The exodus of the younger males of an
American family against the parents' wishes does not, with us,
necessarily carry any obloquy with it. To the average American the
prospect of fortune and a better condition lies OUTSIDE of his
home; with you the home means the estate, the succession of honors
or titles, the surety that the conditions of life shall all be kept
intact. With us the children who do not expect, and generally
succeed in improving the fortunes of the house, are marked
exceptions. Do I make myself clear?"
The French-Patagonian attache thought it was "charming and
progressif." The Baron Von Pretzel thought he had noticed a
movement of that kind in Germany, which was expressed in a single
word of seventeen syllables. Viscount Piccadilly said to his
neighbor: "That, you know now, the younger sons, don't you see, go
to Australia, you know in some beastly trade--stock-raising or
sheep--you know; but, by Jove! them fellahs--"
"My father always treated me well," continued our host. "I shared
equally with my brothers the privileges and limitations of our New
England home.
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