ed by the Van
Devanter family. During these years, they apparently had a most
interesting guest, Mrs. Henry Lee, the widow of "Light Horse Harry," and
the mother of Robert E. Lee. In Dr. Douglas Freeman's book _R. E. Lee_,
he quotes two letters from Mrs. Lee written not long before her death
from "Georgetown." She did not specify where she was, but Mrs. Beverley
Kennon, many years afterwards, said that this was the house in which she
resided.

Also, the Van Devanter family, a few years ago, found among old books
two books with inscriptions of names of the Lee family, evidently left
there during this time.

Here, at a ball one night, a young man who was making his entrance into
Washington society under the care of a senator had the following
experience. (The account is taken from _Harper's Magazine_):

This was my first entrance into fashionable life at one of Madame
Bodisco's birthnight balls. I was under the care of Senator ----. As
we entered the house, two tall specimens of humanity, dressed very
much like militia generals, in scarlet coats trimmed with gold lace
and white trousers, met us at the door. Thinking them distinguished
people, I bowed low and solemnly. They stared and bowed. "Go on,"
said the Senator, "don't be so polite to those fellows, they are
servants; give them your cloak." I hurried in pulling off my cloak
as I went. Just within the first door of the drawing room stood a
fat, oily little gentleman, bowing also, but not so magnificently
gotten up as my first acquaintances. Certain of my game now, I, in
superb style, threw over him my cloak and hurried on. Senator ----
pulled me back, and to the astonished little fellow now struggling
from under my broadcloth, I was presented. I had nearly smothered
the Russian Minister who, however, laughed merrily at the mistake.
He hardly knew what I would accomplish next, and left me as soon as
he possibly could, to my fate. I wandered about rather disconsolate.
The lights, music, dancing, fun and laughter, were all novelties and
charming for a while, but I knew no one after an hour's looking on,
hunted up the Senator and begged him to introduce me to some of the
young ladies. He hesitated a moment, and then consented, and I was
led up to and presented to a magnificent creature I had long looked
upon with silent admiration. Miss Gennie Williams, who was seated in
an