“’"O Lord, we thank Thee that we have been able to finish this dinner without getting slapped.”

“’But I would ask Your Highness to believe that our men are mostly easier to get along with.  They do not often complain of the food.  They are more likely to praise it.’

“On our way back to Paris the Doctor said to me: 

“’The great error of Europe is entailment—­entailed estates, entailed pride, entailed luxury, entailed conceit.  A boy who inherits honor will rarely honor himself.  I like the method of China, where honor ascends, but does not descend.  It goes back to his parents who taught him his virtues.  It can do no harm to his parents, but it can easily ruin him and his children.  I regard humility as one of the greatest virtues.’”

2

“That evening our near neighbors, Le Compte de Chaumont and M. LeVilleard, came to announce that a dinner and ball in honor of Franklin would occur at the palace of Compte de Chaumont less than a week later.

“‘My good friends,’ said the philosopher, ’I value these honors which are so graciously offered me, but I am old and have much work to do.  I need rest more than I need the honors.’

“’It is one of the penalties of being a great savant that people wish to see and know him,’ said the Count.  ’The most distinguished people in France will be among those who do you honor.  I think, if you can recall a talk we had some weeks ago, you will wish to be present.’

“‘Oh, then, you have heard from the Hornet.’

“‘I have a letter here which you may read at your convenience.’

“’My dear friend, be pleased to receive my apologies and my hearty thanks,’ said Franklin.  ‘Not even the gout could keep me away.’

“Next day I received a formal invitation to the dinner and ball.  I told the Doctor that in view of the work to be done, I would decline the invitation.  He begged me not to do it and insisted that he was counting upon me to represent the valor and chivalry of the New World; that as I had grown into the exact stature of Washington and was so familiar with his manners and able to imitate them in conversation, he wished me to assume the costume of our Commander-in-Chief.  He did me the honor to say: 

“’There is no other man whom it would be safe to trust in such an exalted role.  I wish, as a favor to me, you would see what can be done at the costumer’s and let me have a look at you.’

“I did as he wished.  The result was an astonishing likeness.  I dressed as I had seen the great man in the field.  I wore a wig slightly tinged with gray, a blue coat, buff waistcoat and sash and sword and the top boots and spurs.  When I strode across the room in the masterly fashion of our great Commander, the Doctor clapped his hands.

“‘You are as like him as one pea is like another!’ he exclaimed.  ’Nothing would so please our good friends, the French, who have an immense curiosity regarding Le Grand Vasanton, and it will give me an opportunity to instruct them as to our spirit.’