It will be conceived that Muskegon capitol
was a frequent and a welcome ground of talk. I drew
him all the plans from memory; and he, with the aid of
a narrow volume full of figures and tables, which
answered (I believe) to the name of Molesworth, and was
his constant pocket-companion, would draw up rough
estimates and make imaginary offers on the various
contracts. Our Muskegon builders he pronounced a pack
of cormorants; and the congenial subject, together with
my knowledge of architectural terms, the theory of
strains, and the prices of materials in the States,
formed a strong bond of union between what might have
been otherwise an ill-assorted pair, and led my
grandfather to pronounce me, with emphasis, "a real
intalligent kind of a chield." Thus a second time, as
you will presently see, the capitol of my native State
had influentially affected the current of my life.
I left Edinburgh, however, with not the least idea that
I had done a stroke of excellent business for myself,
and singly delighted to escape out of a somewhat dreary
house and plunge instead into the rainbow city of
Paris.
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