ime being opened by a white servant in black clothes. Mr. Fish at
parting casually observed that the weather was fine.

I was officially presented on their reception days to the wives of all
the Ministers, and made my visits to the members of the _Corps
Diplomatique_. We were invited to dinner at the White House--a dinner
given to the _Corps Diplomatique_. I was taken in by M. de Schloezer,
the German Minister, and sat between him and Sir Edward Thornton (the
English Minister), who sat on the right of Mrs. Grant. We were opposite
to the President. I noticed that he turned his wine-glasses upside
down, to indicate, I suppose, that he did not drink wine during dinner.
Afterward we amused ourselves by walking in the long Blue Room. The
President disappeared with some of the gentlemen to smoke and was lost
to view. The company also faded gradually away. Mrs. Grant did not seem
inclined to gaze on us any longer, and appeared to be relieved when we
shook her outstretched hand and said "Good night."

A dinner to which we went, given by the Schiskines (the Russian
Minister) in honor of the Grand-Duke Constantine of Russia, was most
delightful. The Grand Duke is very charming, natural, with a sly
twinkle in his mild blue eye. He has a very handsome face, is extremely
musical, and plays the piano with great _finesse_, having a most
sympathetic touch.

[Illustration:
MRS. U.S. GRANT
From a photograph taken about 1876, when she was mistress of the White
House.]

[Illustration:
SARAH BERNHARDT
From a photograph taken at the time of her visit to Boston.]

After dinner we darned stockings. This sounds queer, but nevertheless
it is true. The Schiskines had just bought a darning-machine. They paid
eighty-six dollars for it; but to darn, one must have holes, and no
holes could be found in a single decent stocking, so they had to cut
holes, and then we darned. The Grand Duke was so enchanted with this
darning that he is going to take a machine home to the Grand Duchess,
his august mother.

The darning done, we had some music. M. de Schloezer improvised on the
piano, and after the Grand Duke had played some Chopin I sang. M. de
Schloezer went through his little antics as advance-courier of my
singing: he screwed the piano-stool to the proper height (he thinks it
must be just so high when I accompany myself); he removed all albums
from sight for fear people might be tempted to glance in them; he
almost snatched fans from the hands