oir faire_ that one finds
here; the striving to do a thing correctly and missing it just
sufficiently to ruin the effect."

"That is a criticism which might be applied to American society in
general. It is only a poor imitation of the English model. For my part,
I almost wish we could go back to pumpkin-pie and Johnny-cake. I wish
we could go 'buggy riding with our beaux' and 'spark in the back
parlor.' It was all more original, and, what is more to the point, more
American."

"You fairly make me shudder, Florence. Where did you get such
Jeffersonian ideas?"

"In my New Hampshire home, perhaps; but despite my patriotism, I
recognize that the buggy and the back parlor have gone never to return.
I don't regret it, either, for I am just as fond of refinement as you
are; but what I do object to is the introduction of extraneous ideas
which are contrary to the spirit of Americanism. I love Chicago because
it is fairly American, and represents more truly than the older cities
the Yankee spirit which made us a free people. You may have vulgar
parvenus here, but where are they not to be found? This may be the only
large city where New England Puritanism affects society, but it is, at
least, American, and better than European immorality. There may be only
a few people here who are initiated into the esoterics of manners and
manias, but how many good husbands, loving wives, and happy children
are there among your rich! you may dine at seven o'clock and go to
dances at ten; some of you may talk with a twang and pronounce _u_ like
double _o_; but how many snobs and sycophants, how many unemployed and
dissipated men, how many intriguers and gamblers have you in Chicago
society? For my part I love refinement and _les petits soins_ as much as
you do, Marion; but if we can't have the good of European life without
the bad, if we can't cultivate manners without vices, better far go back
to sewing bees and church sociables, and keep our morals pure; better
have baked beans and blue laws than truffled capon and depravity. There,
I feel quite exhausted, but I have had my say."

"Really, Florence, you almost take my breath away. I have not heard such
a screeching of the American eagle since I can remember. It ought to
make me very much ashamed, I suppose, but somehow the flapping of the
bird of freedom's wings never did inspire me."

"I positively refuse to quarrel any more, but I do wish you could feel
different; you would be so much