he great error of Europe is entailment--entailed estates, entailed
pride, entailed luxury, entailed conceit. A boy who inherits honor
will rarely honor himself. I like the method of China, where honor
ascends, but does not descend. It goes back to his parents who taught
him his virtues. It can do no harm to his parents, but it can easily
ruin him and his children. I regard humility as one of the greatest
virtues.'"

2

"That evening our near neighbors, Le Compte de Chaumont and M.
LeVilleard, came to announce that a dinner and ball in honor of
Franklin would occur at the palace of Compte de Chaumont less than a
week later.

"'My good friends,' said the philosopher, 'I value these honors which
are so graciously offered me, but I am old and have much work to do. I
need rest more than I need the honors.'

"'It is one of the penalties of being a great savant that people wish
to see and know him,' said the Count. 'The most distinguished people
in France will be among those who do you honor. I think, if you can
recall a talk we had some weeks ago, you will wish to be present.'

"'Oh, then, you have heard from the Hornet.'

"'I have a letter here which you may read at your convenience.'

"'My dear friend, be pleased to receive my apologies and my hearty
thanks,' said Franklin. 'Not even the gout could keep me away.'

"Next day I received a formal invitation to the dinner and ball. I
told the Doctor that in view of the work to be done, I would decline
the invitation. He begged me not to do it and insisted that he was
counting upon me to represent the valor and chivalry of the New World;
that as I had grown into the exact stature of Washington and was so
familiar with his manners and able to imitate them in conversation, he
wished me to assume the costume of our Commander-in-Chief. He did me
the honor to say:

"'There is no other man whom it would be safe to trust in such an
exalted role. I wish, as a favor to me, you would see what can be done
at the costumer's and let me have a look at you.'

"I did as he wished. The result was an astonishing likeness. I
dressed as I had seen the great man in the field. I wore a wig
slightly tinged with gray, a blue coat, buff waistcoat and sash and
sword and the top boots and spurs. When I strode across the room in
the masterly fashion of our great Commander, the Doctor clapped his
hands.

"'You are as like him as one pea is like another!' he exclaimed.
'No