morning, noon
Everything is `` colossalised '' -- events , fortunes , accidents , climate , conversation , ambitions -- everything is in the extreme -- all en-gros , not en-detail . They ca n't even have a tram run off a line , which in England or France might kill one or two people , without its making a holocaust of half a street full . Even in their hospitality they are twice the size of other nations , simply too kind and generous for words . They have loaded us with invitations ; we have been out morning , noon and night . The thing which surprises me is they should still employ animals of normal size ; one would expect to see elephants and mammoths drawing the hansoms and carts ! Now we are staying in a country palace with the family we met on the boat , whom the Americans we know in England would not speak to ; in fact , I am sure they are rather hurt at our coming here ; but Octavia says she prefers to see something we do not see in England . The Van Verdens , and Courtfields and Latours are almost like us , only they are richer and have better French furniture .