CHANGED CONDITIONS 177 



TO MRS. CHARLES P. CURTIS 



Nahant, July 23, 1876 



. . . MOTHER and Sallie upbraided me with not 

 writing you about our Imperial experiences, but 

 the truth is that the visit was such a trying one to 

 me so full of what might have been and was 

 not, that I found it difficult to write or talk about 

 it, to do anything but live through it in the best 

 way I could. In the old time I should have found 

 much to amuse you with, for there was a very funny 

 side to it. Do all you can to set aside etiquette and 

 ignore everything but the purely human relation, 

 there are little hitches when you have Emperors 

 and Empresses to entertain that complicate the 

 matter and bring about the most ludicrous situa- 

 tions. However, the Emperor made it as easy for us 

 as he could. I wrote them a word of welcome on 

 their arrival in this country and said that though 

 the time was past when we might perhaps have 

 done something for their pleasure, yet my chil- 

 dren and I would be glad to render any service 

 we could, and that Alex especially might facilitate 

 the Emperor's plans in Boston and Cambridge. 

 The Emperor answered most warmly said he ac- 

 cepted without any fear of being a burden, "for," 

 he added, "I know you feel as affectionately for me 

 as I do for all of you." Arriving in Boston he wrote 

 me at once and asked Alex to come in, for he would 

 make no plans till he had seen him. He gave him a 

 warm welcome, hugged and kissed him French fash- 



