UNITED STATES AND CANADA 53 



rooms have assumed quite a homelike air in con- 

 sequence. 



I have often heard irresponsible people in society 

 say that Mr. Joseph Chamberlain met his present 

 wife long before his first visit to America. This, 

 however, is not a fact. He was first introduced to 

 Miss Endicott by Miss West at this reception at the 

 Legation, and, with that quickness of perception 

 which is one of his strongest characteristics, he was 

 at once most favourably impressed with her. I well 

 remember his telling me so one evening when we 

 were walking home together from some party. 

 There is no necessity for me to embark on a eulogy 

 of Mrs. Chamberlain, whom I regard as the '' very 

 salt of the earth," firstly because my pen would be 

 wholly inadequate to do her justice, and secondly 

 because her many charms and estimable qualities 

 are already so well known and appreciated by those 

 who are fortunate enough to enjoy her acquaintance. 

 But it may be permissible to quote what was said of 

 her and her mother in a brochure entitled Society 

 in Washington y published just prior to our arrival : 



'* Miss Ellen Peabody, daughter of George Pea- 

 body of Salem, the same stock as the great philan- 

 thropist of Danvers, became Mrs. Endicott in 1859. 



