Social Life 127 
esty, but knowing that he will receive no more, is careful to ask 
but the usual price of wages. Because a man is poor he need not 
necessarily be mean, nor is it true charity to encourage him in his 
meanness by indolently or goodnaturedly permitting him to com­ 
promise his manhood. But if a man is poor and despite his poverty, 
is above the temptation of littleness, he is nobler than a monarch. 
Poverty need not make a man abject, but it quickly shows his true 
nature. Let it then be distinctly understood that firmness, justice, 
a refusal to exorbitant demands and a discriminating perception of 
imposture, is by no means inconsistent with the highest form of 
charity, which, making all due allowance for human frailty and 
being essentially singleminded and of pure intention is essentially 
the enemy of deception and meanness. Look not then, foolish 
man, upon the benevolent lady as an imbecile whose soft heart 
receives every impression, but regard her rather as one who in the 
exercise of her vocation calls forth all the powers of her mind 
as well as heart and who possesses "the keenness of a knave, the 
kindness of a fool, and the judgment of a philosopher." 
Mrs. Drexel trained her three daughters from early 
girlhood in the art and all the intricacies of conducting 
the large household and all that pertained thereto. Under 
her immediate supervision each was initiated in all the 
duties of, and demands on, the mistress of an elegant 
home. Gradually, at St. Michel there resulted a tripartite 
division of the duties. Elizabeth had the responsibility of 
the kitchen and stable. From her own pen she has drolly 
sketched herself in the discharge of this on one occasion. 
The infatuated Lord Verysoft doubtless on the trace of Aunt 
Moll, walked over from Robinsons (and made a great virtue of 
it too) just after lunch when I was paying my daily visit to the 
stables. If his memory proves as accurate on this occasion as on 
former ones to any little arrangement or disarrangement of toilet, 
the impression made by my appearance must remain remarkable. 
My whole person shrank into insignificance under two dominant 
features:—head and feet, the former thrust into a Brobdignagian 
harvest hat, the latter thrust into rough boots, which tucked up 
petticoats displayed to full advantage. Surprise however did not