Chapter 1

THEMAGNETATTRACTING:AWIFEAMIDFORCES

WhenCarolineMeeberboardedtheafternoontrainforChicago,hertotaloutfitconsistedofasmalltrunk,acheapimitationalligator-skinsatchel,asmalllunchinapaperbox,andayellowleathersnappurse,containingherticket,ascrapofpaperwithhersister’saddressinVanBurenStreet,andfourdollarinmoney.ItwasinAugust,1889.Shewaseighteenyearsorage,bright,timid,andfulloftheillusionsofignoranceandyouth.Whatevertouchofregretatpartingcharacterizedhergivenup.Agushoftearsathermother’sfarewellkiss,millwhereherfatherworkedbytheday,apatheticsighasthefamiliargreenenvironsofthevillagepassedinreviewandthethreadswhichboundhersolightlytogirlhoodandhomewereirretrievablybroken.

Tobesuretherewasalwaysthenextstation,whereonemightdescendandreturn.Therewasthegreatcity,boundmorecloselybytheseverytrainswhichcameupdaily.ColumbiaCitywasnotsoveryfaraway,evenonceshewasinChicago.Whatpray,isafewhoursafewhundredmiles.Shelookedatthelittleslipbearinghersister’saddressandwondered.Shegazedatthegreenlandscape,nowpassinginswiftreviewuntilherswifterthoughtsreplaceditsimpressionwithvagueconjecturesofwhatChicagomightbe.

Whenagirlsleavesherhomeateighteen,shedoesoneoftwothings.Eithershefallsintosavinghandsandbecomesbetter,orsherapidlyassumesthecosmopolitanstandardofvirtueandbecomesworse.Ofanintermediatebalance,underthecircumstances,thereisnopossibility.Thecityhasitscunningwiles,nolessthantheinfinitelysmallerandmorehumantempter.Therearelargeforceswhichallurewithallthesoulfullnessofexpressionpossibleinthemostculturedhuman.Thegleamofathousandlightsisoftenaseffectiveasthepersuasivelightinawooingandfascinatingeye.Halftheundoingoftheunsophisticatedandnaturalmindisaccomplishedbyforceswhollysuperhuman.Ablareoftotheastonishedscenesinequivocalterms.Withoutacounselorathandtowhispercautiousinterpretationwhatfalsehoodsmaynotthesethingsbreatheintotheunguardedear!Unrecognizedforwhattheyare,theirbeauty,likemusic,toooftenrelaxes,thenwakens,thenpervertsthesimplerhumanperceptions.

Caroline,orSisterCarrie,asshehadbeenhalfaffectionatelytermedbythefamily,waspossessedofamindrudimentaryinitspowerofobservationandanalysis.Self-interestwithherwashigh,butnotstrong.Itwasnevertheless,herguidingcharacteristic.Warmwiththefanciesofyouth,prettywiththeinsipidprettinessoftheformativeperiod,possessedofafigurepromisingeventualshapelinessandaneyealightwithcertainnativeintelligenceshewasafairexampleofthemiddleAmericanclasstwogenerationsremovedfromtheemigrant.Bookswerebeyondherinterestknowledgeasealedbook.Intheintuitivegracesshewasstillcrude.Shecouldscarcelytossherheadgracefully.Herhandswerealmostineffectual.Thefeet,thoughsmallweresetflatly.Andyetshewasinterestedinhercharms,quicktounderstandthekeenerpleasuresoflife,ambitioustogaininmaterialthings.Ahalf-equippedlittleknightshewas,venturingtoreconnoiterthemysteriouscityanddreamingwilddreamsofsomevague,far-offsupremacy,whichshouldmakeitpreyandsubjecttheproperpenitent,grovelingatawomen’sslipper.

“That,”saidavoiceinherear,”isoneoftheprettiestlittleresortsinWisconsin.”

“Isit.”sheanswerednervously.ThetrainwasjustpullingoutofWaukesha.Forsometimeshehadbeenconsciousofamanbehind.Shefelthimobservinghermassofhair.Hehadbeenfidgeting,andwithnaturalintuitionshefeltacertaininterestgrowinginthatquarter.Hermaidenlyreserve,andacertainsenseofwhatwasconventionalunderthecircumstances,calledhertoforestallanddenythisfamiliarity,butthedaringandmagnetismoftheindividual,bornofpastexperienceandtriumphs,prevailed.Sheanswered.Heleanedforwardtoputhiselbowsuponthebackofherseatandproceededtomakehimselfvolublyagreeable.

“Yes,thatisagreatresortforChicagopeople.Thehotelsareswell.Youarenotfamiliarwiththispartofthecountry,areyou.”

“Oh,yesIam,”answeredCarrie.“Thatis,IliveatColumbiaCity.Ihaveneverbeenthroughhere,though.”

“AndsothisisyourfirstvisittoChicago,”heobserved.Allthetimeshewasconsciousofcertainfeaturesoutofthesideofhereye.Flush,colorfulcheeks,alightmoustache,agrayfedorahat.Shenowturnedandlookeduponhiminfull,theinstinctsofself-protectionandcoquetryminglingconfusedlyinherbrain.

“Ididn’tsaythat”shesaid

“Oh,”heanswered,inaverypleasingwayandwithandwithanassumedairofmistake,“Ithoughyoudid.”

Herewasatypeofthetravelingcanvasserforamanufacturinghouseaclasswhichatthattimewasfirstbeingdubbedbytheslangoftheday“drummers.”Hecamewithinthemeaningofastillnewerterm,whichhadsprungintogeneraluseamongAmericansin1880,andwhichconciselyexpressedthethoughofonewhosedressormannersarecalculatedtoelicittheadmirationofsusceptibleyoungwomena“masher.”Hissuitwasofastripedandcrossedpatternofbrownwool,newatthattime,butsincebecomefamiliarasabusinesssuit.Thelowcrotchofthevestrevealedastiffbosomofwhiteandpinkstripes.Fromhiscoatsleevesprotrudedapairoflinencuffsofthesamepattern,fastenedwithlarge,goldplatebuttons,setwiththecommonyellowagatesknownas“cat’s-eyes.”Hisfingerboreseveralringsone,theever-endingheavysealandfromhisvestdangledaneatgoldwatchchain,fromwhichwassuspendedthesecretinsigniaoftheOrderofElks.Thewholesuitwasrathertight-fitting,andwasfinishedoffwithheavy-soledtanshoes,highlypolished,andthegrayfedorahat.Hewas,fortheorderofintellectrepresented,attractive,andwhateverhehadtorecommendhim,youmaybesurewasnotlostuponCarrie,inthis,herfirstglance.

Lestthisorderofindividualshouldpermanentlypass,letmeputdownsomeofthemoststrikingcharacteristicsofhismostsuccessfulmannerandmethod.Goodclothes,ofcourse,werethefirstessential,thethingswithoutwhichhewasnothing.Astrongphysicalnature,actuatedbyakeendesireforthefeminine,wasthenext.Amindfreeofanyconsiderationoftheproblemsorforcesoftheworldandactuatednotbygreed,butaninsatiableloveofvariablepleasure.Hismethodwasalwayssimple.Itsprincipalelementwasdaringbacked,ofcourse,byanintensedesireandadmirationforthesex.Lethimmeetwithayoungwomenonceandhewouldapproachherwithanairofkindlyfamiliarity,notunmixedwithpleading,whichwouldresultinmostcasesinatolerantacceptance.Ifsheshowedanytendencytocoquetryhewouldbeapttostraightenhertie,orifshe“tookup”withhimatall,tocallherbyherfirstname.Ifhevisitedadepartmentstoreitwastoloungefamiliarlyoverthecounterandasksomeleadingquestions.Inmoreexclusivecircles,onthetrainorinwaitingstations,hewentslower.Ifsomeseeminglyvulnerableobjectappearedhewasallattentiontopassthecomplimentsofthedaytoleadthewaytotheparlorcar,carryinghergrip,or,failingthat,totakeaseatnextherwiththehopeofbeingabletocourthertoherdestination.Pillows,books,afootstool,theshadelowered;allthesefiguredinthethingswhichhecoulddo.If,whenshereachedherdestinationhedidnotalightandattendherbaggageforher,itwasbecause,inhisownestimation,hehadsignallyfailed.

Awomenshouldsomedaywritethecompletephilosophyofclothes.Nomatterhowyoung,itisoneofthethingsshewhollycomprehends.Thereisanindescribablyfaintlineinthematterofman’sapparel,whichsomehowdividesforherthosewhoareworthglancingatandthosewhoarenot.Onceanindividualhaspassedthisfaintlineonthewaydownwardhewillgetnoglancefromher.Thereisanotherlineatwhichthedressofamanwillcausehertostudyherown.ThislinetheindividualatherelbownowmarkedforCarrie.Shebecameconsciousofaninequality.Herownplainbluedress,withitsblackcottontapetrimmings,nowseemedtohershabby.Shefeltthewornstateofhershoes.

“Let’ssee,”hewenton,“Iknowquiteanumberofpeopleinyourtown.MorgenroththeclothierandGibsonthedrygoodsman.”

“Oh,doyou.”sheinterrupted;arousedbymemoriesoflongingstheirshowwindowshadcosther.

Atlasthehadaclewtoherinterest,andfolloweditdeftly.Inafewminuteshehadcomeaboutintoherseat.Hetalkedofsalesofclothing,histravels,Chicago,andtheamusementsofthatcity.

“Ifyouaregoingthere,youwillenjoyitimmensely.Haveyourelatives.”

“Iamgoingtovisitmysister,”sheexplained.

“YouwanttoseeLincolnPark,”hesaid,“andMichiganBoulevard.Theyareputtingupgreatbuildingsthere.It’sasecondNewYorkgreat.Somuchtoseetheatres,crowds,finehousesoh,you’lllikethat.”

Therewasalittleacheinherfancyofallhedescribed.Herinsignificanceinthepresenceofsomuchmagnificencefaintlyaffectedher.Sherealizedthatherswasnottobearoundofpleasure,andyettherewassomethingpromisinginallthematerialprospecthesetforth.Therewassomethingsatisfactoryintheattentionofthisindividualwithhisgoodclothes.Shecouldnothelpsmilingashetoldherofsomepopularactressofwhomsheremindedhim.Shewassillyandyetattentionofthissorthaditsweight.

“YouwillbeinChicagosomelittletime,won’tyou.”heobservedatoneturnofthenoweasyconversation.“Idon’tknow,”saidCarrievaguelyafleshvisionofthepossibilityofhernotsecuringemploymentrisinginhermind.

“Severalweeks,anyhow,”hesaid,lookingsteadilyintohereyes.Therewasmuchmorepassingnowthanthemerewordsindicated.Herecognizedtheindescribablethingthatmadeupforfascinationandbeautyinher.Sherealizedthatshewasofinteresttohimfromtheonestandpoint,whichawomenbothdelightsinandfears.Hermannerwassimple,thoughfortheveryreasonthatshehadnotyetlearnedthemanylittleaffectationswithwhichwomenconcealtheirtruefeelings.Somethingsshedidappearedbold.Aclevercompanionhadsheeverhadonewouldhavewarnedher

nevertolookamanintheeyessosteadily.

“Whydoyouask.”shesaid.

“Well,I’mgoingtobethereseveralweeks.I’mgoingtostudystockatourplaceandgetnewsamples.Imightshowyouaround.”

“Idon’tknowwhetheryoucanornot.ImeanIdon’tknowwhetherIcan.Ishallbelivingwithmysister,and“Well,ifsheminds,we’llfixthat.”Hetookouthispencilandalittlepocketnotebookasifitwereallsettled.

“Whatisyouraddressthere.”Shefumbledherpursewhichcontainedtheaddressslip.

Hereacheddowninhishippocketandtookoutafatpurse.Itwasfilledwithslipofpaper,somemileagebooks,arollofgreenbacks.Itimpressedherdeeply.Suchapursehadneverbeencarriedbyanyoneattentivetoher.Indeed,andexperiencedtraveler,abriskmanoftheworld,hadnevercomewithinsuchcloserangebefore.Thepurse,theshinytanshoes,thesmartnewsuit,andtheairwithwhichhedidthings,builtupforheradimworldoffortune,ofwhichhewasthecenter.Itdisposedherpleasantlytowardallhemightdo.

Hetookoutaneatbusinesscard,onwhichwasengravedBartlett,Caryoe&Company,anddownintheleft-handcorner,Chas.H.Druer.

“That’sme,”hesaid,puttingthecardinherhandandtouchinghisname.“It’spronouncedDrew-eh.OurfamilywasFrench,onmyfather’sside.”

Shelookedatitwhileheputuphispurse.Thenhegotoutaletterfromabunchinhiscoatpocket.“ThisisthehouseItravelfor,”hewenton,pointingtoapictureonit,“cornerofStateandLake.”Therewasprideinhisvoice.Hefeltthatitwassomethingtobeconnectedwithsuchaplace,andhemadeherfeelthatway.

“Whatisyouraddress.”hebeganagain,fixinghispenciltowrite.

Shelookedathishand.

“CarrieMeeber,”shesaidslowly.“Threehundredandfifty-fourWestVanStreet,careS.CHanson.”

Hewroteitcarefullydownandgotoutthepurse

again.“You’llbeathomeifIcomearoundMondaynight.”hesaid.

“Ithinkso”sheanswered.

Howtrueitisthatwordsarebutthevagueshadowsofthevolumeswemean.Littleaudiblelinks,theyare,chainingtogethergreatinaudiblefeelingsandpurposes.Herewerethesetwo,bandyinglittlephrases,drawingpurses,lookingatcards,andbothunconsciousofhowinarticulatealltheirrealfeelingswere.Neitherwaswiseenoughtobesureoftheworkingofthemindoftheother.Hecouldnottellhowhisluringsucceeded.Shecouldnotrealizethatshewasdrifting,untilhesecuredheraddress.Nowshefeltthatshehadyieldedsomethinghe,thathehadgainedavictory.Alreadytheyfeltthattheyweresomehowassociated.Alreadyhetookcontrolondirectingtheconversation.Hiswordswereeasy.Hermannerwasrelaxed.

TheywerenearingChicago.Signswereeverywherenumerous.Trainsflashedbythem.Acrosswidestretchesofflat,openprairietheycouldseelinesoftelegraphpolesstalkingacrossthefieldstowardthegreatcity.Farawaywereindicationsofsuburbantowns,somebigsmoke-stackstoweringhighintheair.

Frequentlythereweretwo-storyframehousesstandingoutintheopenfields,withoutfencesortrees,loneoutpostsoftheapproachingarmyofhomes.

Tothechild,thegeniuswithimagination,ofthewhollyuntraveled,theapproachtoagreatcityforthefirsttimeisawonderingthing.Particularlyifitbeeveningthatmysticperiodbetweentheglareandgloomoftheworldwhenlifeischangingfromonesphereorconditiontoanother.Ah,thepromiseofthenight.Whatdoesitnotholdfortheweary!Whatoldillusionofhopeisnothereforeverrepeated!Saysthesoulofthetoilertoitself,“Ishallsoonbefree.Ishallbeinthewaysandthehostsofthemerry.Thestreets,thelamps,thelightedchambersetfordining,areforme.Thetheatre,thehalls,theparties,thewaysofrestandthepathsofsongthesearemineinthenight.”Thoughallhumanitybestillenclosedintheshops,thethrillrunsabroad.Itisintheair.Thedullestfeelsomethingwhichtheymaynotalwaysexpressordescribe.Itistheliftingoftheburdenoftoil.

SisterCarriegazedoutofthewindow.Hercompanion,affectedbyherwonder,socontagiousareallthings,feltanewsomeinterestinthecityandpointedoutitsmarvels.

“ThisisNorthwestChicago,”saidDrouet.“ThisistheChicagoRiver,”andhepointedtoalittlemuddycreek,crowdedwiththehugemastedwanderersfromfaroffwatersnosingtheblackpostedbanks.Withapuff,aclang,andaclatterofrailsitwasgone.“Chicagoisgettingtobeagreattown,”hewenton.“It’sawonder.You’llfindlotstoseehere.”

Shedidnothearthisverywell.Herheartwastroubledbyakindofterror.Thefactthatshewasalone,awayfromhome,rushingintoagreatseaoflifeandendeavorbegantotell.Shecouldnothelpbutfeelalittlechokedforbreathalittlesickasherheartbeatsofast.Shehalfclosedhereyesandtriedtothinkitwasnothing,thatColumbiaCitywasonlyalittlewayoff.

“Chicago!Chicago!”calledthebrakeman,shammingopenthedoor.Theywererushingintoamorecrowdedyard,alivewiththeclatterandclangoflife.Shebegantogatherupherpoorlittlegripandclosedherhandfirmlyuponherpurse.Drouetarose,kickedhislegstostraightenhistrousers,andseizedhiscleanyellowgrip.“Isupposeyourpeoplewillbeheretomeetyou.”hesaid.“Letmecarryyourgrip.”

“Oh,no,”shesaid.“I’dratheryouwouldn’t.I’dratheryouwouldn’tbewithmewhenImeetmysister.”“Allright,”hesaidnallkindness.“I’llbenearthough,incasesheisn’there,andtakeyououttheresafely.”

You’resokind,”saidCarrie,feelingthegoodnessofsuchattentioninherstrangesituation.

“Chicago!”calledthebrakeman,drawingthewordoutlong.Theywereunderagreatshadowytrainshedwherethelampswerealreadybeginningtoshineout,withpassengercarsallaboutandtrainmovingatssnail’space.Thepeopleinthecarwereallupandcrowdingaboutthedoor.

“Well,hereweare,”saidDrouet,leadingthewaytothedoor.“Good-bye,tillIseeyouMonday.”

“Good-bye,”sheanswered,takinghisprofferedhand.Remember,I’llbelookingtillyoufindyoursistersmiledintohiseyes.

Theyfiledout,andheaffectedtotakenonoticeofher.Alean-faced,rathercommonplacewomanrecognizedCarrieontheplatformandhurriedforward.

“Why,SisterCarrie!”shebegan,andtherewasaperfunctoryembraceofwelcome.

Carrierealizedthechangeofaffectionalatmosphereatonce.Amidallthemaze,uproar,andnoveltyshefeltcoldrealitytakingherbythehand.Noworldoflightandmerriment.Noroundofamusement.Hersistercarriedwithhermostofthegrimnessofshiftandtoil.

“Why,howareallthefolksathome.”shebegan;“howisfather,andmother.”

Carrieanswered,butwaslookingaway.Downtheaisle,towardthegateleadingintothewaiting-roomandthestreet,stoodDrouet.Hewaslookingback.Whenhesawthatshesawhimandwassafewithhersisterheturnedtogo,sendingbacktheshadowofasmile.OnlyCarriesawit.Shefeltsomethinglosttoherwhenhemovedaway.Whenhedisappearedshefelthisabsencethoroughly.Withhersistershewasmuchalone,alonefigureinatossing,thoughtlesssea.