Whenwolf-huntinginTexas，andwhenbear-huntinginLouisianaandMississippi，Iwasnotonlyenthralledbythesport，butalsobythestrangenewbirdsandothercreatures，andthetreesandflowersIhadnotknownbefore。Bytheway，therewasonefeastattheWhiteHousewhichstandsaboveallothersinmymemory——evenabovethetimewhenI
luredJoelChandlerHarristhitherforanight，adeedinwhichtotriumph，asallwhoknewthatinveteratelyshyreclusewilltestify。
Thiswas“thebear-hunters’dinner。”Ihadbeentreatedsokindlybymyfriendsonthesehunts，andtheyweresuchfinefellows，menwhomI
wassoproudtothinkofasAmericans，thatIsetmyheartonhavingthematahunters’dinnerattheWhiteHouse。OneDecemberI
succeeded；thereweretwentyorthirtyofthem，alltold，asgoodhunters，asdaringriders，asfirst-classcitizensascouldbefoundanywhere；nofinersetofguestseversatatmeatintheWhiteHouse；