some way
engaged in increasing his income was looked upon as a very undesirable
member of society； and sure； sooner or later； to come to harm。
Millionaires declined to send their sons to college； saying they would
get ideas there that would unfit them for business； to Paterfamilias the one
object of life。 Under such fostering influences； the ambitions in our
country have gradually given way to money standards and the false start
has been made！ Leaving aside at once the question of money in its relation
to our politics （although it would be a fruitful subject for moralizing）； and
confining ourselves strictly to the social side of life； we soon see the
results of this mammon worship。
In England （although Englishmen have been contemptuously called
the shop…keepers of the world） the extension and maintenance of their vast
empire is the mainspring which keeps the great machine in movement。
And one sees tens of thousands of well…born and delicately…bred men
cheerfully entering the many branches of public service where the hope of
wealth can never come； and retiring on pensions or half…pay in the strength
of their middle age； apparently without a regret or a thought beyond their
country's well…being。
In France； where the passionate love of their own land has made
colonial extension impossible； the modern Frenchman of education is
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more interested in the yearly exhibition at the SALON or in a successful
play at the FRANCAIS； than in the stock markets of the world。
Would that our young men had either of these bents！ They have copied
from England a certain love of sport； without the English climate or the
calm of country and garrison life； to make these sports logical and
necessary。 As the young American millionaire thinks he must go on
increasing his fortune； we see the anomaly of a man working through a
summer's day in Wall Street； then dashing in a train to some suburban club；
and appearing a half…hour later on the polo field。 Next to wealth； sport has
become the ambition of the wealthy classes； and has grown so into our
college life that the number of students in the freshman class of our great
universities is seriously influenced by that institution's losses or gains at
football。
What is the result of all this？ A young man starts in life with the firm
intention of making a great deal of money。 If he has any time left from that
occupation he will devote it to sport。 Later in life； when he has leisure and
travels； or is otherwise thrown with cultivated strangers； he must naturally
be at a disadvantage。 〃Shop；〃 he cannot talk； he knows that is vulgar。
Music； art； the drama； and literature are closed books to him； in spite of
the fact that he may have a box on the grand tier at the opera and a couple
of dozen high…priced 〃masterpieces〃 hanging around his drawing… rooms。
If he is of a finer clay than the general run of his class； he will realize
dimly that somehow the goal has been missed in his life race。 His chase
after the material has left him so little time to cultivate the ideal； that he
has prepared himself a sad and aimless old age； unless he can find
pleasure in doing as did a man I have been told about； who； receiving half
a dozen millions from his father's estate； conceived the noble idea of
increasing them so that he might leave to each of his four children as much
as he had himself received。 With the strictest economy； and by suppressing
out of his life and that of his children all amusements and superfluous
outlay； he has succeeded now for many years in living on the income of
his income。 Time will never hang heavy on this Harpagon's hands。 He is a
perfectly happy individual； but his conversation is hardly of a kind to
attract； and it may be doubted if the rest of the family are as much to be
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envied。
An artist who had lived many years of his life in Paris and London was
speaking the other day of a curious phase he had remarked in our
American life。 He had been accustomed over there to have his studio the
meeting…place of friends； who would drop in to smoke and lounge away an
hour； chatting as he worked。 To his astonishment； he tells me that since he
has been in New York not one of the many men he knows has ever passed
an hour in his rooms。 Is not that a significant fact？ Another remark which
points its own moral was repeated to me recently。 A foreigner visiting here；
to whom American friends were showing the sights of our city； exclaimed
at last： 〃You have not pointed out to me any celebrities except millionaires。
'Do you see that man？ he is worth ten millions。 Look at that house！ it cost
one million dollars； and there are pictures in it worth over three million
dollars。 That trotter cost one hundred thousand dollars；' etc。〃 Was he not
right？ And does it not give my reader a shudder to see in black and white
the phrases that are； nevertheless； so often on our lips？
This levelling of everything to its cash value is so ingrained in us that
we are unconscious of it； as we are of using slang or local expressions
until our attention is called to them。 I was present once at a farce played in
a London theatre； where the audience went into roars of laughter every
time the stage American said； 〃Why； certainly。〃 I was indignant； and began
explaining to my English friend that we never used such an absurd phrase。
〃Are you sure？〃 he asked。 〃Why； certainly；〃 I said； and stopped； catching
the twinkle in his eye。
It is very much the same thing with money。 We do not notice