The family always went back to King John and, in some instances, to William the Conqueror.

"'My dear Madam,' I would reply, 'does it not satisfy any one to come into existence with the birth of one's country?
In my opinion, four generations of gentlemen make as good and true a gentleman as forty.

I know my English brethren will not agree with me in this, but, in spite of them, it is my belief.' With disdain, my visitor would reply: 'You are easily satisfied, sir.' And so on, from day to day, these interviews would go on; all were Huguenots, Pilgrims, or Puritans.

I would sometimes call one a Pilgrim instead of a Puritan, and by this would uncork the vials of wrath." To the credit of the post-Knickerbocker Petronius it must be said that he was ever content with his lot.

If there were poses to laugh at, there were qualities to respect.