Chapter 30
THEKINGDOMOFGREATNESS—THEPILGRIMADREAM
WhateveramanlikeHurstwoodcouldbeinChicago,itisveryevidentthathewouldbebutaninconspicuousdropinanoceanlikeNewYork.InChicago,whosepopulationstillrangedabout500,000,millionaireswerenotnumerous.Therichhadnotbecomesoconspicuouslyrichastodrownallmoderateincomesinobscurity.Theattentionoftheinhabitantswasnotsodistractedbylocalcelebritiesinthedramatic,artistic,social,andreligiousfieldsastoshutthewell-positionedmanfromview.InChicagothetworoadstodistinctionwerepoliticsandtrade.InNewYorktheroadswereanyoneofahalf-hundred,andeachhadbeendiligentlypursuedbyhundreds,sothatcelebritieswerenumerous.Theseawasalreadyfullofwhales.Acommonfishmustneedsdisappearwhollyfromview—remainunseen.Inotherwords,Hurstwoodwasnothing.
Thereisamoresubtleresultofsuchasituationasthis,which,thoughnotalwaystakenintoaccount,producesthetragediesoftheworld.Thegreatcreateanatmospherewhichreactsbadlyuponthesmall.Thisatmosphereiseasilyandquicklyfelt.Walkamongthemagnificentresidences,thesplendidequipages,thegildedshops,restaurants,resortsofallkinds;scenttheflowers,thesilks,thewines;drinkofthelaughterspringingfromthesoulofluxuriouscontent,oftheglanceswhichgleamlikelightfromdefiantspears;feelthequalityofthesmileswhichcutlikeglisteningswordsandofstridesbornofplace,andyoushallknowofwhatistheatmosphereofthehighandmighty.Littleusetoarguethatofsuchisnotthekingdomofgreatness,butsolongastheworldisattractedbythisandthehumanheartviewsthisastheonedesirablerealmwhichitmustattain,solong,tothatheart,willthisremaintherealmofgreatness.
Solong,also,willtheatmosphereofthisrealmworkitsdesperateresultsinthesoulofman.Itislikeachemicalreagent.Onedayofit,likeonedropoftheother,willsoaffectanddiscolortheviews,theaims,thedesireofthemind,thatitwillthereafterremainforeverdyed.Adayofittotheuntriedmindislikeopiumtotheuntriedbody.Acravingissetupwhich,ifgratified,shalleternallyresultindreamsanddeath.Aye!dreamsunfulfilled—gnawing,luring,idlephantomswhichbeckonandlead,beckonandlead,untildeathanddissolutiondissolvetheirpowerandrestoreusblindtonature’sheart.
AmanofHurstwood’sageandtemperamentisnotsubjecttotheillusionsandburningdesiresofyouth,butneitherhashethestrengthofhopewhichgushesasafountainintheheartofyouth.Suchanatmospherecouldnotinciteinhimthecravingsofaboyofeighteen,butinsofarastheywereexcited,thelackofhopemadethemproportionatelybitter.Hecouldnotfailtonoticethesignsofaffluenceandluxuryoneveryhand.HehadbeentoNewYorkbeforeandknewtheresourcesofitsfolly.Inpartitwasanawesomeplacetohim,forheregatheredallthathemostrespectedonthisearth—wealth,place,andfame.Themajorityofthecelebritieswithwhomhehadtippedglassesinhisdayasmanagerhailedfromthisself-centeredandpopulousspot.Themostinvitingstoriesofpleasureandluxuryhadbeentoldofplacesandindividualshere.Heknewittobetruethatunconsciouslyhewasbrushingelbowswithfortune
thelivelongday;thatahundredorfivehundredthousandgavenoonetheprivilegeoflivingmorethancomfortablyinsowealthyaplace.Fashionandpomprequiredmoreamplesums,sothatthepoormanwasnowhere.Allthisherealized,nowquitesharply,ashefacedthecity,cutofffromhisfriends,despoiledofhismodestfortune,andevenhisname,andforcedtobeginthebattleforplaceandcomfortalloveragain.Hewasnotold,buthewasnotsodullbutthathecouldfeelhesoonwouldbe.Ofasudden,then,thisshowoffineclothes,place,andpowertookonpeculiarsignificance.Itwasemphasizedbycontrastwithhisowndistressingstate.
Anditwasdistressing.Hesoonfoundthatfreedomfromfearofarrestwasnotthesinequanonofhisexistence.Thatdangerdissolved,thenextnecessitybecamethegrievousthing.Thepaltrysumofthirteenhundredandsomeodddollarssetagainsttheneedofrent,clothing,food,andpleasureforyearstocomewasaspectaclelittlecalculatedtoinducepeaceofmindinonewhohadbeenaccustomedtospendfivetimesthatsuminthecourseofayear.HethoughtuponthesubjectratheractivelythefirstfewdayshewasinNewYork,anddecidedthathemustactquickly.Asaconsequence,heconsultedthebusinessopportunitiesadvertisedinthemorningpapersandbeganinvestigationsonhisownaccount.
Thatwasnotbeforehehadbecomesettled,however.Carrieandhewentlookingforaflat,asarranged,andfoundoneinSeventy-eighthStreetnearAmsterdamAvenue.Itwasafive-storybuilding,andtheirflatwasonthethirdfloor.Owingtothefactthatthestreetwasnotyetbuiltupsolidly,itwaspossibletoseeeasttothegreentopsofthetreesinCentralParkandwesttothebroadwatersoftheHudson,aglimpseofwhichwastobehadoutofthewestwindows.Fortheprivilegeofsixroomsandabath,runninginastraightline,theywerecompelledtopaythirty-five
dollarsamonth—anaverage,andyetexorbitant,rentforahomeatthetime.CarrienoticedthedifferencebetweenthesizeoftheroomshereandinChicagoandmentionedit.
“You’llnotfindanythingbetter,dear,”saidHurstwood,“unlessyougointooneoftheold-fashionedhouses,andthenyouwon’thaveanyoftheseconveniences.”
Carriepickedoutthenewabodebecauseofitsnewnessandbrightwood-work.Itwasoneoftheverynewonessuppliedwithsteamheat,whichwasagreatadvantage.Thestationaryrange,hotandcoldwater,dumb-waiter,speakingtubes,andcall-bellforthejanitorpleasedherverymuch.Shehadenoughoftheinstinctsofahousewifetotakegreatsatisfactioninthesethings.
Hurstwoodmadearrangementswithoneoftheinstallmenthouseswherebytheyfurnishedtheflatcompleteandacceptedfiftydollarsdownandtendollarsamonth.Hethenhadalittleplate,bearingthenameG.W.Wheeler,made,whichheplacedonhisletter-boxinthehall.ItsoundedexceedinglyoddtoCarrietobecalledMrs.Wheelerbythejanitor,butintimeshebecameusedtoitandlookeduponthenameasherown.
Thesehousedetailssettled,Hurstwoodvisitedsomeoftheadvertisedopportunitiestopurchaseaninterestinsomeflourishingdowntownbar.AfterthepalatialresortinAdamsStreet,hecouldnotstomachthecommonplacesaloonswhichhefoundadvertised.Helostanumberofdayslookinguptheseandfindingthemdisagreeable.Hedid,however,gainconsiderableknowledgebytalking,forhediscoveredtheinfluenceofTammanyHallandthevalueofstandinginwiththepolice.Themostprofitableandflourishingplaceshefoundtobethosewhichconductedanythingbutalegitimatebusiness,suchasthatcontrolledbyFitzgeraldandMoy.Elegantbackroomsandprivate
drinkingboothsonthesecondfloorwereusuallyadjunctsofveryprofitableplaces.Hesawbyportlykeepers,whoseshirtfrontsshonewithlargediamonds,andwhoseclotheswereproperlycut,thattheliquorbusinesshere,aselsewhere,yieldedthesamegoldenprofit.AtlasthefoundanindividualwhohadaresortinWarrenStreet,andsusceptibleofimprovement.Theownerclaimedthebusinesstobeexcellent,anditcertainlylookedso.
“Wedealwithaverygoodclassofpeople,”hetoldHurstwood.“Merchants,salesmen,andprofessionals.It’sawell-dressedclass.Nobums.Wedon’tallow‘emintheplace.”
Hurstwoodlistenedtothecash-registerring,andwatchedthetradeforawhile.
“It’sprofitableenoughfortwo,isit.”heasked.
“Youcanseeforyourselfifyou’reanyjudgeoftheliquortrade,”saidtheowner.“ThisisonlyoneofthetwoplacesIhave.TheotherisdowninNassauStreet.Ican’ttendtothembothalone.IfIhadsomeonewhoknewthebusinessthoroughlyIwouldn’tmindsharingwithhiminthisoneandlettinghimmanageit.”
“I’vehadexperienceenough,”saidHurstwoodblandly,buthefeltalittlediffidentaboutreferringtoFitzgeraldandMoy.
“Well,youcansuityourself,Mr.Wheeler,”saidtheproprietor.
Heonlyofferedathirdinterestinthestock,fixtures,andgoodwill,andthisinreturnforathousanddollarsandmanagerialabilityonthepartoftheonewhoshouldcomein.Therewasnopropertyinvolved,becausetheownerofthesaloonmerelyrentedfromanestate.
Theofferwasgenuineenough,butitwasaquestionwithHurstwoodwhetherathirdinterestinthatlocalitycouldbemadetoyieldonehundredandfiftydollarsamonth,whichhefiguredhemusthaveinordertomeettheordinaryfamilyexpensesandbe
comfortable.Itwasnotthetime,however,aftermanyfailurestofindwhathewanted,tohesitate.Itlookedasthoughathirdwouldpayahundredamonthnow.Byjudiciousmanagementandimprovement,itmightbemadetopaymore.Accordinglyheagreedtoenterintopartnership,andmadeoverhisthousanddollars,preparingtoenterthenextday.
Hisfirstinclinationwastobeelated,andheconfidedtoCarriethathethoughthehadmadeanexcellentarrangement.Time,however,introducedfoodforreflection.Hefoundhispartnertobeverydisagreeable.Frequentlyhewastheworseforliquor,whichmadehimsurly.ThiswasthelastthingwhichHurstwoodwasusedtoinbusiness.Besides,thebusinessvaried.ItwasnothingliketheclassofpatronagewhichhehadenjoyedinChicago.Hefoundthatitwouldtakealongtimetomakefriends.Thesepeoplehurriedinandoutwithoutseekingthepleasuresoffriendship.Itwasnogatheringorloungingplace.WholedaysandweekspassedwithoutonesuchheartygreetingashehadbeenwonttoenjoyeverydayinChicago.
Foranotherthing,Hurstwoodmissedthecelebrities—thosewelldressed,eliteindividualswholendgracetotheaveragebarsandbringnewsfromfar-offandexclusivecircles.Hedidnotseeonesuchinamonth.Evenings,whenstillathispost,hewouldoccasionallyreadintheeveningpapersincidentsconcerningcelebritieswhomheknew—whomhehaddrunkaglasswithmanyatime.TheywouldvisitabarlikeFitzgeraldandMoy’sinChicago,ortheHoffmanHouse,uptown,butheknewthathewouldneverseethemdownhere.Again,thebusinessdidnotpayaswellashethought.Itincreasedalittle,buthefoundhewouldhavetowatchhishouseholdexpenses,whichwashumiliating.
Intheverybeginningitwasadelighttogohomelateatnight,ashedid,andfindCarrie.Hemanaged
torunupandtakedinnerwithherbetweensixandseven,andtoremainhomeuntilnineo’clockinthemorning,butthenoveltyofthiswanedafteratime,andhebegantofeelthedragofhisduties.
ThefirstmonthhadscarcelypassedbeforeCarriesaidinaverynaturalway:“IthinkI’llgodownthisweekandbuyadress.’
“Whatkind.”saidHurstwood.
“Oh,somethingforstreetwear.”
“Allright,”heanswered,smiling,althoughhenotedmentallythatitwouldbemoreagreeabletohisfinancesifshedidn’t.Nothingwassaidaboutitthenextday,butthefollowingmorningheasked:
“Haveyoudoneanythingaboutyourdress.”
“Notyet,”saidCarrie.
Hepausedafewmoments,asifinthought,andthensaid:
“Wouldyoumindputtingitoffafewdays.”
“No,”repliedCarrie,whodidnotcatchthedriftofhisremarks.Shehadneverthoughtofhiminconnectionwithmoneytroublesbefore.“Why.”
“Well,I’lltellyou,”saidHurstwood.“Thisinvestmentofmineistakingalotofmoneyjustnow.Iexpecttogetitallbackshortly,butjustatpresentIamrunningclose.”
“Oh!”answeredCarrie.“Why,certainly,dear.Whydidn’tyoutellmebefore.”
“Itwasn’tnecessary,”saidHurstwood.
Forallheracquiescence,therewassomethingaboutthewayHurstwoodspokewhichremindedCarrieofDrouetandhislittledealwhichhewasalwaysabouttoputthrough.Itwasonlythethoughtofasecond,butitwasabeginning.ItwassomethingnewinherthinkingofHurstwood.
Otherthingsfollowedfromtimetotime,littlethingsofthesamesort,whichintheircumulativeeffectwereeventuallyequaltoafullrevelation.Carriewasnotdullbyanymeans.Twopersonscannotlong
dwelltogetherwithoutcomingtoanunderstandingofoneanother.Thementaldifficultiesofanindividualrevealthemselveswhetherhevoluntarilyconfessesthemornot.Troublegetsintheairandcontributesgloom,whichspeaksforitself.Hurstwooddressedasnicelyasusual,buttheywerethesameclotheshehadinCanada.Carrienoticedthathedidnotinstallalargewardrobe,thoughhisownwasanythingbutlarge.Shenoticed,also,thathedidnotsuggestmanyamusements,saidnothingaboutthefood,seemedconcernedabouthisbusiness.ThiswasnottheeasyHurstwoodofChicago-nottheliberal,opulentHurstwoodshehadknown.Thechangewastooobvioustoescapedetection.
Intimeshebegantofeelthatachangehadcomeabout,andthatshewasnotinhisconfidence.Hewasevidentlysecretiveandkepthisowncounsel.Shefoundherselfaskinghimquestionsaboutlittlethings.Thisisadisagreeablestatetoawoman.Greatlovemakesitseemreasonable,sometimesplausible,butneversatisfactory.Wheregreatloveisnot,amoredefiniteandlesssatisfactoryconclusionisreached.
AsforHurstwood,hewasmakingagreatfightagainstthedifficultiesofachangedcondition.Hewastooshrewdnottorealizethetremendousmistakehehadmade,andappreciatethathehaddonewellingettingwherehewas,andyethecouldnothelpcontrastinghispresentstatewithhisformer,hourafterhour,anddayafterday.
Besides,hehadthedisagreeablefearofmeetingold-timefriends,eversinceonesuchencounterwhichhemadeshortlyafterhisarrivalinthecity.ItwasinBroadwaythathesawamanapproachinghimwhomheknew.Therewasnotimeforsimulatingnon-recognition.Theexchangeofglanceshadbeentoosharp,theknowledgeofeachothertooapparent.Sothefriend,abuyerforoneoftheChicagowholesalehouses,felt,perforce,thenecessityofstopping.
“Howareyou.”hesaid,extendinghishandwithanevidentmixtureoffeelingandalackofplausibleinterest.
“Verywell,”saidHurstwood,equallyembarrassed.“Howisitwithyou.”
“Allright;I’mdownheredoingalittlebuying.Areyoulocatedherenow.”
“Yes,”saidHurstwood,“IhaveaplacedowninWarrenStreet.”
“Isthatso.”saidthefriend.“Gladtohearit.I’llcomedownandseeyou.”
“Do,”saidHurstwood.
“Solong,”saidtheother,smilingaffablyandgoingon.
“Heneveraskedformynumber,”thoughtHurstwood;“hewouldn’tthinkofcoming.”Hewipedhisforehead,whichhadgrowndamp,andhopedsincerelyhewouldmeetnooneelse.
Thesethingstolduponhisgood-nature,suchasitwas.Hisonehopewasthatthingswouldchangeforthebetterinamoneyway.
HehadCarrie.Hisfurniturewasbeingpaidfor.Hewasmaintaininghisposition.AsforCarrie,theamusementshecouldgiveherwouldhavetodoforthepresent.Hecouldprobablykeepuphispretensionssufficientlylongwithoutexposuretomakegood,andthenallwouldbewell.Hefailedthereintotakeaccountofthefrailtiesofhumannature—thedifficultiesofmatrimoniallife.Carriewasyoung.Withhimandwithhervaryingmentalstateswerecommon.Atanymomenttheextremesoffeelingmightbeanti-polarizedatthedinnertable.Thisoftenhappensinthebestregulatedfamilies.Littlethingsbroughtoutonsuchoccasionsneedgreatlovetoobliteratethemafterward.Wherethatisnot,bothpartiescounttwoandtwoandmakeaproblemafterawhile.