Standing against the great window, nearly opposite to me, I saw the President of these United States, with a lot of men around him in black clothes, and farther on stood another lot with their coats all covered over with gold and stars of precious stones a-hanging one after another on their bosoms, and some wore swords, and some didn't; but I tell you there was such a blaze of colors and flash of gold that it seemed to light up the great long room like sunshine, which was convenient, for there wasn't enough in the sky that day to light a family to bed. While I was wondering what all this magnificence and glory meant, Cousin Dempster happened to see me, and came up to the door. "What on earth does all that signify in a free country," says I. "It looks like a circus. Do they mean to ride in there? I don't see no horses; and it seems to me their hoofs will spoil the carpet when they come in. Are the Japanese people fond of horses?" "I don't know about that; the President is," whispers Cousin Dempster. "But never you mind that; he keeps 'em in his stables, and they're not likely to come here." "Then these fellows in the gold coats will only do rough-and-tumble, I suppose," says I. "Hush!" says Cousin D., looking round to be sure that no one heard me. "The rough-and-tumble has been pretty much done up in the Senate this winter." "Oh!" says I. "There will be a good deal of it in Philadelphia and Cincinnati, and all over the country, I'm afraid, for I don't think General Grant cares much about that sort of gymnastics." "Jim what?" says I. "Turning over and over from one side to the other!" says he. "I think he's right," says I. "A circus can't be much without horses and hoops, and that fellow with the painted face; but why don't the show begin, such as it is? What do they stand there for, looking lonesome as a cider-press in winter?" "My dear cousin," says he, looking at me sort of pitiful, "do remember it is the ambassadors of all Europe, to say nothing of South America, that you are speaking of." "Ambassadors," says I; "so you call them by that name here, do you?" "They represent governments, kings, and queens." "I've seen that done in the theatre beautifully. You remember when we went to see 'Julius Cæsar,' who wanted to be King of Rome; but I didn't know as they ever did such high-mightiness off on horseback, or through a hoop," says I. "But, Phœmie, these men are genuine. For instance, that gentleman with so much red and gold about him represents Queen Victoria." "What, in such clothes--hat, coat, and all the rest? I don't believe it," says I. "You won't impose upon me to that extent." "Not her person," says he, a-getting out of patience, "but her Government." XXXIX. THE JAPANESE.