, with an
all-comprehensive wave of his hand, "Gentlemen, please take your
wives," J. and I paired off. The Senator did not notice this little
detail, for when dinner was announced he said to J., "Will you please
take that young lady in to dinner?" pointing to me. Johan explained in
which relation he stood to the young lady. The Senator was not in the
least surprised, and merely answered: "Is that so? Well, then, take
some one else."

A semi-millionaire took me in. He told me all his early life of poverty
and threw in various reminiscences. I never knew the like of
millionaires for telling you of their former miseries. They always do!
When the ancient dame saw Mr. Kasson and me talking after dinner, she
said to us with a kittenish smile, "Husbands and wives mustn't talk
together." Hopeless! We did not even try to explain. The evening was
forlorn. There were many dreary drawing-rooms, horribly furnished, but
brilliantly lighted. A brawling musical box was supposed to enliven us.
We talked in that desultory way that one does with people whom you meet
for the first time and never want to meet again. Some of the
millionaires hovered among us, but failed to impress us either with
their past or present fortunes. Oh, joy! Bedtime came at last.

_May 17th._

I have just had time to scribble these few words before the post comes
for my letter.

We have been driving about, admiring landscapes, one another, every one
else, millionaires! Everything that money can do to spoil Nature has
been done here, but Nature will have her own way in the end; and in
spite of the millionaires' millions and the incongruity of everything,
we cannot but admire this beautiful and wonderful country.

Before our departure the Senator actually knew us one from the other.
He said to me, struggling with my names, "Well, Mrs. _Lindermann
Hegercrone_, I am very sorry you are going."

* * * * *

We started on visit No. 2--this time to Mr. Lathrop's beautiful place
in Menlo Park. The grounds are perfectly laid out. Flowers of all kinds
arranged in parterres, clusters of trees such as I had never seen
before, roses as big as sunflowers, and the beautiful sparkling lake in
front of the window and the blue mountains in the distance, made the
place a perfect paradise. The stables were extra fine, the floor and
ceiling being inlaid in two kinds of wood found only in California. The
room where the bridles were kept had such