"Yours is a very great country," the visitor politely returned, "and
this city is indeed magnificent. It promises one day to rival Pekin,
at least in extent and population. The pleasure of seeing your great
men--the great men of so great a city, I mean--must be very unusual,
and I should be infinitely your debtor if you would accompany me to
your temple of civic greatness--your City Hall, as I understand you
call it. Your popular institutions, as we are told in China, are
intended to secure worthy governors of the people by the votes of the
people themselves. It is exceedingly interesting, and I am very
anxious to study the working of your institutions in your chief city."

The Easy Chair bowed and cleared its throat again, and answered that
the study of the city was certainly very interesting, but without
proffering to escort the travelling philosopher to the City Hall, it
contented itself with remarking that ours is a very great country, and
that its institutions are unequalled in the world.

"I have met no American who is not of that opinion," courteously
returned the Chinese gentleman, "and I was pleased to see upon a visit
to your Washington and Fulton markets a noble illustration of the
generous and becoming manner in which such important parts of your
municipal institutions are managed."

The Easy Chair answered that it was not that kind of institution which
it had intended by its remark.

"Possibly you allude to another great institution which I have
visited," returned the traveller, with exquisite courtesy. "You justly
pride yourself upon your advances in sanitary science, and I am a