CHANGED CONDITIONS 177 
TO MRS. CHARLES P. CURTIS 
Nahant, July 23, 1876 
... Mortuer 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- 
