human
After all, Morgan was saying, apropos of the position of women,
gpt
I've always said, Mr. Morgan, Margaret retorted,
human
Well, men were of some account then. I appeal to Henderson, Morgan persisted,
gpt
Oh, my husband has to make his way; he's no time for idling and philosophizing round.
human
I should think not. Come, Henderson, speak up; what do you get out of it?
gpt
Oh, said Henderson, glancing at his wife with an amused expression,
human
I'm doing very well. I'm very well taken care of, but I often wonder what the fellows did when polygamy was the fashion.
gpt
Polygamy, indeed! cried Margaret.
human
So men only dropped the a pluribus unum method on account of the expense?
gpt
Not at all, replied Henderson.
human
Women are so much better now than formerly that one wife is quite enough.
gpt
You have got him well in hand, Mrs. Henderson, but--
human
But, continued Margaret for him,
gpt
And I was born too soon,
human
Yes, dear, you'll have to be born again. But, Mr. Morgan, you don't seem to understand what civilization is.
gpt
I'm beginning to. I've been thinking--this is entirely impersonal--that it costs more to keep one fine lady going than it does a college. Just reckon it up. (Margaret was watching him with sparkling eyes.)
human
The palace in town is for her, the house in the mountains, the house by the sea, are for her, the army of servants is for her, the horses and carriages for all weathers are for her, the opera box is for her, and then the wardrobe--why, half Paris lives on what women wear. I say nothing of what would become of the medical profession but for her.
gpt
Have you done?
human
No, but I'm taking breath.
gpt
Well, why shouldn't we support the working-people of Paris and elsewhere? Do you want us to make our own clothes and starve the sewing-women? Suppose there weren't any balls and fine dresses and what you call luxury. What would the poor do without the rich? Isn't it the highest charity to give them work? Even with it they are ungrateful enough.
human
That is too deep for me, said Morgan, evasively.
gpt
I suppose they ought to be contented to see us enjoying ourselves. It's all in the way of civilization, I dare say.
human
It's just as I thought, said Margaret, more lightly.
gpt
You haven't an inkling of what civilization is. See that flower before you. It is the most exquisite thing in this room. See the refinement of its color and form. That was cultivated. The plant came from South Africa. I don't know what expense the gardener has been to about it, what material and care have been necessary to bring it to perfection. You may take it to Mrs. Morgan as an object-lesson. It is a thing of beauty. You cannot put any of your mercantile value on it. Well, that is woman, the consummate flower of civilization. That is what civilization is for.
human
I'm sorry for you, old fellow,
gpt
I'm sorry for myself,
human
I admit all that, Morgan replied.
gpt
Take Mr. Henderson as a gardener, then.
human
Suppose you take somebody else, and let my husband eat his dinner.
gpt
Oh, I don't mind preaching; I've got used to being made to point a moral.
human
But he will go on next about the luxury of the age, and the extravagance of women, and goodness knows what,
gpt
No, I'm talking about men, Morgan continued.
human
Consider Henderson--it's entirely impersonal--as a gardener. What does he get out of his occupation? He can look at the flower. Perhaps that is enough. He gets a good dinner when he has time for it, an hour at his club now and then, occasionally an evening or half a day off at home, a decent wardrobe--
gpt
Fifty-two suits,
human
His own brougham--
gpt
And a four-in-hand,
human
A pass on the elevated road--
gpt
And a steam-yacht.
human
Which he never gets time to sail in; practically all the time on the road, or besieged by a throng in his office, hustled about from morning till night, begged of, interviewed, a telegraphic despatch every five minutes, and--
gpt
And me!