In the swirl of the celebration, Jefferson was soon told that “the ladies” hoped to follow him to the President’s House.32 Twinkling, he said: “That is right, since I am too old to follow them.33 I remember in France, when his friends were taking leave of Dr. Franklin, the ladies smothered him with embraces, and on his introducing me as his successor, I told him I wished he would transfer these privileges to me, but he answered, ‘You are too young a man.’ ”
