the Japanese people fond of horses?"

"I don't know about that; the President is," whispers Cousin Dempster.
"But never you mind that; he keeps 'em in his stables, and they're not
likely to come here."

"Then these fellows in the gold coats will only do rough-and-tumble, I
suppose," says I.

"Hush!" says Cousin D., looking round to be sure that no one heard me.
"The rough-and-tumble has been pretty much done up in the Senate this
winter."

"Oh!" says I.

"There will be a good deal of it in Philadelphia and Cincinnati, and all
over the country, I'm afraid, for I don't think General Grant cares much
about that sort of gymnastics."

"Jim what?" says I.

"Turning over and over from one side to the other!" says he.

"I think he's right," says I. "A circus can't be much without horses and
hoops, and that fellow with the painted face; but why don't the show
begin, such as it is? What do they stand there for, looking lonesome as
a cider-press in winter?"

"My dear cousin," says he, looking at me sort of pitiful, "do remember
it is the ambassadors of all Europe, to say nothing of South America,
that you are speaking of."

"Ambassadors," says I; "so you call them by that name here, do you?"

"They represent governments, kings, and queens."

"I've seen that done in the theatre beautifully. You remember when we
went to see 'Julius Caesar,' who wanted to be King of Rome; but I didn't
know as they ever did such high-mightiness off on horseback, or through
a hoop," says I.

"But, Phoemie, these men are genuine. For instance, that gentleman
with so much red and gold about him represents Queen Victoria."

"What, in such clothes--hat, coat, and all the rest? I don't believe
it," says I. "You won't impose upon me to that extent."

"Not her person," says he, a-getting out of patience, "but her
Government."

XXXIX.

THE JAPANESE.

Well, sisters, that minute there was a commotion in the room. Those who
had been leaning against the wall stood up, and the strange-looking men
Cousin D. called ambassadors straightened up and fluttered a little, as
peacocks spread their feathers when the sun breaks out.

Before I could speak, in came the highest cockalorum among the Japanese,
which wasn't very high after all.

"Good gracious!" says I to Cousin D. "The man out there told me the
ladies must all go into the blue room. Here I've been hiding behind the
door, so as not to be seen, and the first Japanese stranger that