She didn't know what a boa-constrictor was, until he developed in the tale--then she was better satisfied with it than ever.
_From Susy's Biography._ Papa's favorite game is billiards, and when he is tired and wishes to rest himself he stays up all night and plays billiards, it seems to rest his head.

He smokes a great deal almost incessantly.

He has the mind of an author exactly, some of the simplest things he cant understand.

Our burglar-alarm is often out of order, and papa had been obliged to take the mahogany-room off from the alarm altogether for a time, because the burglar-alarm had been in the habit of ringing even when the mahogany-room was closed.

At length he thought that perhaps the burglar-alarm might be in order, and he decided to try and see; accordingly he put it on and then went down and opened the window; consequently the alarm bell rang, it would even if the alarm had been in order.