and their faults are
held up for general examination. Still, it is wonderful how popular some
of them get to be, and how soon they learn the duties of their places.

Sometimes a first-rate woman happens to marry a first-rate man, and
takes her place by his side naturally. A good many such women have
earned a place for themselves in society quite equal to any their
husbands have been chosen to hold by the people.

Mrs. Madison, Mrs. Polk and Miss Lane were among these, and, as a
perfect lady, well known for years and years in Washington, Mrs.
Crittendon, the widow of Senator Crittendon--formerly Mrs. Ashley--is
always mentioned side by side with her husband, and stood quite as high
among women as he did among men. In my opinion, there is a senator's
wife from Minnesota that can hold her own with the handsomest and
highest of those that have gone before; but as she is extra modest too,
I give no names.

Then there is another, I will say it, who has done honor to her position
and credit to her husband, and that is Mrs. Ulysses Grant. She is just a
good, honest, motherly woman, pleasant to look at and pleasant to speak
to. She acts out what she pretends to, and pretends to be just what she
is. If this woman hasn't pulled an even yoke with her husband, both in
the war and after the war, no female of my acquaintance ever did. It's
of no use talking, I like that woman.

But I am a-going at a rate that wants pulling up, so I tighten the
bridle and take a new turn.

What I began to write about was, a reception at Mr. Horatio King's,
which always takes off the first skimming of cream from Washington
society.

Mr. King is a New England man, and was born and brought up in Maine,
which lifts him almost to a level with us of Vermont.

In fact, in the way of statesmen and authors, I am bound to say that
Maine pulls an even yoke with the Green Mountain State. So far as
authors are concerned, I'm afraid she goes a little ahead of us.

The city of Portland was just a nest of authors before they took wing
and settled down in other places.

John Neal, one of the most splendid men and brilliant writers that ever
put an American pen to paper, was born there, and has spent most of his
life in his native place.

N. P. Willis was born in Portland; so was Sebe Smith, who called himself
Jack Downing in his letters.

Longfellow's family was rooted in that town long before he honored it by
being born.

James Brooks, who was for yea