Спрут: Каліфорнійська історія
Chapter I
Littlegroupswereformed,—groupsthatdividedthemselves,ormeltedintoothergroups,ordisintegratedagainintoisolatedpairs,orlostthemselvesinthebackgroundofthemass,—allwithoutfriction,withoutembarrassment,—thewholeaffairgoingforwardofitself,decorous,tactful,well-bred.
Atadistance,andnottooloud,astringedorchestrasentupapleasinghum.Waiters,withbrassbuttonsontheirfulldresscoats,wentfromgrouptogroup,silent,unobtrusive,servingsaladsandices.
ButthefocusoftheassemblywasthelittlespacebeforeHartrath’spainting.Itwascalled“AStudyoftheContraCostaFoothills,”andwassetinaframeofnaturalredwood,thebarkstilladhering.Itwasconspicuouslydisplayedonaneaselattherightoftheentrancetothemainroomoftheclub,andwasverylarge.Intheforeground,andtotheleft,undertheshadeofalive-oak,stoodacoupleofreddishcows,knee-deepinapatchofyellowpoppies,whileintheright-handcorner,tobalancethecomposition,wasplacedagirlinapinkdressandwhitesunbonnet,inwhichtheshadowswereindicatedbybroaddashesofpalebluepaint.Theladiesandyounggirlsexaminedtheproductionwithlittlemurmursofadmiration,hazardingrememberedphrases,searchingfortheexactbalancebetweengenerouspraiseandcriticaldiscrimination,expressingtheiropinionsinthemildtechnicalitiesoftheArtBooksandpaintingclasses.
