The Social Triangle

At the stroke of six Ikey Snigglefritz laid down his goose. Ikey was a tailor’s apprentice. Are there tailor’s apprentices nowadays?

Tepat pukul enam Ikey Snigglefritz meletakkan seterikanya. Ikey adalah seorang asisten penjahit. Apakah masih ada asisten penjahit di zaman sekarang?

At any rate, Ikey toiled and snipped and basted and pressed and patched and sponged all day in the steamy fetor of a tailor-shop. But when work was done Ikey hitched his wagon to such stars as his firmament let shine.

Bagaimanapun juga, sepanjang hari Ikey bekerja keras, menggunting, menjelujur, menyetrika, menambal, dan membasuh dalam uap pengap toko jahit. Tetapi ketika pekerjaan selesai, Ikey mengaitkan keretanya pada bintang-bintang mana pun yang bersinar di langitnya.

It was Saturday night, and the boss laid twelve begrimed and begrudged dollars in his hand. Ikey dabbled discreetly in water, donned coat, hat and collar with its frazzled tie and chalcedony pin, and set forth in pursuit of his ideals.

Malam itu Sabtu, dan sang bos meletakkan dua belas dolar kotor dan pelit ke tangannya. Ikey mencuci muka seadanya, mengenakan mantel, topi, dan kerah dengan dasi lusuh serta peniti kalsedonnya, lalu berangkat mengejar cita-citanya.

For each of us, when our day’s work is done, must seek our ideal, whether it be love or pinochle or lobster à la Newburg, or the sweet silence of the musty bookshelves.

Sebab kita masing-masing, setelah pekerjaan hari itu selesai, harus mencari cita-cita kita, entah itu cinta atau pinochle atau lobster à la Newburg, atau keheningan manis dari rak-rak buku yang berdebu.

Behold Ikey as he ambles up the street beneath the roaring “El” between the rows of reeking sweat-shops. Pallid, stooping, insignificant, squalid, doomed to exist forever in penury of body and mind, yet, as he swings his cheap cane and projects the noisome inhalations from his cigarette you perceive that he nurtures in his narrow bosom the bacillus of society.

Lihatlah Ikey berjalan santai di jalan di bawah "El" yang menderu-deru di antara deretan bengkel jahit yang berbau keringat. Pucat, membungkuk, tak berarti, kumuh, ditakdirkan hidup selamanya dalam kemiskinan tubuh dan pikiran, namun, ketika ia mengayunkan tongkat murahnya dan menghembuskan asap rokok yang menyengat, kau bisa melihat bahwa ia memelihara dalam dadanya yang sempit basil masyarakat kelas atas.

Ikey’s legs carried him to and into that famous place of entertainment known as the Café Maginnis—famous because it was the rendezvous of Billy McMahan, the greatest man, the most wonderful man, Ikey thought, that the world had ever produced.

Kaki Ikey membawanya menyusuri dan masuk ke tempat hiburan terkenal yang dikenal sebagai Café Maginnis—terkenal karena tempat itu adalah tempat berkumpulnya Billy McMahan, orang terhebat, orang paling menakjubkan, pikir Ikey, yang pernah dilahirkan dunia ini.

Billy McMahan was the district leader. Upon him the Tiger purred, and his hand held manna to scatter. Now, as Ikey entered, McMahan stood, flushed and triumphant and mighty, the centre of a huzzaing concourse of his lieutenants and constituents. It seems there had been an election; a signal victory had been won; the city had been swept back into line by a resistless besom of ballots.

Billy McMahan adalah pemimpin distrik. Sang Macan mendengkur untuknya, dan tangannya memegang berkah untuk dibagikan. Kini, saat Ikey masuk, McMahan berdiri, berseri-seri dan penuh kemenangan dan berwibawa, menjadi pusat dari kerumunan bersorak-sorai para bawahan dan pendukungnya. Rupanya baru saja ada pemilihan; sebuah kemenangan besar telah diraih; kota itu telah disapu kembali ke barisan oleh gelombang suara yang tak terbendung.

Ikey slunk along the bar and gazed, breath-quickened, at his idol.

Ikey menyelinap di sepanjang bar dan menatap, dengan napas tertahan, idolanya.

How magnificent was Billy McMahan, with his great, smooth, laughing face; his gray eye, shrewd as a chicken hawk’s; his diamond ring, his voice like a bugle call, his prince’s air, his plump and active roll of money, his clarion call to friend and comrade—oh, what a king of men he was! How he obscured his lieutenants, though they themselves loomed large and serious, blue of chin and important of mien, with hands buried deep in the pockets of their short overcoats! But Billy—oh, what small avail are words to paint for you his glory as seen by Ikey Snigglefritz!

Betapa megahnya Billy McMahan, dengan wajahnya yang besar, halus, dan tertawa; matanya yang abu-abu, secerdik mata elang; cincin berliannya, suaranya bagai tiupan terompet, sikapnya bak seorang pangeran, gulungan uangnya yang tebal dan lincah, seruannya yang lantang untuk kawan dan sahabat—oh, sungguh raja di antara manusia dirinya! Betapa ia mengalahkan para bawahannya, meski mereka sendiri tampak besar dan serius, berjanggut biru dan berwajah penting, dengan tangan tertanam dalam di saku mantel pendek mereka! Tetapi Billy—oh, betapa sedikitnya kata-kata bisa melukiskan bagimu kemuliaannya seperti yang dilihat Ikey Snigglefritz!

The Café Maginnis rang to the note of victory. The white-coated bartenders threw themselves featfully upon bottle, cork and glass. From a score of clear Havanas the air received its paradox of clouds. The leal and the hopeful shook Billy McMahan’s hand. And there was born suddenly in the worshipful soul of Ikey Snigglefritz an audacious, thrilling impulse.

Café Maginnis bergema dengan nada kemenangan. Para bartender berjas putih melempar diri mereka dengan cekatan pada botol, gabus, dan gelas. Dari sederet cerutu Havana yang jernih, udara menerima paradoks asapnya. Yang setia dan yang penuh harap berjabat tangan dengan Billy McMahan. Dan tiba-tiba lahirlah dalam jiwa pemuja Ikey Snigglefritz sebuah dorongan yang berani dan menggetarkan.

He stepped forward into the little cleared space in which majesty moved, and held out his hand.

Ia melangkah maju ke ruang kosong kecil tempat keagungan itu bergerak, dan mengulurkan tangannya.

Billy McMahan grasped it unhesitatingly, shook it and smiled.

Billy McMahan menggenggamnya tanpa ragu, menjabatnya, dan tersenyum.

Made mad now by the gods who were about to destroy him, Ikey threw away his scabbard and charged upon Olympus.

Dibuat gila kini oleh para dewa yang hendak menghancurkannya, Ikey membuang sarung pedangnya dan menyerbu Olympus.

“Have a drink with me, Billy,” he said familiarly, “you and your friends?”

"Minumlah bersamaku, Billy," katanya dengan akrab, "kau dan teman-temanmu?"

“Don’t mind if I do, old man,” said the great leader, “just to keep the ball rolling.”

"Tak keberatan, kawan," kata sang pemimpin besar itu, "sekadar menjaga suasana tetap ramai."

The last spark of Ikey’s reason fled.

Percikan terakhir akal sehat Ikey pun lenyap.

“Wine,” he called to the bartender, waving a trembling hand.

"Anggur," serunya kepada bartender, sambil melambaikan tangan yang gemetar.

The corks of three bottles were drawn; the champagne bubbled in the long row of glasses set upon the bar. Billy McMahan took his and nodded, with his beaming smile, at Ikey. The lieutenants and satellites took theirs and growled “Here’s to you.” Ikey took his nectar in delirium. All drank.

Gabus dari tiga botol dicabut; sampanye berbuih di sepanjang deretan gelas di atas bar. Billy McMahan mengambil miliknya dan mengangguk, dengan senyum cerahnya, kepada Ikey. Para bawahan dan pengikutnya mengambil bagian mereka dan menggeram "Untukmu." Ikey meminum nektarnya dalam keadaan mabuk kepayang. Semua orang minum.

Ikey threw his week’s wages in a crumpled roll upon the bar.

Ikey melemparkan gaji seminggunya, yang telah kusut menggumpal, ke atas bar.

“C’rect,” said the bartender, smoothing the twelve one-dollar notes. The crowd surged around Billy McMahan again. Some one was telling how Brannigan fixed ’em over in the Eleventh. Ikey leaned against the bar a while, and then went out.

"Pas," kata bartender itu, meratakan dua belas lembar uang satu dolar. Kerumunan kembali mengelilingi Billy McMahan. Seseorang sedang bercerita bagaimana Brannigan mengatur semuanya di Distrik Sebelas. Ikey bersandar di bar sejenak, lalu keluar.

He went down Hester street and up Chrystie, and down Delancey to where he lived. And there his women folk, a bibulous mother and three dingy sisters, pounced upon him for his wages. And at his confession they shrieked and objurgated him in the pithy rhetoric of the locality.

Ia berjalan menyusuri Jalan Hester dan naik ke Chrystie, lalu turun ke Delancey menuju rumahnya. Dan di sana kaum perempuannya, seorang ibu yang gemar minum dan tiga saudari yang kusam, menerkamnya untuk meminta gajinya. Dan saat ia mengaku, mereka menjerit dan memakinya dengan bahasa kasar khas daerah itu.

But even as they plucked at him and struck him Ikey remained in his ecstatic trance of joy. His head was in the clouds; the star was drawing his wagon. Compared with what he had achieved the loss of wages and the bray of women’s tongues were slight affairs.

Tetapi bahkan ketika mereka menarik-nariknya dan memukulinya, Ikey tetap berada dalam keadaan trans kebahagiaan yang meluap. Kepalanya melayang di awan; sang bintang sedang menarik keretanya. Dibandingkan dengan apa yang telah ia capai, kehilangan gaji dan omelan para perempuan itu hanyalah hal-hal kecil.

He had shaken the hand of Billy McMahan.

Ia telah menjabat tangan Billy McMahan.

Billy McMahan had a wife, and upon her visiting cards was engraved the name “Mrs. William Darragh McMahan.” And there was a certain vexation attendant upon these cards; for, small as they were, there were houses in which they could not be inserted. Billy McMahan was a dictator in politics, a four-walled tower in business, a mogul, dreaded, loved and obeyed among his own people. He was growing rich; the daily papers had a dozen men on his trail to chronicle his every word of wisdom; he had been honored in caricature holding the Tiger cringing in leash.

Billy McMahan mempunyai seorang istri, dan di kartu namanya terukir nama "Mrs. William Darragh McMahan." Dan ada semacam kejengkelan yang menyertai kartu-kartu itu; sebab, sekecil apa pun ukurannya, ada rumah-rumah tempat kartu itu tak bisa diselipkan. Billy McMahan adalah seorang penguasa dalam politik, sebuah menara berdinding empat dalam bisnis, seorang raja kecil, ditakuti, dicintai, dan dipatuhi di kalangannya sendiri. Ia semakin kaya; surat kabar harian memiliki selusin orang yang mengikutinya untuk mencatat setiap kata bijaknya; ia telah dihormati dalam karikatur yang menggambarkannya memegang tali kekang sang Macan yang meringkuk.

But the heart of Billy was sometimes sore within him. There was a race of men from which he stood apart but that he viewed with the eye of Moses looking over into the promised land. He, too, had ideals, even as had Ikey Snigglefritz; and sometimes, hopeless of attaining them, his own solid success was as dust and ashes in his mouth. And Mrs. William Darragh McMahan wore a look of discontent upon her plump but pretty face, and the very rustle of her silks seemed a sigh.

Tetapi hati Billy kadang-kadang terasa perih di dalam dirinya. Ada sebuah golongan manusia yang darinya ia berdiri terpisah tetapi yang ia pandang dengan mata Musa yang menatap ke tanah yang dijanjikan. Ia pun, seperti Ikey Snigglefritz, memiliki cita-cita; dan kadang-kadang, putus asa untuk mencapainya, keberhasilannya sendiri terasa seperti debu dan abu di mulutnya. Dan Mrs. William Darragh McMahan mengenakan raut wajah tak puas di wajahnya yang gemuk namun cantik, dan bahkan gemerisik kainnya sendiri seperti sebuah keluhan.

There was a brave and conspicuous assemblage in the dining saloon of a noted hostelry where Fashion loves to display her charms. At one table sat Billy McMahan and his wife. Mostly silent they were, but the accessories they enjoyed little needed the indorsement of speech. Mrs. McMahan’s diamonds were outshone by few in the room. The waiter bore the costliest brands of wine to their table. In evening dress, with an expression of gloom upon his smooth and massive countenance, you would look in vain for a more striking figure than Billy’s.

Ada sebuah perkumpulan yang gagah dan mencolok di ruang makan sebuah hotel ternama tempat Mode senang memamerkan pesonanya. Di satu meja duduk Billy McMahan dan istrinya. Sebagian besar mereka diam, tetapi kemewahan yang mereka nikmati hampir tak memerlukan dukungan kata-kata. Berlian Nyonya McMahan hampir tak kalah bersinar dibandingkan yang lain di ruangan itu. Pelayan membawakan anggur bermerek termahal ke meja mereka. Dengan pakaian resmi, dengan raut muram di wajahnya yang halus dan besar, kau akan sulit menemukan sosok yang lebih mencolok dari Billy.

Four tables away sat alone a tall, slender man, about thirty, with thoughtful, melancholy eyes, a Van Dyke beard and peculiarly white, thin hands. He was dining on filet mignon, dry toast and apollinaris. That man was Cortlandt Van Duyckink, a man worth eighty millions, who inherited and held a sacred seat in the exclusive inner circle of society.

Empat meja jauhnya duduk sendirian seorang pria tinggi dan ramping, berusia sekitar tiga puluh tahun, dengan mata yang penuh pikiran dan sedih, janggut Van Dyke, dan tangan yang putih serta kurus. Ia sedang makan filet mignon, roti panggang kering, dan air apollinaris. Pria itu adalah Cortlandt Van Duyckink, seorang pria dengan kekayaan delapan puluh juta, yang mewarisi dan memegang kursi suci di lingkaran dalam masyarakat yang eksklusif.

Billy McMahan spoke to no one around him, because he knew no one. Van Duyckink kept his eyes on his plate because he knew that every one present was hungry to catch his. He could bestow knighthood and prestige by a nod, and he was chary of creating a too extensive nobility.

Billy McMahan tidak berbicara kepada siapa pun di sekitarnya, karena ia tidak mengenal siapa pun. Van Duyckink menjaga matanya tetap tertuju pada piringnya karena ia tahu bahwa setiap orang di sana ingin sekali menangkap pandangannya. Ia bisa memberikan kehormatan dan gengsi hanya dengan anggukan, dan ia berhati-hati agar tidak menciptakan terlalu banyak bangsawan.

And then Billy McMahan conceived and accomplished the most startling and audacious act of his life. He rose deliberately and walked over to Cortlandt Van Duyckink’s table and held out his hand.

Kemudian Billy McMahan merancang dan melakukan tindakan paling nekat dan berani dalam hidupnya. Ia bangkit dengan sengaja dan berjalan menuju meja Cortlandt Van Duyckink dan mengulurkan tangannya.

“Say, Mr. Van Duyckink,” he said, “I’ve heard you was talking about starting some reforms among the poor people down in my district. I’m McMahan, you know. Say, now, if that’s straight I’ll do all I can to help you. And what I says goes in that neck of the woods, don’t it? Oh, say, I rather guess it does.”

"Begini, Tuan Van Duyckink," katanya, "saya dengar Anda sedang bicara soal memulai reformasi untuk orang-orang miskin di distrik saya. Saya McMahan, Anda tahu. Begini, kalau itu benar saya akan bantu sebisa saya. Dan apa yang saya katakan berlaku di daerah itu, bukan begitu? Oh, ya, saya rasa memang begitu."

Van Duyckink’s rather sombre eyes lighted up. He rose to his lank height and grasped Billy McMahan’s hand.

Mata Van Duyckink yang agak muram itu bersinar. Ia bangkit setinggi tubuhnya yang jangkung dan menggenggam tangan Billy McMahan.

“Thank you, Mr. McMahan,” he said, in his deep, serious tones. “I have been thinking of doing some work of that sort. I shall be glad of your assistance. It pleases me to have become acquainted with you.”

"Terima kasih, Tuan McMahan," katanya, dengan suaranya yang dalam dan serius. "Saya sudah memikirkan untuk melakukan pekerjaan semacam itu. Saya akan senang menerima bantuan Anda. Saya senang bisa berkenalan dengan Anda."

Billy walked back to his seat. His shoulder was tingling from the accolade bestowed by royalty. A hundred eyes were now turned upon him in envy and new admiration. Mrs. William Darragh McMahan trembled with ecstasy, so that her diamonds smote the eye almost with pain. And now it was apparent that at many tables there were those who suddenly remembered that they enjoyed Mr. McMahan’s acquaintance. He saw smiles and bows about him. He became enveloped in the aura of dizzy greatness. His campaign coolness deserted him.

Billy berjalan kembali ke tempat duduknya. Bahunya masih terasa geli oleh pemberkatan dari kalangan bangsawan itu. Seratus pasang mata kini tertuju padanya dengan iri dan kekaguman baru. Mrs. William Darragh McMahan gemetar karena rasa senangnya, sehingga berliannya berkilau hampir menyakitkan mata. Dan kini jelas bahwa di banyak meja ada orang-orang yang tiba-tiba teringat bahwa mereka mengenal Tuan McMahan. Ia melihat senyuman dan anggukan di sekitarnya. Ia diliputi oleh aura kebesaran yang memusingkan. Kedinginan kampanyenya lenyap sudah.

“Wine for that gang!” he commanded the waiter, pointing with his finger. “Wine over there. Wine to those three gents by that green bush. Tell ’em it’s on me. D––––n it! Wine for everybody!”

"Anggur untuk rombongan itu!" perintahnya kepada pelayan, sambil menunjuk dengan jarinya. "Anggur ke sana. Anggur untuk tiga tuan di dekat semak hijau itu. Bilang itu traktiran saya. Sialan! Anggur untuk semua orang!"

The waiter ventured to whisper that it was perhaps inexpedient to carry out the order, in consideration of the dignity of the house and its custom.

Pelayan itu berani berbisik bahwa mungkin tidak bijaksana melaksanakan perintah itu, mengingat martabat rumah makan itu dan kebiasaannya.

“All right,” said Billy, “if it’s against the rules. I wonder if ’twould do to send my friend Van Duyckink a bottle? No? Well, it’ll flow all right at the caffy to-night, just the same. It’ll be rubber boots for anybody who comes in there any time up to 2 A. M.”

"Baiklah," kata Billy, "kalau itu melanggar aturan. Aku ingin tahu apakah boleh mengirim sebotol untuk temanku Van Duyckink? Tidak boleh? Baiklah, nanti malam di kafe itu akan mengalir juga, sama saja. Semua orang yang datang ke sana sampai jam dua pagi akan diperlakukan istimewa."

Billy McMahan was happy.

Billy McMahan sedang bahagia.

He had shaken the hand of Cortlandt Van Duyckink.

Ia telah menjabat tangan Cortlandt Van Duyckink.

The big pale-gray auto with its shining metal work looked out of place moving slowly among the push carts and trash-heaps on the lower east side. So did Cortlandt Van Duyckink, with his aristocratic face and white, thin hands, as he steered carefully between the groups of ragged, scurrying youngsters in the streets. And so did Miss Constance Schuyler, with her dim, ascetic beauty, seated at his side.

Mobil besar berwarna abu-abu pucat dengan bagian logam yang berkilau tampak tak pada tempatnya bergerak perlahan di antara gerobak dorong dan tumpukan sampah di sisi timur bawah kota. Begitu pula Cortlandt Van Duyckink, dengan wajah aristokratnya dan tangan yang putih serta kurus, saat ia mengemudi dengan hati-hati di antara kelompok anak-anak compang-camping yang berlarian di jalanan. Dan begitu pula Nona Constance Schuyler, dengan kecantikannya yang samar dan asketis, duduk di sisinya.

“Oh, Cortlandt,” she breathed, “isn’t it sad that human beings have to live in such wretchedness and poverty? And you—how noble it is of you to think of them, to give your time and money to improve their condition!”

"Oh, Cortlandt," bisiknya, "bukankah menyedihkan bahwa manusia harus hidup dalam kesengsaraan dan kemiskinan seperti ini? Dan kau—betapa mulianya kau memikirkan mereka, memberikan waktu dan uangmu untuk memperbaiki keadaan mereka!"

Van Duyckink turned his solemn eyes upon her.

Van Duyckink mengalihkan matanya yang khidmat kepadanya.

“It is little,” he said, sadly, “that I can do. The question is a large one, and belongs to society. But even individual effort is not thrown away. Look, Constance! On this street I have arranged to build soup kitchens, where no one who is hungry will be turned away. And down this other street are the old buildings that I shall cause to be torn down and there erect others in place of those death-traps of fire and disease.”

"Hanya sedikit," katanya, dengan sedih, "yang bisa kulakukan. Persoalannya besar, dan itu urusan masyarakat. Tetapi usaha perorangan pun tidak sia-sia. Lihatlah, Constance! Di jalan ini aku sudah mengatur untuk membangun dapur umum, tempat siapa pun yang lapar tak akan ditolak. Dan di jalan sebelah sana adalah bangunan tua yang akan kurobohkan dan di tempatnya kubangun yang baru, menggantikan jebakan maut kebakaran dan penyakit itu."

Down Delancey slowly crept the pale-gray auto. Away from it toddled coveys of wondering, tangle-haired, barefooted, unwashed children. It stopped before a crazy brick structure, foul and awry.

Perlahan mobil abu-abu pucat itu merayap menyusuri Delancey. Menjauh darinya, terhuyung-huyung rombongan anak-anak yang keheranan, berambut kusut, tak beralas kaki, dan kotor. Mobil itu berhenti di depan sebuah bangunan bata yang reyot, kotor, dan miring.

Van Duyckink alighted to examine at a better perspective one of the leaning walls. Down the steps of the building came a young man who seemed to epitomize its degradation, squalor and infelicity—a narrow-chested, pale, unsavory young man, puffing at a cigarette.

Van Duyckink turun untuk memeriksa dari sudut yang lebih baik salah satu dinding yang miring itu. Menuruni tangga bangunan itu keluarlah seorang pemuda yang seolah merangkum segala kemerosotan, kekumuhan, dan kesengsaraannya—seorang pemuda berdada sempit, pucat, dan tak sedap dipandang, sedang mengisap rokok.

Obeying a sudden impulse, Van Duyckink stepped out and warmly grasped the hand of what seemed to him a living rebuke.

Menuruti dorongan hati yang tiba-tiba, Van Duyckink melangkah keluar dan dengan hangat menggenggam tangan sesuatu yang baginya tampak seperti teguran yang hidup.

“I want to know you people,” he said, sincerely. “I am going to help you as much as I can. We shall be friends.”

"Aku ingin mengenal kalian," katanya, dengan tulus. "Aku akan membantu kalian semampuku. Kita akan berteman."

As the auto crept carefully away Cortlandt Van Duyckink felt an unaccustomed glow about his heart. He was near to being a happy man.

Saat mobil itu merayap pergi dengan hati-hati, Cortlandt Van Duyckink merasakan kehangatan yang tak biasa di hatinya. Ia hampir menjadi orang yang bahagia.

He had shaken the hand of Ikey Snigglefritz.

Ia telah menjabat tangan Ikey Snigglefritz.