The first step is to have the fluid analyzed5 by a celebrity6, and its medicinal qualities duly set forth7 in a certificate. The second is to get official recognition from the government and the authorization8 to erect9 a bath house. Once these preliminaries accomplished10, the way lies plain before the fortunate village; every citizen, from the mayor down to the humblest laborer11, devotes himself to solving the all-important problem how to attract strangers to the place and keep and amuse them when they have been secured.
Multicolored pamphlets detailing the local attractions are mailed to the four corners of the earth, and brilliant chromos of the village, with groups of peasants in the foreground, wearing picturesque12 costumes, are posted in every available railway station and booking-office, regardless of the fact that no costumes have been known in the neighborhood for half a century, except those provided by the hotel proprietors14 for their housemaids. A national dress, however, has a fine effect in the advertisement, and gives a local color to the scene. What, for instance, would Athens be without that superb individual in national get-up whom one is sure to see before the hotel on alighting from the omnibus? I am convinced that he has given as much pleasure as the Acropolis to most travellers; the knowledge that the hotel proprietors share the expenses of his keep and toilet cannot dispel15 the charm of those scarlet16 embroideries17 and glittering arms.
After preparing their trap, the wily inhabitants of a new watering-place have only to sit down and await events. The first people to appear on the scene are, naturally, the English, some hidden natural law compelling that race to wander forever in inexpensive by-ways and serve as pioneers for other nations. No matter how new or inaccessible18 the spring, you are sure to find a small colony of Britons installed in the half-finished hotels, reading week-old editions of the Times, and grumbling19 over the increase in prices since the year before.
As soon as the first stray Britons have developed into an “English colony,” the municipality consider themselves authorized20 to construct a casino and open avenues, which are soon bordered by young trees and younger villas21. In the wake of the English come invalids22 of other nationalities. If a wandering “crowned head” can be secured for a season, a great step is gained, as that will attract the real paying public and the Americans, who as a general thing are the last to appear on the scene.
At this stage of its evolution, the “city fathers” build a theatre in connection with their casino, and (persuading the government to wink23 at their evasion24 of the gambling25 laws) add games of chance to the other temptations of the place.
There is no better example of the way a spring can be developed by clever handling, and satisfactory results obtained from advertising26 and judicious27 expenditure28, than Aix-les-Bains, which twenty years ago was but a tiny mountain village, and to-day ranks among the wealthiest and most brilliant eaux in Europe. In this case, it is true, they had tradition to fall back on, for Aquæ Gratinæ was already a favorite watering-place in the year 30 B.C., when Cæsar took the cure.
There is little doubt in my mind that when the Roman Emperor first arrived he found a colony of spinsters and retired29 army officers (from recently conquered Britain) living around this spring in popinæ (which are supposed to have corresponded to our modern boarding-house), wearing waterproof30 togas and common-sense cothurni, with double cork31 soles.
The wife of another Cæsar fled hither in 1814. The little inn where she passed a summer in the company of her one-eyed lover—while the fate of her husband and son was being decided32 at Vienna and Waterloo—is still standing33, and serves as the annex34 of a vast new hotel.
The way in which a watering-place is “run” abroad, where tourists are regarded as godsends, to be cherished, spoiled, and despoiled35, is amusingly different from the manner of our village populations when summer visitors (whom they look upon as natural enemies) appear on the scene. Abroad the entire town, together with the surrounding villages, hamlets, and farmhouses36, rack their brains and devote their time to inventing new amusements for the visitor, and original ways of enticing37 the gold from his pocket—for, mind you, on both continents the object is the same. In Europe the rural Machiavellis have had time to learn that smiling faces and picturesque surroundings are half the battle.
Another point which is perfectly38 understood abroad is that a cure must be largely mental; that in consequence boredom39 retards40 recovery. So during every hour of the day and evening a different amusement is provided for those who feel inclined to be amused. At Aix, for instance, Colonne’s orchestra plays under the trees at the Villa2 des Fleurs while you are sipping41 your after-luncheon coffee. At three o’clock “Guignol” performs for the youngsters. At five o’clock there is another concert in the Casino. At eight o’clock an operetta is given at the villa, and a comedy in the Casino, both ending discreetly42 at eleven o’clock. Once a week, as a variety, the park is illuminated43 and fireworks help to pass the evening.
If neither music nor Guignol tempts44 you, every form of trap from a four-horse break to a donkey-chair (the latter much in fashion since the English queen’s visit) is standing ready in the little square. On the neighboring lake you have but to choose between a dozen kinds of boats. The hire of all these modes of conveyance45 being fixed46 by the municipality, and plainly printed in boat or carriage, extortions or discussions are impossible. If you prefer a ramble47 among the hills, the wily native is lying in wait for you there also. When you arrive breathless at your journey’s end, a shady arbor48 offers shelter where you may cool off and enjoy the view. It is not by accident that a dish of freshly gathered strawberries and a bowl of milk happen to be standing near by.
When bicycling around the lake you begin to feel how nice a half hour’s rest would be. Presto49! a terrace overhanging the water appears, and a farmer’s wife who proposes brewing50 you a cup of tea, supplementing it with butter and bread of her own making. Weak human nature cannot withstand such blandishments. You find yourself becoming fond of the people and their smiling ways, returning again and again to shores where you are made so welcome. The fact that “business” is at the bottom of all this in no way interferes51 with one’s enjoyment52. On the contrary, to a practical mind it is refreshing53 to see how much can be made of a little, and what a fund of profit and pleasure can be extracted from small things, if one goes to work in the right way.
The trick can doubtless be overdone54: at moments one feels the little game is worked a bit too openly. The other evening, for instance, when we entered the dining-room of our hotel and found it decorated with flags and flowers, because, forsooth, it was the birthday of “Victoria R. and I.,” when champagne55 was offered at dessert and the band played “God Save the Queen,” while the English solemnly stood up in their places, it did seem as if the proprietor13 was poking56 fun at his guests in a sly way.
I was apparently57 the only person, however, who felt this. The English were much flattered by the attention, so I snubbed myself with the reflection that if the date had been July 4, I doubtless should have considered the flags and music most à propos.
There are also moments when the vivid picturesqueness58 of this place comes near to palling59 on one. Its beauty is so suspiciously like a set scene that it gives the impression of having been arranged by some clever decorator with an eye to effect only.
One is continually reminded of that inimitable chapter in Daudet’s Tartarin sur les Alpes, when the hero discovers that all Switzerland is one enormous humbug60, run to attract tourists; that the cataracts61 are “faked,” and avalanches62 arranged beforehand to enliven a dull season. Can anything be more delicious than the disillusion63 of Tartarin and his friends, just back from a perilous64 chamois hunt, on discovering that the animal they had exhausted65 themselves in following all day across the mountains, was being refreshed with hot wine in the kitchen of the hotel by its peasant owner?
When one visits the theatrical66 abbey across the lake and inspects the too picturesque tombs of Savoy’s sovereigns, or walks in the wonderful old garden, with its intermittent67 spring, the suspicion occurs, in spite of one’s self, that the whole scene will be folded up at sunset and the bare-footed “brother” who is showing us around with so much unction will, after our departure, hurry into another costume, and appear later as one of the happy peasants who are singing and drinking in front of that absurdly operatic little inn you pass on the drive home.
There is a certain pink cottage, with a thatched roof and overhanging vines, about which I have serious doubts, and fully68 expect some day to see Columbine appear on that pistache-green balcony (where the magpie69 is hanging in a wicker cage), and, taking Arlequin’s hand, disappear into the water-butt while Clown does a header over the half-door, and the cottage itself turns into a gilded70 coach, with Columbine kissing her hand from the window.
A problem which our intelligent people have not yet set themselves to solve, is being worked out abroad. The little cities of Europe have discovered that prosperity comes with the tourist, that with increased facilities of communication the township which expends71 the most in money and brains in attracting rich travellers to its gates is the place that will grow and prosper3. It is a simple lesson, and one that I would gladly see our American watering-places learn and apply.
点击收听单词发音
1 continental | |
adj.大陆的,大陆性的,欧洲大陆的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
2 villa | |
n.别墅,城郊小屋 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
3 prosper | |
v.成功,兴隆,昌盛;使成功,使昌隆,繁荣 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
4 providence | |
n.深谋远虑,天道,天意;远见;节约;上帝 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
5 analyzed | |
v.分析( analyze的过去式和过去分词 );分解;解释;对…进行心理分析 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
6 celebrity | |
n.名人,名流;著名,名声,名望 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
7 forth | |
adv.向前;向外,往外 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
8 authorization | |
n.授权,委任状 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
9 erect | |
n./v.树立,建立,使竖立;adj.直立的,垂直的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
10 accomplished | |
adj.有才艺的;有造诣的;达到了的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
11 laborer | |
n.劳动者,劳工 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
12 picturesque | |
adj.美丽如画的,(语言)生动的,绘声绘色的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
13 proprietor | |
n.所有人;业主;经营者 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
14 proprietors | |
n.所有人,业主( proprietor的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
15 dispel | |
vt.驱走,驱散,消除 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
16 scarlet | |
n.深红色,绯红色,红衣;adj.绯红色的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
17 embroideries | |
刺绣( embroidery的名词复数 ); 刺绣品; 刺绣法 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
18 inaccessible | |
adj.达不到的,难接近的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
19 grumbling | |
adj. 喃喃鸣不平的, 出怨言的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
20 authorized | |
a.委任的,许可的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
21 villas | |
别墅,公馆( villa的名词复数 ); (城郊)住宅 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
22 invalids | |
病人,残疾者( invalid的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
23 wink | |
n.眨眼,使眼色,瞬间;v.眨眼,使眼色,闪烁 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
24 evasion | |
n.逃避,偷漏(税) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
25 gambling | |
n.赌博;投机 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
26 advertising | |
n.广告业;广告活动 a.广告的;广告业务的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
27 judicious | |
adj.明智的,明断的,能作出明智决定的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
28 expenditure | |
n.(时间、劳力、金钱等)支出;使用,消耗 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
29 retired | |
adj.隐退的,退休的,退役的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
30 waterproof | |
n.防水材料;adj.防水的;v.使...能防水 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
31 cork | |
n.软木,软木塞 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
32 decided | |
adj.决定了的,坚决的;明显的,明确的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
33 standing | |
n.持续,地位;adj.永久的,不动的,直立的,不流动的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
34 annex | |
vt.兼并,吞并;n.附属建筑物 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
35 despoiled | |
v.掠夺,抢劫( despoil的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
36 farmhouses | |
n.农舍,农场的主要住房( farmhouse的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
37 enticing | |
adj.迷人的;诱人的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
38 perfectly | |
adv.完美地,无可非议地,彻底地 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
39 boredom | |
n.厌烦,厌倦,乏味,无聊 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
40 retards | |
使减速( retard的第三人称单数 ); 妨碍; 阻止; 推迟 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
41 sipping | |
v.小口喝,呷,抿( sip的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
42 discreetly | |
ad.(言行)审慎地,慎重地 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
43 illuminated | |
adj.被照明的;受启迪的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
44 tempts | |
v.引诱或怂恿(某人)干不正当的事( tempt的第三人称单数 );使想要 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
45 conveyance | |
n.(不动产等的)转让,让与;转让证书;传送;运送;表达;(正)运输工具 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
46 fixed | |
adj.固定的,不变的,准备好的;(计算机)固定的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
47 ramble | |
v.漫步,漫谈,漫游;n.漫步,闲谈,蔓延 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
48 arbor | |
n.凉亭;树木 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
49 presto | |
adv.急速地;n.急板乐段;adj.急板的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
50 brewing | |
n. 酿造, 一次酿造的量 动词brew的现在分词形式 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
51 interferes | |
vi. 妨碍,冲突,干涉 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
52 enjoyment | |
n.乐趣;享有;享用 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
53 refreshing | |
adj.使精神振作的,使人清爽的,使人喜欢的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
54 overdone | |
v.做得过分( overdo的过去分词 );太夸张;把…煮得太久;(工作等)过度 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
55 champagne | |
n.香槟酒;微黄色 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
56 poking | |
n. 刺,戳,袋 vt. 拨开,刺,戳 vi. 戳,刺,捅,搜索,伸出,行动散慢 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
57 apparently | |
adv.显然地;表面上,似乎 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
58 picturesqueness | |
参考例句: |
|
|
59 palling | |
v.(因过多或过久而)生厌,感到乏味,厌烦( pall的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
60 humbug | |
n.花招,谎话,欺骗 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
61 cataracts | |
n.大瀑布( cataract的名词复数 );白内障 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
62 avalanches | |
n.雪崩( avalanche的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
63 disillusion | |
vt.使不再抱幻想,使理想破灭 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
64 perilous | |
adj.危险的,冒险的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
65 exhausted | |
adj.极其疲惫的,精疲力尽的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
66 theatrical | |
adj.剧场的,演戏的;做戏似的,做作的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
67 intermittent | |
adj.间歇的,断断续续的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
68 fully | |
adv.完全地,全部地,彻底地;充分地 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
69 magpie | |
n.喜欢收藏物品的人,喜鹊,饶舌者 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
70 gilded | |
a.镀金的,富有的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
71 expends | |
v.花费( expend的第三人称单数 );使用(钱等)做某事;用光;耗尽 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
欢迎访问英文小说网 |