8o WINTER SKETCHES. 



that in future anybody may walk over his 

 grounds without being molested, for he prom- 

 ised me that, and so I am more than even with 

 him." 



The writings of Irving and his dwelling at 

 Sunnyside have built up many Bracebridge 

 Halls in his neighborhood. Into one of them 

 I was thus pleasantly introduced. Riding up 

 the hill leading to Riverdale I was overtaken 

 by another horseman. Acquaintance on the 

 road is often made by complimentary remarks 

 upon the animals we ride. Thus, *' That is a 

 nice pony of yours," to which the reply is 

 returned, *' Yes, and I was just noticing the 

 pretty head of yours." The ice of convention- 

 ality is at once broken and the stream of 

 conversation flows on. Men can commit them- 

 selves to it without compromising their char- 

 acters. It is different with women. They 

 institute and undergo a great deal of prelim- 

 inary examination. Women have less confi- 

 dence in each other than men. They go to 

 church more frequently and call themselves 

 miserable sinners with more sincerity. But 

 they are not such miserable sinners as we are. 

 They are vastly better, and yet they are more 

 afraid of contamination from each other. Be- 



