Thegreatestmysteryaboutahumanbeingisnothisreactiontosexorpraise,butthemannerinwhichhecontrivestoputintwenty–fourhoursaday.
Carolherselfhadthebaby,alargerhousetocarefor,allthetelephonecallsforKennicottwhenhewasaway;andshereadeverything,whileVidawassatisfiedwithnewspaperheadlines.
Butafterdetachedbrownyearsinboarding–houses,Vidawashungryforhousework,forthemostpotteringdetailofit.Shehadnomaid,norwantedone.
Whenshewentshoppingshehuggedthecansofsoup,andsheboughtamoporasideofbaconasthoughshewerepreparingforareception.
Iworshipthebaby,butthehousework—Oh,IsupposeI'mfortunate;somuchbetteroffthanfarm–womenonanewclearing,orpeopleinaslum."
Ithasnotyetbeenrecordedthatanyhumanbeinghasgainedaverylargeorpermanentcontentmentfrommeditationuponthefactthatheisbetteroffthanothers.
InCarol'sowntwenty–fourhoursadayshegotup,dressedthebaby,hadbreakfast,talkedtoOscarinaabouttheday'sshopping,putthebabyontheporchtoplay,wenttothebutcher'stochoosebetweensteakandporkchops,bathedthebaby,nailedupashelf,haddinner,putthebabytobedforanap,paidtheiceman,readforanhour,tookthebabyoutforawalk,calledonVida,hadsupper,putthebabytobed,darnedsocks,listenedtoKennicott'syawningcommentonwhatafoolDr.McGanumwastotrytousethatcheapX–rayoutfitofhisonanepithelioma,repairedafrock,drowsilyheardKennicottstokethefurnace,triedtoreadapageofThorsteinVeblen—andthedaywasgone.
ExceptwhenHughwasvigorouslynaughty,orwhiney,orlaughing,orsaying"Ilikemychair"withthrillingmaturity,shewasalwaysenfeebledbyloneliness.
Abookwasabook,andifyouhadseveralthousandofthemrighthereinthelibrary,free,whythedickensshouldyouspendyourgoodmoney?
Afterworryingaboutitfortwoorthreeyears,hedecidedthatthiswasoneoftheFunnyIdeaswhichshehadcaughtasalibrarianandfromwhichshewouldneverentirelyrecover.
TheywereyoungAmericansociologists,youngEnglishrealists,Russianhorrorists;AnatoleFrance,Rolland,Nexo,Wells,Shaw,Key,EdgarLeeMasters,TheodoreDreiser,SherwoodAnderson,HenryMencken,andalltheothersubversivephilosophersandartistswhomwomenwereconsultingeverywhere,inbatik–curtainedstudiosinNewYork,inKansasfarmhouses,SanFranciscodrawing–rooms,Alabamaschoolsfornegroes.
Fromthemshegotthesameconfuseddesirewhichthemillionotherwomenfelt;thesamedeterminationtobeclass–consciouswithoutdiscoveringtheclassofwhichshewastobeconscious.
CertainlyherreadingprecipitatedherobservationsofMainStreet,ofGopherPrairieandoftheseveraladjacentGopherPrairieswhichshehadseenondriveswithKennicott.
Inherfluidthoughtcertainconvictionsappeared,jaggedly,afragmentofanimpressionatatime,whileshewasgoingtosleep,ormanicuringhernails,orwaitingforKennicott.
TheseconvictionsshepresentedtoVidaSherwin—VidaWutherspoon—besidearadiator,overabowlofnotverygoodwalnutsandpecansfromUncleWhittier'sgrocery,onaneveningwhenbothKennicottandRaymiehadgoneoutoftownwiththeotherofficersoftheAncientandAffiliatedOrderofSpartans,toinaugurateanewchapteratWakamin.
WhatCarolsaidthatevening,whatshewaspassionatelythinking,wasalsoemerginginthemindsofwomenintenthousandGopherPrairies.
Shedidnotutterthemsocompactlythattheycanbegiveninherwords;theywereroughenedwith"Well,yousee"and"ifyougetwhatImean"and"Idon'tknowthatI'mmakingmyselfclear."
Inreadingpopularstoriesandseeingplays,assertedCarol,shehadfoundonlytwotraditionsoftheAmericansmalltown.
Thefirsttradition,repeatedinscoresofmagazineseverymonth,isthattheAmericanvillageremainstheonesureabodeoffriendship,honesty,andcleansweetmarriageablegirls.
ThereforeallmenwhosucceedinpaintinginParisorinfinanceinNewYorkatlastbecomewearyofsmartwomen,returntotheirnativetowns,assertthatcitiesarevicious,marrytheirchildhoodsweetheartsand,presumably,joyouslyabideinthosetownsuntildeath.
Theothertraditionisthatthesignificantfeaturesofallvillagesarewhiskers,irondogsuponlawns,goldbricks,checkers,jarsofgildedcat–tails,andshrewdcomicoldmenwhoareknownas"hicks"andwhoejaculate"WaalIswan."
Thisaltogetheradmirabletraditionrulesthevaudevillestage,facetiousillustrators,andsyndicatednewspaperhumor,butoutofactuallifeitpassedfortyyearsago.
Carol'ssmalltownthinksnotinhoss–swappingbutincheapmotorcars,telephones,ready–madeclothes,silos,alfalfa,kodaks,phonographs,leather–upholsteredMorrischairs,bridge–prizes,oil–stocks,motion–pictures,land–deals,unreadsetsofMarkTwain,andachasteversionofnationalpolitics.
Withsuchasmall–townlifeaKennicottoraChampPerryiscontent,buttherearealsohundredsofthousands,particularlywomenandyoungmen,whoarenotatallcontent.
fleetothecitieswithagilityand,despitethefictionaltradition,resolutelystaythere,seldomreturningevenforholidays.
Themostprotestingpatriotsofthetownsleavetheminoldage,iftheycanaffordit,andgotoliveinCaliforniaorinthecities.
Itisanunimaginativelystandardizedbackground,asluggishnessofspeechandmanners,arigidrulingofthespiritbythedesiretoappearrespectable.
Asavorlesspeople,gulpingtastelessfood,andsittingafterward,coatlessandthoughtless,inrocking–chairspricklywithinanedecorations,listeningtomechanicalmusic,sayingmechanicalthingsabouttheexcellenceofFordautomobiles,andviewingthemselvesasthegreatestraceintheworld.
Sherememberedthefeebleexoticqualitytobefoundinthefirst–generationScandinavians;sherecalledtheNorwegianFairattheLutheranChurch,towhichBeahadtakenher.
There,inthebondestue,thereplicaofaNorsefarmkitchen,palewomeninscarletjacketsembroideredwithgoldthreadandcoloredbeads,inblackskirtswithalineofblue,green–stripedaprons,andridgedcapsveryprettytosetoffafreshface,hadservedrommegrodoglefse—sweetcakesandsourmilkpuddingspicedwithcinnamon.
ButshesawtheseScandinavianwomenzealouslyexchangingtheirspicedpuddingsandredjacketsforfriedporkchopsandcongealedwhiteblouses,tradingtheancientChristmashymnsofthefjordsfor"She'sMyJazzlandCutie,"beingAmericanizedintouniformity,andinlessthanagenerationlosinginthegraynesswhateverpleasantnewcustomstheymighthaveaddedtothelifeofthetown.Theirsonsfinishedtheprocess.
Inready–madeclothesandready–madehigh–schoolphrasestheysankintopropriety,andthesoundAmericancustomshadabsorbedwithoutonetraceofpollutionanotheralieninvasion.
TherespectabilityoftheGopherPrairies,saidCarol,isreinforcedbyvowsofpovertyandchastityinthematterofknowledge.
Exceptforhalfadozenineachtownthecitizensareproudofthatachievementofignorancewhichitissoeasytocomeby.
Largeexperimentsinpoliticsandinco–operativedistribution,venturesrequiringknowledge,courage,andimagination,dooriginateintheWestandMiddlewest,buttheyarenotofthetowns,theyareofthefarmers.
Iftheseheresiesaresupportedbythetownsmenitisonlybyoccasionalteachersdoctors,lawyers,thelaborunions,andworkmenlikeMilesBjornstam,whoarepunishedbybeingmockedas"cranks,"as"half–bakedparlorsocialists."
Isupposeit'stoolatenow,butasItellhim,hecanalsoservetheworldbysellingshoesand—Iwonderifweoughtn'ttohavefamily–prayers?"
Doubtlessallsmalltowns,inallcountries,inallages,Caroladmitted,haveatendencytobenotonlydullbutmean,bitter,infestedwithcuriosity.
Butavillageinacountrywhichistakingpainstobecomealtogetherstandardizedandpure,whichaspirestosucceedVictorianEnglandasthechiefmediocrityoftheworld,isnolongermerelyprovincial,nolongerdownyandrestfulinitsleaf–shadowedignorance.
Itisaforceseekingtodominatetheearth,todrainthehillsandseaofcolor,tosetDanteatboostingGopherPrairie,andtodressthehighgodsinKlassyKollegeKlothes.
Sureofitself,itbulliesothercivilizations,asatravelingsalesmaninabrownderbyconquersthewisdomofChinaandtacksadvertisementsofcigarettesoverarchesforcenturiesdedicatetothesayingsofConfucius.
Butitisnotsatisfieduntiltheentireworldalsoadmitsthattheendandjoyouspurposeoflivingistorideinflivvers,tomakeadvertising–picturesofdollarwatches,andinthetwilighttosittalkingnotofloveandcouragebutoftheconvenienceofsafetyrazors.
ThegreatestmanufacturerisbutabusierSamClark,andalltherotundsenatorsandpresidentsarevillagelawyersandbankersgrownninefeettall.
ThoughaGopherPrairieregardsitselfasapartoftheGreatWorld,comparesitselftoRomeandVienna,itwillnotacquirethescientificspirit,theinternationalmind,whichwouldmakeitgreat.
Itsconceptionofacommunityidealisnotthegrandmanner,thenobleaspiration,thefinearistocraticpride,butcheaplaborforthekitchenandrapidincreaseinthepriceofland.
Itplaysatcardsongreasyoil–clothinashanty,anddoesnotknowthatprophetsarewalkingandtalkingontheterrace.
IfalltheprovincialswereaskindlyasChampPerryandSamClarktherewouldbenoreasonfordesiringthetowntoseekgreattraditions.
ItistheHarryHaydocks,theDaveDyers,theJacksonElders,smallbusymencrushinglypowerfulintheircommonpurpose,viewingthemselvesasmenoftheworldbutkeepingthemselvesmenofthecash–registerandthecomicfilm,whomakethetownasterileoligarchy.
Sheassertedthatitisamatterofuniversalsimilarity;offlimsinessofconstruction,sothatthetownsresemblefrontiercamps;ofneglectofnaturaladvantages,sothatthehillsarecoveredwithbrush,thelakesshutoffbyrailroads,andthecreekslinedwithdumping–grounds;ofdepressingsobrietyofcolor;rectangularityofbuildings;andexcessivebreadthandstraightnessofthegashedstreets,sothatthereisnoescapefromgalesandfromsightofthegrimsweepofland,noranywindingstocoaxtheloitereralong,whilethebreadthwhichwouldbemajesticinanavenueofpalacesmakesthelowshabbyshopscreepingdownthetypicalMainStreetthemoremeanbycomparison.
Always,westofPittsburg,andoften,eastofit,thereisthesamelumberyard,thesamerailroadstation,thesameFordgarage,thesamecreamery,thesamebox–likehousesandtwo–storyshops.
Thenew,moreconscioushousesarealikeintheirveryattemptsatdiversity:thesamebungalows,thesamesquarehousesofstuccoortapestrybrick.
Theshopsshowthesamestandardized,nationallyadvertisedwares;thenewspapersofsectionsthreethousandmilesaparthavethesame"syndicatedfeatures";theboyinArkansasdisplaysjustsuchaflamboyantready–madesuitasisfoundonjustsuchaboyinDelaware,bothofthemiteratethesameslangphrasesfromthesamesporting–pages,andifoneofthemisincollegeandtheotherisabarber,noonemaysurmisewhichiswhich.
HewouldgodownapparentlythesameMainStreet(almostcertainlyitwouldbecalledMainStreet);inthesamedrugstorehewouldseethesameyoungmanservingthesameice–creamsodatothesameyoungwomanwiththesamemagazinesandphonographrecordsunderherarm.
Nottillhehadclimbedtohisofficeandfoundanothersignonthedoor,anotherDr.Kennicottinside,wouldheunderstandthatsomethingcurioushadpresumablyhappened.
Finally,behindallhercomments,Carolsawthefactthattheprairietownsnomoreexisttoservethefarmerswhoaretheirreasonofexistencethandothegreatcapitals;theyexisttofattenonthefarmers,toprovideforthetownsmenlargemotorsandsocialpreferment;and,unlikethecapitals,theydonotgivetothedistrictinreturnforusuryastatelyandpermanentcenter,butonlythisraggedcamp.
Oh,there'snothingthatattackstheTribalGodMediocritythatdoesn'thelpalittle...andprobablythere'snothingthathelpsverymuch.
Thetroubleisspiritual,andnoLeagueorPartycanenactapreferenceforgardensratherthandumping–grounds....There'smyconfession.WELL?"
Imaginehowapersonwouldfeel,afterworkinghardforyearsandhelpingtobuildupanicetown,tohaveyouairilyflitinandsimplysay'Rotten!'Thinkthat'sfair?"
But—Mydear,you'renottheonlypersoninthistownwhohasdonesomethinkingforherself,although(pardonmyrudeness)I'mafraidyouthinkso.I'lladmitwelacksomethings.
Idon'twanttoseeanyforeignculturesuddenlyforcedonus—whetherit'sstreet–planningortable–mannersorcrazycommunisticideas."
Vidasketchedwhatshetermed"practicalthingsthatwillmakeahappierandprettiertown,butthatdobelongtoourlife,thatactuallyarebeingdone."
OftheThanatopsisClubshespoke;oftherest–room,thefightagainstmosquitos,thecampaignformoregardensandshade–treesandsewers—mattersnotfantasticandnebulousanddistant,butimmediateandsure.
ThecivicimprovementswhichI'dliketheThanatopsistoadvocateareStrindbergplays,andclassicdancers—exquisitelegsbeneathtulle—and(Icanseehimsoclearly!)
athick,black–bearded,cynicalFrenchmanwhowouldsitaboutanddrinkandsingoperaandtellbawdystoriesandlaughatourproprietiesandquoteRabelaisandnotbeashamedtokissmyhand!"
"Huh!NotsureabouttherestofitbutIguessthat'swhatyouandalltheotherdiscontentedyoungwomenreallywant:somestrangerkissingyourhand!"
AtCarol'sgasp,theoldsquirrel–likeVidadartedoutandcried,"Oh,mydear,don'ttakethattooseriously.Ijustmeant—"
Isn'titfunny:hereweallare—metryingtobegoodforGopherPrairie'ssoul,andGopherPrairietryingtobegoodformysoul.Whataremyothersins?"
"Oh,there'splentyofthem.PossiblysomedayweshallhaveyourfatcynicalFrenchman(horrible,sneering,tobacco–stainedobject,ruininghisbrainsandhisdigestionwithvileliquor!)
Andyou—"Hertoneitalicizedthewords—"tomygreatdisappointment,aredoingless,notmore,thanthepeopleyoulaughat!
EllaStowbody(whoseelocutingyoualwaysthinkissoabsurd)haspersuadedtherailroadtosharetheexpenseofaparkedspaceatthestation,todoawaywiththatvacantlot.
"Yousneersoeasily.I'msorry,butIdothinkthere'ssomethingessentiallycheapinyourattitude.Especiallyaboutreligion.
Yougaveuponthenewcityhall,theanti–flycampaign,clubpapers,thelibrary–board,thedramaticassociation—justbecausewedidn'tgraduateintoIbsentheveryfirstthing.Youwantperfectionallatonce.
"AndnowI'mafraidperhapsI'llhurtyou.We'regoingtohaveanewschoolbuildinginthistown—injustafewyears—andwe'llhaveitwithoutonebitofhelporinterestfromyou!
Wedidn'tcallonyoubecauseyouwouldneverstandthepound–pound–poundingyearafteryearwithoutonebitofencouragement.Andwe'vewon!
I'vegotthepromiseofeverybodywhocountsthatjustassoonaswar–conditionspermit,they'llvotethebondsfortheschoolhouse.
Andwe'llhaveawonderfulbuilding—lovelybrownbrick,withbigwindows,andagriculturalandmanual–trainingdepartments.
But—Pleasedon'tthinkI'munsympatheticifIaskonequestion:WilltheteachersinthehygienicnewbuildinggooninformingthechildrenthatPersiaisayellowspotonthemap,and'Caesar'thetitleofabookofgrammaticalpuzzles?"
Vidawasindignant;Carolwasapologetic;theytalkedforanotherhour,theeternalMaryandMartha—animmoralistMaryandareformistMartha.ItwasVidawhoconquered.
WhenVidaaskedhertotakechargeofagroupofCampFireGirls,sheobeyed,andhaddefinitepleasureoutoftheIndiandancesandritualandcostumes.
WithVidaaslieutenantandunofficialcommandershecampaignedforavillagenursetoattendpoorfamilies,raisedthefundherself,sawtoitthatthenursewasyoungandstrongandamiableandintelligent.
YetallthewhileshebeheldtheburlycynicalFrenchmanandthediaphanousdancersasclearlyasthechildseesitsair–bornplaymates;sherelishedtheCampFireGirlsnotbecause,inVida'swords,"thisScouttrainingwillhelpsomuchtomakethemGoodWives,"butbecauseshehopedthattheSiouxdanceswouldbringsubversivecolorintotheirdinginess.
ShehelpedEllaStowbodytosetoutplantsinthetinytriangularparkattherailroadstation;shesquattedinthedirt,withasmallcurvedtrowelandthemostdecorousofgardeninggauntlets;shetalkedtoEllaaboutthepublic–spiritednessoffuchsiasandcannas;andshefeltthatshewasscrubbingatempledesertedbythegodsandemptyevenofincenseandthesoundofchanting.
Passengerslookingfromtrainssawherasavillagewomanoffadingprettiness,incorruptiblevirtue,andnoabnormalities;thebaggagemanheardhersay,"Ohyes,Idothinkitwillbeagoodexampleforthechildren";andallthewhileshesawherselfrunninggarlandedthroughthestreetsofBabylon.
Plantingledhertobotanizing.Shenevergotmuchfartherthanrecognizingthetigerlilyandthewildrose,butsherediscoveredHugh."Whatdoesthebuttercupsay,mummy?"
ShecreptawayfromthehumpofbeddingthatwasKennicott;tiptoedintothebathroomand,bythemirrorinthedoorofthemedicine–cabinet,examinedherpallidface.
Wasn'tshegrowingvisiblyolderinratioasVidagrewplumperandyounger?Wasn'thernosesharper?Wasn'therneckgranulated?Shestaredandchoked.Shewasonlythirty.
Butthefiveyearssincehermarriage—hadtheynotgonebyashastilyandstupidlyasthoughshehadbeenunderether;wouldtimenotslinkpasttilldeath?
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