PREFACE.
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Real life is not as commonplace as it is represented. The
contrasts, surprises, combinations, and novel situations, which
some say “are only found in plays,” occur in every day society—
with the difference, that those in a play are published to the
world, while those in private life are known only to one or two.
The dread of misrepresentation conceals from us most of the machinery
of life, and all of its most wonderful occurrences, except
now and then one that is disclosed by accident. He who fancies
that he sees all that is dramatic, even in the circle where he is
most intimate, is like a deaf and blind man unconsciously present
at a play.
There is, of course, great difference in the power of observation—
some men seeing less than seems natural, and others more
than would be thought possible—but the most common observer
has only to allow every other man to know as many surprising things
as himself, (which few would, at first thought, allow,) and he will
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easily understand how the sum total fills the world with invisible
dramas. Little we know what the heart is busy with, while the
lips are phrasing for us the small talk of the day! Little we
dream what we interrupt or further—precede or follow—help to
forget or while away the time for. Few are only about what they
seem to be about, or are only what they seem to be.
The freedom to draw truly, in fiction, gives a fidelity to portraitures
in a story, which would be almost impossible even in a
literal biography. The most common man's exact and entire
impression of any one whom he knows, would read like a passage
of Shakspeare—because Shakspeare's power of description consists,
not in the coloring of his imagination, but in his utter
fidelity to nature. Between what we have seen ourselves, and the
same thing verbally described to us by others, there is often little
or no resemblance, because, from various influences which do not
affect a professedly fictitious description, the describer wavers
from the truth.
It is not from his imagination, as is commonly supposed, but
from his store of private observation and knowledge, that the
author draws his most effective pictures of character and human
event. The names may be fictitious, the scenery and circumstances
ideal, the personages painted from fancy, but the motive of
the story is true—the mainspring of feeling which it developes was
a mystery that could not otherwise be told—the lesson that the author
teaches in words to many was first taught by actual
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occurrences to himself. No one who is conversant with authors, for instance,
could doubt, that, in Bulwer's novels, under merely such
disguises as make identification impossible, are embodied all his
own experiences of feeling, and all that he has learned, of human
vicissitude and conduct, by access to the inner life of those about
him. Does any one suppose that there is one, among the women
he has loved, who cannot find, in his books, the picture of
herself,—of her heart as he read it—and the record, in truth's
most accurate light and shade, of all that was worth remembering
between them?
It is in the memory of authors alone, that these vivid and best
lessons, in the knowledge of human nature—the lessons of experience
and personal observation—are sown, not buried. The exhibition
of character contained in the under-currents of life—in an
undisclosed conflict, trial, temptation, affection or passion—is, when
stripped of its names and circumstances, no more recognizable than
the particular tree by its seed. The author plants it in another soil,
reproduces it in another shape and with other leaves and branches;
and, though the new story has all the essential qualities of the pang
or pleasure from which it is drawn, its origin is untraceable. It is
one of the rewards of the over-envied and under-paid profession of
literature, that the world is led unaware through the author's
heart, and sympathizes with all that has moved him. To the
hidden qualities he has found and loved, he brings thousands, to
add their homage also. For a fine action that could not
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otherwise be told, for a generous self sacrifice made in secret, for pangs
and trials unconfessed, for all the deep drama of private life, played
discouragingly to the appreciation of the few and un-applauding,
he can secure a tribute, which the actors alone identify; though
its applause, of the heart unnamed, is as universal as it is unprofaning
and grateful.
There is more or less of truth, the author of the following pages
may, perhaps, as well say, in all the stories he has written. In a
world sown so thickly with surprises and exceptions to general
rules, one has little need to draw on his imagination for a theme.
Having suffered, however, from erroneous applications of some of
these descriptions to individuals, he takes this opportunity to state,
that by character alone, (which has been an open field to writers since
writing began,) and not by true circumstances, names, or histories
of private life, is any portion of the ridicule or censure in this
volume, applicable or traceable. The greater number of its
stories embody such passages, in the personal history of the eminent
men and women of Europe, as the author came to the
knowledge of, by conversance with the circles in which they
moved—portions of the inner life which is seen so imperfectly by observers
from without—lights and shadows, which in their life-time,
at least, could not be used for their individual biography, but which
are invaluable as aids to the general portraiture of genius. In
revealing thus what has impressed and interested him, the author
has the pleasure, of course, of so far sharing his secrets with the
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reader; but the reader will remember, that, like the visitor to
the robber's cave, in the Eastern story, he is brought in, and
taken out, blindfold—and, of what he has seen, he can reveal
nothing.
N. P. WILLIS.
Preliminaries
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CONTENTS.
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A REVELATION OF A PREVIOUS LIFE.
Phenomena of Consciousness—The Listening Lady—The Dead Revived—
Spirit Love-Letter, 1-9
THE PHANTOM-HEAD UPON THE TABLE.
Coffee after Dinner—Alone with Ladies—Self-Recal—Need of a
Horse—Breakfast Invitation—A Stolen Advantage—A Horse-Stealer—
A Proposal—Premonitions—Visible to Another—Daughter
Disowned—Conditional Challenge, 10-35
GETTING TO WINDWARD.
London Chop House—First Step in Poverty—Treasured Insult—
Near Mysteries—Truth in Love Scenes—A Widow's Proposal— Revenge Stronger than Love—Value of Attained Objects, 36-52
TWO BUCKETS IN A WELL.
Practical Love—Love or Wealth—Art Foregone—Painter's Privileges—
Style in a Man—Change in a Lover—Preparations—The
Fête—Bitter Prosperity—End Lost in the Means, 53-73
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LIGHT VERVAIN
Tribute to an old Love—Ingratitude—A Love Letter—Re-considered
Love—Chivalry of Politeness, 74-84
BROWN'S DAY WITH THE MIMPSON'S.
Facile Manners—Delivering a Letter—Arrival to Dine—Unfortunate
Invitation—Secret Information—Recognitions—Tickets to
Almack's, 85-99
MR. AND MRS. FOLLETT.
Advice—Jealousy—Dressed or Not—Counter Flirtation, 100-109
LADY RAVELGOLD.
Lady Visit to a Banker—What was to be the Equivalent—An Aristocratic
Fête—A Falcon Flight—Approaching a Secret—Love at
First Sight—A Lady Favor—Fire Works—Tickets to Almack's—
English Beauty—Jealousy—A Revelation—An Aristocratic Boudoir—
Change of Relation—Supper with Mother and Daughter—
A Wound—A Quarrel—A Wedding instead of a Duel, 110-146
KATE CREDIFORD.
First Sad Look—The Hand in Love—Old Love New Born—Meaning
in a Cause, 146-155
BEWARE OF DOGS AND WALTZING.
A Wedding Party—Called to Account—A Wife Proposed—Mental
History of a Beau—Bringing Lovers Together—Tactics—A Dog
for a Good Angel, 156-170
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FLIRTATION AND FOX-CHASING.
Quarantine Pastime—Compulsory Travel—Love in Convalescence—
Contagious Excitement—An Involuntary Chase—Dangerous—The
way Hearts Break, 170-188
THE REVENGE OF THE SIGNOR BASIL.
Stealing a Portrait—A Stolen Portrait—A Slight—Secrets of a
Palace—An Aristocratic Angel—Use of a Portrait—A Palace Revel—
Weak Door to a Heart—Nearing his Object—Love at Court—
Soirée on Wheels—Power at Court—Effects of Italy on Love—
Vain Obstacle—Italian Love—Retribution—Revelation of Reasons—
A Woman's Downfall, 188-227
LOVE AND DIPLOMACY.
Fatal Accident and Love—Master and Man—Serving a Rival—The
New Ambassador—A Surprise, 228-239
THE MAD-HOUSE OF PALERMO.
Interesting Visitor—Baked Monks—Pleasure Hospital for the Insane—
Story of a Maniac Girl—Love for a Cure—A Lunatic Wedding—
The Effect, 240-255
AN UP-TOWN CRISIS.
Preparations—On Dress at Home—Be Seen Writing—The Husband—
Love, of Some Sort—Dramatic Stock-Broker—The Snedens—
Aristocratic Reliances—An Angel's Plea, 256-276
THE ICY VEIL.
Suppressed Recognition—Errand Hither—A Secret Home—A Luxury—
Value of High Life—Secrets of Pride—A Painter's Error—
Strange Love Letter—Jessonda—Prophetic Parting—Revelation,
277-298
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BORN TO LOVE PIGS AND CHICKENS.
The Astor House—Engagement to Marry—Good Will of Milliners—
Love Begun—Belle a-Haying—Right at Last, 299-313
THOSE UNGRATEFUL BLIDGIMSES.
Servant for Love—Economy in Italy—Cheap Trip—Cholera out of
Place—Cholera in a Carriage—Toddies for Cholera—After such
Services—The Revelation, 314-331
BELLES OF NEW YORK.
MRS. VERE, 332
MISS AYMAR, OF NEW YORK, 337
FANNY TRELLINGER, 340
MRS. LETTRELL, 345
HOPE CHASMAR, 350
JENNY EVELAND, 354
Willis, Nathaniel Parker, 1806-1867 [1850], People I have met, or, Pictures of society and people of mark, drawn under a thin veil of fiction (Baker & Scribner, New York) [word count] [eaf421].