Home as Found, James Fenimore Cooper [bookreader txt] 📗

the notions connected with hereditary rank,

through the traditions of colonial manners, by means of novels, by

hearing the vulgar reproached or condemned for their obtrusion and

ignorance, and too often justly reproached and condemned, and by the

aid of her imagination, which contributed to throw a gloss and

brilliancy over a state of things that singularly gains by distance.

On the other hand, with Eve, every thing connected with such subjects

was a matter of fact. She had been thrown early into the highest

associations of Europe; she had not only seen royalty on its days of

gala and representation, a mere raree-show that is addressed to the

senses, or purely an observance of forms that may possibly have their

meaning, but which can scarcely be said to have their reasons, but

she had lived long and intimately among the high-born and great, and

this, too, in so many different countries, as to have destroyed the

influence of the particular nation that has transmitted so many of

its notions to America as heir-looms. By close observation, she knew

that arbitrary and political distinctions made but little difference

between men of themselves; and so far from having become the dupe of

the glitter of life, by living so long within its immediate

influence, she had learned to discriminate between the false and the

real, and to perceive that which was truly respectable and useful,

and to know it from that which was merely arbitrary and selfish. Eve

actually fancied that the position of an American gentleman might

readily become, nay that it _ought_ to be the highest of all human

stations, short of that of sovereigns. Such a man had no social

superior, with the exception of those who actually ruled, in her

eyes, and this fact she conceived, rendered him more than noble, as

nobility is usually graduated. She had been accustomed to see her

father and John Effingham moving in the best circles of Europe,

respected for their information and independence, undistinguished by

their manners, admired for their personal appearance, manly,

courteous, and of noble bearing and principles, if not set apart from

the rest of mankind by an arbitrary rule connected with rank. Rich,

and possessing all the habits that properly mark refinement, of

gentle extraction, of liberal attainments, walking abroad in the

dignity of manhood, and with none between them and the Deity, Eve had

learned to regard the gentlemen of her race as the equals in station

of any of their European associates, and as the superiors of most, in

every thing that is essential to true distinction. With her, even

titular princes and dukes had no estimation, merely as princes and

dukes; and, as her quick mind glanced over the long catalogue of

artificial social gradations and she found Grace actually attaching

an importance to the equivocal and purely conventional condition of

an English baronet, a strong sense of the ludicrous connected itself

with the idea.

 

"A simple gentleman, Grace!" she repeated slowly after her cousin;

"and is not a simple gentleman, a simple _American_ gentleman, the

equal of any gentleman on earth--of a poor baronet, in particular?"

 

"Poor baronet, Eve!"

 

"Yes, dear, _poor_ baronet; I know fully the extent and meaning of

what I say. It is true, we do not know as much of Mr. Powis' family,"

and here Eve's colour heightened, though she made a mighty effort to

be steady and unmoved, "as we might; but we know he is an _American_;

that, at least, is something; and we see he is a gentleman; and what

American gentleman, a real American gentleman, _can_ be the inferior

of an English baronet? Would your uncle, think you; would cousin

Jack; proud, lofty-minded cousin Jack, think you, Grace, consent to

receive so paltry a distinction as a baronetcy, were our institutions

to be so far altered as to admit of such social classifications?"

 

"Why, what would they be, Eve, if not baronets?"

 

"Earls, Counts, Dukes, nay Princes! These are the designations of the

higher classes of Europe, and such titles, or those that are

equivalent, would belong to the higher classes here."

 

"I fancy that Sir George Templemore would not be persuaded to admit

all this!"

 

"If you had seen Miss Eve, surrounded and admired by princes, as I

have seen her, Miss Grace," said Ann Sidley, "you would not think any

simple Sir George half good enough for her."

 

"Our good Nanny means, _a_ Sir George," interrupted Eve, laughing,

"and not _the_ Sir George in question. But, seriously, dearest coz,

it depends more on ourselves, and less on others, in what light they

are to regard us, than is commonly supposed. Do you not suppose there

are families in America who, if disposed to raise any objections

beyond those that are purely personal, would object to baronets, and

the wearers of red ribands, as unfit matches for their daughters, on

the ground of rank? What an absurdity would it be, for _a_ Sir

George, or _the_ Sir George either, to object to a daughter of a

President of the United States for instance, on account of station;

and yet I'll answer for it, _you_ would think it no personal honour,

if Mr. Jackson had a son, that he should, propose to my dear father

for you. Let us respect ourselves properly, take care to be truly

ladies and gentlemen, and so far from titular rank's being necessary

to us, before a hundred lustres are past, we shall bring all such

distinctions into discredit, by showing that they are not necessary

to any one important interest, or to true happiness and

respectability any where."

 

"And do you not believe, Eve, that Sir George Templemore thinks of

the difference in station between us?"

 

"I cannot answer for that," said Eve, calmly. "The man is naturally

modest; and, it is possible, when he sees that we belong to the

highest social condition of a great country, he may regret that such

has not been his own good fortune in his native land; especially,

Grace, since he has known _you_."

 

Grace blushed, looked pleased, delighted even, and yet surprised. It

is unnecessary to explain the causes of the three first expressions

of her emotions; but the last may require a short examination.

Nothing but time and a change of circumstances, can ever raise a

province or a provincial town to the independent state of feeling

that so strikingly distinguishes a metropolitan country, or a

capital. It would be as rational to expect that the inhabitants of

the nursery should disregard the opinions of the drawing-room, as to

believe that the provincial should do all his own thinking. Political

dependency, moreover, is much more easily thrown aside than mental

dependency. It is not surprising, therefore, that Grace Van

Cortlandt, with her narrow associations, general notions of life,

origin, and provincial habits, should be the very opposite of Eve, in

all that relates to independence of thought, on subjects like those

that they were now discussing. Had Grace been a native of New

England, even, she would have been less influenced by the mere social

rank of the baronet than was actually the case; for, while the

population of that part of the Union feel more of the general

subserviency to Great Britain than the population of any other

portion of the republic, they probably feel less of it, in this

particular form, from the circumstance that their colonial habits

were less connected with the aristocratical usages of the mother

country. Grace was allied by blood, too, with the higher classes of

England, as, indeed, was the fact with most of the old families among

the New York gentry; and the traditions of her race came in aid of

the traditions of her colony, to continue the profound deference she

felt for an English title. Eve might have been equally subjected to

the same feelings, had she not been removed into another sphere at so

early a period of life, where she imbibed the notions already

mentioned--notions that were quite as effectually rooted in her moral

system, as those of Grace herself could be in her own.

 

"This is a strange way of viewing the rank of a baronet, Eve!" Grace

exclaimed, as soon as she had a little recovered from the confusion

caused by the personal allusion. "I greatly question if you can

induce Sir George Templemore to see his own position with your eyes."

 

"No, my dear; I think he will be much more likely to regard, not only

that, but most other things, with the eyes of another person. We will

now talk of more agreeable things, however; for I confess, when I do

dwell on titles, I have a taste for the more princely appellations;

and that a simple _chevalier_ can scarce excite a feeling that such

is the theme."

 

"Nay, Eve," interrupted Grace, with spirit, "an _English_ baronet

_is_ noble. Sir George Templemore assured me that, as lately as last

evening. The heralds, I believe, have quite recently established that

fact to their own satisfaction."

 

"I am glad of it, dear," returned Eve, with difficulty refraining

from gaping, "as it will be of great importance to them, in their own

eyes. At all events, I concede that Sir George Templemore, knight, or

baronet, big baron or little baron, is a noble fellow; and what more

can any reasonable person desire. Do you know, sweet coz, that the

Wigwam will be full to overflowing next week?--that it will be

necessary to light our council-fire, and to smoke the pipe of many

welcomes?"

 

"I have understood Mr. Powis, that his kinsman, Captain Ducie, will

arrive on Monday."

 

"And Mrs. Hawker will come on Tuesday, Mr. and Mrs. Bloomfield on

Wednesday, and honest, brave straight-forward, literati-hating

Captain Truck, on Thursday, at the latest. We shall be a large

country-circle, and I hear the gentlemen talking of the boats and

other amusements. But I believe my father has a consultation in the

library, at which he wishes us to be present; we will join him, if

you please."

 

As Eve's toilette was now completed, the two ladies rose, and

descended together to join the party below. Mr. Effingham was

standing at a table that was covered with maps, while two or three

respectable-looking men, master-mechanics, were at his side. The

manners of these men were quiet, civil, and respectful, having a

mixture of manly simplicity, with a proper deference for the years

and station of the master of the house; though all but one, wore

their hats. The one who formed the exception, had become refined by a

long intercourse with this particular family; and his acquired taste

had taught him that, respect for himself, as well as for decency,

rendered it necessary to observe the long-established rules of

decorum, in his intercourse with others. His companions, though

without a particle of coarseness, or any rudeness of intention, were

less decorous, simply from a loose habit, that is insensibly taking

the place of the ancient laws of propriety in such matters, and which

habit, it is to be feared, has a part of its origin in false and

impracticable political notions, that have been stimulated by the

arts of demagogues. Still, not one of the three hardworking, really

civil, and even humane men, who now stood covered in the library of

Mr. Effingham, was probably conscious of the impropriety of which he

was guilty, or was doing more than insensibly yielding to a vicious

and vulgar practice.

 

"I am glad you have come, my love," said Mr. Effingham, as his

daughter entered the room, "for I find I need support in maintaining

my own opinions here. John is obstinately silent; and, as for all

these other gentlemen, I fear they have decidedly taken sides against

me."

 

"You can usually count on my support, dearest father, feeble as it

may be. But what is the disputed point to-day?"

 

"There is a proposition to alter the interior of the church, and our

neighbour Gouge has brought the plans, on which, as he says, he has

lately altered several churches in the county. The idea is, to remove

the pews entirely, converting them into what are called 'slips,' to

lower the pulpit, and to raise the floor, amphitheatre fashion."

 

"Can there be a sufficient reason for this change?" demanded Eve,

with surprise. "Slips! The word has a vulgar sound even, and savours

of a useless innovation. I doubt its orthodoxy."

 

"It is very popular, Miss Eve," answered Aristabulus, advancing from

a window, where he had been whispering assent. "This fashion takes

universally and is getting to prevail in all denominations."

 

Eve turned involuntarily, and to her surprise she perceived that the

editor of the Active Inquirer was added to their party. The

salutations, on the part of the young lady, were distant and stately,

while Mr. Dodge, who had not been able to resist public opinion, and

had actually parted with his moustachios, simpered, and wished to

have it understood by the spectators, that he was on familiar terms

with all the family.

 

"It may be popular, Mr. Bragg," returned Eve, as soon as she rose

from her profound curtsey to Mr. Dodge; "but