450 FRUIT. 



deed, my ancestors still live in France, though I am myself a real 

 American. What I have to tell is only a little of my own experience ; 

 which is, that one may, if one has good looks, and is a person of 

 taste, have her name changed without suffering the least loss of 

 character or reputation. Indeed, I am convinced it may often add 

 to her circle of admirers, by making her better understood and ap- 

 preciated. I am almost ashamed, ladies and gentlemen, to refer to 

 my own life, illustrative of this remark. (Cheers). [Here she 

 blushed, and looked around her very sweetly.] At home, there in 

 la belle France, I belong to the old and very respectable family of 

 the API'S. There was not much in that ; but mostly shut up in an 

 old dingy chateau, no society no evening parties no excite- 

 ment. I assure you it was very dull. In this country, where I am 

 known every where as the " Lady Apple," I am invited every where 

 among the most fashionable people. Yes, Mr. Speaker, this coun- 

 try has charmingly been called the paradise of ladies ; and I would 

 advise all deserving and modest girls in jeune France, to come over 

 to younger America, and change their names as quickly as they can. 

 (Hear, hear, especially from the Jonathan Apple.) If they will 

 take my advice, they will put off all foolish pride and fine names 

 that mean nothing, and try to speak plain English, and dress 

 in the latest republican style ; (especially, she added, aside, turn- 

 ing to the foreign Pears, especially as .the fashions always come 

 from Paris.) 



This lively little sally evidently made a favorable impression. 

 The Bartlett Pear said he was nobody in France as the Poire Guil- 

 lame, while here, where the climate agreed so much better with his 

 constitution, he was a favorite with high and low. The Duchesse 

 d 1 Orleans thought it best for ladies like herself, who did not expect 

 to associate with any but the educated class, to retain their foreign 

 names. The Jargonell Pear said he had heard a great deal of talk, 

 which to him was a mere babel of tongues. His name was the 

 same on both sides of the water. The Flemish Beauty said, on the 

 other hand, that she was a great deal more loved in this country 

 now, than when she first came here as the Belle de Flandres. The 

 Bellefleur Apple observed, she had tried to maintain her foreign 

 etymology in this country without success, and meant to be hence- 



