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.