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.