say about
the so-called higher dignitaries, as well as the so-called inferior
people, they are the same ladies who have established benevolent
reunions, and behave in a strictly proper manner. So let us be pleasant
and well-disposed guests, without any tendency to find fault, at this
coffee-drinking of the fair sex.

Here comes Frau White. She is called Frau Coal behind her back, for she
is the wife of a wood and coal-dealer. She has black locks and a dark
complexion, which looks as if she had never washed herself thoroughly;
and since the good woman is aware of her being nicknamed Mrs. Coal, she
always dresses herself in dead-white colors, which are not very
becoming to her dark hair and complexion by bright daylight, but by
lamp-light she is very charming to look at. Unfortunately she has the
defect of squinting, and with so sweet an expression, as if her eyes
had been permanently arrested in the midst of a killingly affectionate
glance.

Here is the wife of the cement-manufacturer, a tall and stately woman,
never laughing, always inexpressibly serious, as if she carried about
with her some great secret; she has no secret to impart, except that
she has nothing to say.

Here sits the handsome wife of the school-director, a little too portly
perhaps, nicknamed the Lay-figure because she is always dressed so
finely; she has a perpetual smile upon her face, and one might almost
imagine that she would still smile and show her beautiful teeth, even
if she were to be the bearer or hearer of the tidings of death.

Here is the wife of the steamboat agent, a very fine looking woman, the
mother of eleven children. The whole company are quite provoked with
the little, plump, good woman, who never lets her cup stand on the
table, but holds it up in her left hand, and repeatedly dips into it
her biscuit, nodding assent to every one's remark, and seldom giving
her own opinion, or, when she does, speaking with her mouth so full,
that nobody understands her.

Here are the two Englishwomen who reside in the town; they were plain
citizens, much beloved, without any title of lady, but were truly
lady-like in appearance, for the reason that they needed no rank to set
them off. They passed their time at home, did not depend upon visiting,
and were like their own island, which produces all that man requires.
Whenever the two ladies went into society they were always fresh, and
were very cordially welcomed; and the amiable, awkward wa