Four Years in Rebel Capitals: an inside view of life in the Southern Confederacy, from birth to death. From original notes, collated in the years 1861 to 1865, by T. C. DeLeon

Front matter

irM RECENTLY ISSUED-BY THE SAME AUTHOR. My: or Only One Girl's Story. 271 PAGES. PAPER COVERS. PRICE, 60 CENTS. Sold by all Dealers; or Mailed (Prepaid), on receipt of Price, by The Gossip Printing Co., Mobile, Ala. CONDENSED PRESS COMMENT. Juny " is a lively story .—[Cincinnati Engnit er. A racily written, exciting tale of the South.— [Portland Argus. A dramatic story of southern life. It is full of incident.— [Albany {N. Y.) Express. Vividly told, with a beautiful Octoroon as the central figure.— Harrisburg Telegiam. Kntertainingromance of the "Society crust" — upper and uuder. — [Kansas City Journal. More dramatic than " Creole and Puritan ; " more genuine fun than " Roc' I or the Rye." — [ A ngnsta Neios. Showing varied phases of the great city, in .the salon, the clul.3 and the slums. — [Syra cuse.

Herald. It is full of excitement and adventure and, on that score alone, will prove interesting. — [Evening Wisconsin. The plot is good; and the author's name sufficient guarantee for literary excelli^e. —[Columbus Despatch. By a writer who has attained reputation, the romance will prove interesting reading. — [San Francisco Call. A bright, readable story, full of action ; the dialects true to life and the climax artis tically managed.— [Toledo (O.) Bee. There is much to be commended in "Juny," and the character of the heroine is cer tainly well drawn. — [Town Topics. The characters are strongly drawn ; and the story, sensational and romantic, hasdra matic force. — [American Stationer. From the author of " Creole aud Puritan " aud other stories ; and is very bright aud readable. — [Rochester Post-Express.

Above any Mr. PeLeon has yet written ; and can be placed above the best work of modern, times. — [New Orleans Picayune. A. book of merit. The author shows close acquaintance with Miss Murfree's dealing with the same 'lass. — [Minneapolis Journal. Contains i utg good situations and some striking types of life, of which the " Lead ing Man " is the most comic— [ The Bookseller. Most ambitious of this author's works; containing a plot of thrilling interest and several new American types.— [Baltimore American. Cleverly constructed and containing more than one good character. The reader who begins it will be sure to read it to the close.— [New York Sun. Has been complimented very highly. It is very readable, the characters strong ; and the plot contains many dramatic situations —[Savannah News. An exceedingly bright and cleverly written story; charmingly told; most especially felicitous in all that treats of southern characteraud life.

Preface

. Fortunate, indeed, is the reader who takes up a volume without preface ; of which the persons are left to enact their own drama and the author does not come before the curtain, like the chorus of Greek tragedy, to speak for them. But, in printing the pages that follow, it may seem needful to ask that they be taken for what they are ; simple sketches of the inner life of "Rebeldom" — behind its Chinese wall of wood and steel — during those unexampled four years of its existence. Written almost immediately after the war, from notes and recol lections gathered during its most trying scenes, these papers are now revised, condensed and formulated for the first time. In years past, some of their crude predecessors have appeared — as random articles — in the columns of the Mobile Sunday Times, Appleton's Journal, the Louisville Courier-Journal, the Philadelphia Times and other publica tions.

Even in their present condensation and revision, they claim only to be simple memoranda of the result of great events ; and of their reaction upon the mental and moral tone of the southern people, rather than a record of those events themselves. This volume aspires neither to the height of history, nor to the depths of political analysis ; for it may still be too early for either, or for both, of these. Equally has it resisted temptation to touch on many topics — not strictly belonging inside the Southern Capitals — still vexed by political agitation, or personal interest. These, if un settled by dire arbitrament of the sword, must be left to Time and his best coadjutor, "sober second-thought." Campaigns and battles have already surfeited most readers; and their details — usually so incorrectly stated by the inexpert — have little to do with a relation of things within the Confederacy, as they then appeared to the masses of her people.

Such, therefore, are simply touched upon in outline, where necessary to show their reaction upon the popular pulse, or to correct some flagrant error regarding that. To the vast majority of those without her boundaries — to very many, indeed, within them — realities of the South, during the war, In Place of Preface. were a sealed book. False impressions, on many important points, were disseminated; and these, because unnoted, have grown to proportions of accepted truth. A few of them, it may not yet be too late to correct. While the pages that follow fail not to record some weaknesses in our people, or some flagrant errors of their leaders, they yet endeavor to chronicle faithfully heroic constancy of men, and selfless devotion of women, whose peers the student of History may challenge that vaunting Muse to show.

To prejudiced provincialism, on the one side, they may appear too lukewarm ; by stupid fanaticism on the other, they may be called treasonable. But — written without prejudice, and equally without fear, or favor — they have aimed only at impartial truth, and at near est possible correctness of narration. Indubitably the war proved that there were great men, on both the sides to it ; and, to-day, the little men on either — "May profit by their example. If this be treason, make the most of it! " The sole object kept in view was to paint honestly the inner life of the South ; the general tone of her people, under strain and priva tion unparalleled ; the gradual changes of society and character in the struggling nation — in a clear, unshaded outline of things as they were. Should this volume at all succeed in giving this ; should it uproot one false impression, to plant a single true one in its place, then has it fully equaled the aspiration of THE AUTHOR. Mobile, Ala,, June 25, 1S90. PAGE. ■

Chapter I

— The Forehead of the Storm 11-20 Washington City in 1861. — Her two Social Circles — Was she a new Sodom? — Lobbyists and Diplomats — Eve of the Storm — Echo from Charleston Harbor — A Dinner and a Ball — Popular Views of the Situa tion — Buchanan's Policy and the " Peace Congress " — Separation a Cer tainty — Preparations for the Hejira — Precautions for Lincoln's Inaugu ration — Off for Dixie.

Chapter II

— The Cradle of the Confederacy 21-29 Through Richmond, the Carolinas and Georgia — Wayside Notes— The Masses Willing but Unprepared — Where were the Leaders? — The First Capital — A New Flag — Hotels and their Patrons — Jefferson Davis — The Man and the Government — Social Matters — The Curbstone Con gress — Early Views of the Struggle — A Notable "Mess."

Chapter III

— Congress and Cabinet 3°-35 Bloodless Revolution — Glances at the Congress — Its Personnel and its Work — Party Hacks in Place — Wind vs. Work — What People said of the Solons — The New Cabinet — Heads of Departments Sketched— The President's Advisers — Popular Opinion — The First Gun at Sumter.

Chapter IV

— "The Awakening of the Lion." 36-41 Sumter's Effect on Public Feeling — Would There be a Long War — or any? — Organizing an Army — The Will of the People — How Women Worked — The Camps a Novel Show — Mr. Davis handles Congress — His Energy and Industry — Society and the Strangers — Joy over Vir ginia's Secession.

Chapter V

— A Southern River Boat Race 42-48 An Alabama Steamer — General Van Dorn — What River Travel is — A Calliope and its Master — Banter for a Race — Excitement of all on Board — A Close Shave — Neck and Neck — How a Race is Won — A Unique Toast.

Chapter VI

— Boat Life Afloat and Aground 49~:Z Time-killers on the River — Negro Boat-hands — Cotton Loading from Slides — Overboard! — "Fighting the Tiger" — Hard Aground! — Delay and Depression — Admiral Raphael Semmes — News of the Baltimore Riot — Speculation as to its Results. lable of Contents. II PAGE.

Chapter VII

— Mobile, the Gulf City 54-5s Echo from Maryland— Alabama's Preparation — Mobile's Crack Corps — John Forsyth on the Peace Commissioners — Mobile Society — Pleas ure-lovers and Their Pleasures — A Victim of the Tiger — Two Moral Axioms.

Chapter VIII

— New Orleans, the Crescent City S9~6& Location and Commercial Importance— Old Methods of Business — Relations of Planter and Factor — A Typical Brokerage House — Secure Reliance on European Recognition and the Kingship of Cotton — Yel low Jack and his Treatment — French Town and American — Hotels of the Day — Home Society and "The Heathen" — Social Customs — Creole Women's Taste — Cuffee and Cant — Early Regiments and Crack Com panies — Judges of Wine — A Champion Diner.

Chapter IX

— A Change of Base 69-74. The Pensacola Army — Review by President Davis — Orders for Vir ginia — Breaking Camp on the Gulf — The Start of the Zouaves — They Capture a Train and a City — Pursuit and Recapture — The Riot and its Lesson — Early Ideas of Discipline.

Chapter X

— En Route for the Border 75-83 Decision to Move the Capital — Lax Precautions — The New York " Tribune" Dispatch — Montgomery Murmurs — Troops en route, and their Feelings — The Government on Wheels — Kingsville Misnomer — Profanity and Diplomacy — Grimes' Brother-in-law — With the C. S. Mail-bags.

CHAPTER XL

— On to Richmond S4-92 A Typical Southron — Sentiment in the Ranks — Glimpse of the new Capital — The Inflowing Caravans — Hotels and Boarding-houses City and Surroundings — A Southern Poet — A Warning in Statuary Holly wood Cemetery — The Tredegar Works — Their Importance in the War — 'T'other Consarn!

Chapter XII

— Settling to the Real Work 93-101 Regulars of the States — Virginia Sentiment — Unanimity of Purpose — Lee and Johnston — Esprit de Corps — Centering on Virginia Varied Types of Different States — The Marylanders at the South Mixed Equipments and " Properties "—Doubtful Points — Norfolk to Manassas — Where the Battle Ground would be — Missouri's First Move.

Chapter XIII

— The Leaders and the Led 102-110 General Lee comes to the Front— Mr. Davis' Labors and Responsi bilities — His Personal Popularity — Social Feeling at the new Capital iff PAGE. " Pawnee Sunday " Panic — Richmond Society — An After-dinner Object Lesson — How Good Blood did not Lie — Western Virginia — Society's Pets go to the Front — "The Brave at Home."

Chapter XIV

— The Baptism of Blood m-121 The First War Builetin — How Richmond received It — Practical Result of Bethel — Earnest Work in Government Bureaux — Thunder from a Clear Sky — Shadows follow Rich Mountain — Carthago deleuda! — Popular Comparison of Fighting Qualities — The " On-to-Richmond ! " Clangor — The Southern Pulse — "Beware of Johnston's Retreats!" Bull Run — The Day before Manassas — Waiting!

Chapter XV

— After Manassas 122-128 How Rumors came — Jubilation and Revulsion — Anxiety for News — The Decisive Charge — An Austrian View — The President's Return — His Speech to the People — The First Train of Wounded — Sorrow and Consolation — How Women Worked — Material and Moral Results of Manassas — Spoils and Overconfidence — Singular Errors in Public Mind — General Belief in Advance — The Siesta and its Dreams.

Chapter XVI

— The Spawn of Lethargy 129-138 Reaction of Sentiment — Conflicting Ideas about Inaction — Popular Wish for Aggressive War — Sentiment settles to Fact — Mr. Davis' Attitude to Johnston and Beauregard — After-battle Confusion — Strateg ic Reasons — Inaction breeds grave Discontent — Effect on the Army — Sober Second Thought — Government Use of the Lull — Bombast and Sense — A Glance North — The Western Outlook — John B. Floyd.

Chapter XVII

— From Court to Camp 139-146 A Winter's Inaction and Effects — Comforts and Homesickness — Unseen Foes and Their Victory — Care and Cleanliness — Nostalgia — Camp Morality — Record of the "Cracks" — In a Maryland Mess — Mud and Memories — Has History a Parallel? — Old Cavaliers and New.

Chapter XVIII

— Society at the Capital 147-157 Richmond Overflowing — Variety of Visitors — Gradual Growth of Gayety — " Danceable Teas " — Amateur Benefits — "Youth at the Helm" — A Society Woman's View — Social Theories and Practice — Virginian Hospitality — Quieter Sociability — The Presidential Household — Mr. and Mrs. Davis — Formal Levees — Social Ethics — Dissipation — Disap pointing Solons.

Chapter XIX

— Days of Depression 15S-165 Reverses on AU Lines — Zollicoffer's Death — Mr. Benjamin, Secre tary of War — Transportation Dangers — The Tennessee River Forts — PAGE. Forrest and Morgan — Gloom follows Nashville's Fall — Government Blamed by People — The Permanent Government — Mr. Davis' Typical Inaugural — Its Effect and Its Sequence — Cabinet Changes.

Chapter XX

— From Shiloh to New Orleans 166-173; Sunshine and Shadow — Clouds gather in the West — Island No. 10 — Shiloh — Illustrative Valor — Deep Depression — Was Johnston hounded to His Death ? — Fall of New Orleans — Odd Situation of Her Captors — Butler in Command — His Place in Southern Opinion — Strategic Results — Popular Discontent — Effect on the Fighters — Butler and the Women — Louisiana Soldiers.

CHAPTER XXL

— The Conscription and Its Consequences . . . 174-188 The " More Men ! " cry — Passage of the Act — State Troops Turned Over — Appointment of Generals — Longings for Home — Exemptions and "Details" — The Substitute Law — Mr. Davis' Wisdom Vindi cated — Governor Joe Brown kicks — State Traits of the Conscripts — Kentucky's Attitude — Tennessee's " Buffaloes "• — The " Union Feeling" Fallacy — Conscript Camps — Morals of the "New Ish " — Food and Money Scarcer — Constancy of the Soldiers — The Extension Law — Repeal of the Substitute Act — Home-Guards—" The Cradle and the Grave."

Chapter XXII

— Waiting the Ordeal by Combat 189-197/ The North Prepares a New "On to Richmond."— Joe Johnston's Strategy — From Manassas to Richmond — Magruder's Lively Tactics — The Defenders Come — Scenes of the March Through — A Young Vet eran — Public Feeling — Williamsburg's Echo — The Army of Specters Ready! — Drewry's Bluff — The Geese Fly South — Stern Resolve!

CHAPTER XXIIL

— Around Richmond 19S-20CV Seven Pines — War at the Very Gates — Harrowing Scenes — Woman's Heroism — Crowded Hospitals — A Lull — Jackson's Meteor Campaign Ashby Dead ! — The Week of Blood — Southern Estimate of McClel lan — What "Might Have Been" — Richmond Under Ordeal "The Battle Rainbow" — Sad Sequelæ — Real Sisters of Mercy — Beautiful Self-sacrifice.

Chapter XXIV

— Echoes of Seven Day's, North and South . 207-214. Confederates Hopeful, but Not Overconfident — The Cost to the North — McClellan Sacrificed — General Pope and His Methods He "Finds" Jackson at Cedar Mountain — A Glance Trans- Allegheny Well-Conceived Federal Programme — General Bragg's Unpopular ity — To the Ohio and Back — Would-be Critics — Flashes illumine the Clouds — Kentucky Misrepresented. V PAGE.

Chapter XXV

— Thb War in the West 215-222 A Gloomy Outlook — Lone Jack — "The Butcher, McNeil" — Corinth and Murfreesboro — Their Bloody Cost — The Cry Wrung from the Peo ple — Mr. Davis stands Firm — Johnston relieves Bragg — The Emanci pation Proclamation — Magruder's Galveston Amphiboid — The Atlantic Seaboard — Popular Estimate of the Status — Hope for the New Year.

Chapter XXVI

— The Failure of Finance . 223-229 Was Cotton really King? — How it Might have bee Made So — Government's Policy — Comparison with Northern Finance — Why the South believed in her Advantage — How the North buoyed up her Credit — Contractors and Bondholders — Feeling at the South on the Money Question — Supply and Demand for Paper — Distrust creeps In — Rapid Depreciation.

CHAPTER XXVIL

— Dollars, Cents and Less 230-240 Results of Inflation — Comparative Cost of Living North and South — How Army and Officials were Paid — Suffering enhances Distrust — Barter Currency — Speculation's Vultures — The Auction Craze — Hoard ing Supplies — Gambling — Richmond Faro-banks — Men met There — Death of Confederate Credit — The President and Secretary held to Account — Nothing but Mismanagement.

Chapter XXVIII

—Across the Potomac and Back 241-250 Precedents of the First Maryland Campaign — Jackson strikes Pope — Second Manassas — Why was Victory not Pushed? — The People demand Aggressive Warfare — Over the River — Harper's Ferry falls — Elation at the South — Rosy Prophecies — Sharpsburg — The River Recrossed — Gloom in Richmond — Fredericksburg and its Effect on the People — Why on Pursuit? — Hooker replaces Burnside — Death of Stonewall Jackson.

Chapter XXIX

— Over Again to Gettysburg 251-258 Popular Grief for Jackson — Again to the River — Winchester and her Women — The People Rejoice at the Advance — Public Belief in its Re sult — Washington to Fall ; the War to End — The Prelude to Disaster — Second Day at Gettysburg — Pickett's Wonderful Charge — Some one has Blundered ? How the Story came South — Revulsion and Discon tent — Lee not Blamed — Strictures on Non-retaliation — The Marylanders.

Chapter XXX

— The Confederacy Afloat 259-271 Who the Southern Sailors were — Regular and Provisional Navy-bills — Popular Estimate of Mr. Mallory — Iron-clads vs. Cruisers — The Parole of "Pirate Semmes" — What Iron-clads might have done — Treasury and Navy — The "Merrimac" — Virginia Fight in Hampton Roads — The White-flag Violation — Those wonderful Wooden Shells — Other flashing Achievements — Comparison of the two Navies — Doubtful VI PAGE. Torpedo Results— Summing up the Hue-and-Cry— Nashville and New Orleans— The Tatnall-" Virginia" Court-martial— Who did More than They?

Chapter XXXI

— The Chinese Wall Blockade, Aeroad and at Home 272-2S7 Foundation Errors — Lost Opportunity — The Treaty of Paris View — First Southern Commissioners — Doubts — The Mason-Slidell Incident — Mr. Benjamin's Foreign Policy — DeLeon's Captured Despatches — Mur murs Loud and Deep — England's Attitude — Other Great Powers — Mr. Davis' View — "If" — Interest of the Powers — The Optimist View — Production and Speculation — Blockade Companies — Sumptuary Laws — Growth of Evil Power — Charleston and Savannah — Running the Fleet at Wilmington — Demoralization and Disgust — The Mississippi Closed — Vicksburg — "Running the Bloc." on the Border — The Spy System — Female Agents.

CHAPTER XXXIL

— Press, Literature and Art 2S8-301 Newspapers North and South — Ability Differently Used — Reasons Therefor — Criticism of Affairs; its Effect — Magazines and their Clien tele — Prose Writers ante tiellum — Rebel War Rhymes — Origin and Characteristics— The Northern "National Hymn"- — Famous Poets and Their Work — Dirge Poetry and Prison Sengs — Father Ryan and the Catholic Church — "Furled Forever!" — Musical Taste — How Songs were Utilized — Military Bands — Painters and Paintings — No Southern Art — A Few Noted Pictures.

Chapter XXXIII

— Wit and Humor, of the War 302-315 Strange Laughter— The Confederate "Mother Goose" — Travesty and Satire — The "Charles Lamb" of Richmond — Camp Wit — Novel Marriage — A "Skirmisher" — Prison Humor — Even in Vicksburg! — Sad Bill-of-Fare — Northern Misconception — Richmond Society Wit — The " Mosaic Club" and its Components — Innes Randolph's Forfeit The Colonel's Breakfast Horror — Post-surrender Humor — Even the Emancipated.

Chapter XXXIV

— The Beginning of the End 316-326 Gradual Weakening of the South— The Wearing-out Process— Sequelæ of Vicksburg and Gettysburg — Congress z/s. President — Mr. Foote and his Following — Drain of Men and Material — Home Guards The "Speculator Squad "—Dire Straits in Camp and Home— Carpet Blank ets — Raids and their Results — Breaking down of Cavalry Mounts Echoes of Morgan's Ohio Dash— His Bold Escape— Cumberland Gap — A Glance at Chickamauga — "The Might Have Been" Once More Popular Discontent — General Grant Judged by his Compeers Long street at Knoxville— Missionary Ridge — President's Views and People's PAGE. — Again the Virginia Lines — Skirmish Depletion — Desertions — " Kir by-Smithdom."

Chapter XXXV

— The Upper and Nether Millstones .... 327-335 "Crushing the Spine of Rebellion" — Grant's Quadruple Plan — The Western Giant — Why its Back Broke — Delenda est Atlanta! — Grant be comes the Upper Millstone — Men and Means Unstinted — Dahlgren's Raid — The South's Feeling — The Three Union Corps — War in the Wilderness — Rumors North and South — Spottsylvania — Still to the Left!— Cold Harbor Again— The "Open Door" Closed— Glance at Grant's Campaign — Cost of Reaching McClellan's Base — Sledge-Ham mer Strategy — Solemn Joy in Richmond.

Chapter XXXVI

— "The Land of Darkness and the Shadow of Death" 336-346 Comparison of Numbers — The Ratio of Loss — The Process of Attri tion — Stuart's Last Fight — The River Approaches — Beauregard "bottles" Butler — Grant sits down Before Petersburg — "Swapping with Boot" — Feeling of the Southern People — The Lines in Georgia — Military Chess — Different Methods of Sherman and Grant — Southern View — Public Confidence in Johnston — Hood relieves Him — How Re ceived by the People — The Army Divided — "The Back Door" Opened at Last! — Mr. Davis visits Hood's Army — The Truce and the Chances — On the Rack.

Chapter XXXVII

— Dies Iræ— Dies Illa! 347-359 The Lull at Petersburg — Strain on Army and People — North and South Waiting — Fears for Richmond — After Atlanta — Peace Proposi tions — Mr. Davis' Attitude — Mr. Stephens' Failure at Fortress Mon roe — Hood's Fatal Move — Results of Franklin — Strange Gayeties in Richmond — From the Dance to the Grave — "Starvations" and Theat ricals — Evacuation Rumors — Only Richmond Left — Joe Johnston Rein stated — Near Desperation — Grant Strikes — The News in Church — Evacuation Scenes — The Mob and the Stores — Firing Warehouses — The Last Reb Leaves — Fearful Farewells — Dead !

CHAPTER XXXVIIL

— After the Death-Blow was Dealt . . .360-372 The Form of Surrender — Federals march In — Richmond in Flames — Blue-Coats fight the Fire — Sad Scenes — Automatic Shelling — Disci pline Wins — At the Provost-Marshal's — A City of the Dead — Starva tion plus Suspense — The Tin-Can Brigade — Drawing Rations — Rumors and Reality — The First Gray Jacket returns — General Lee re-enters Richmond — Woman, the Comforter — Lincoln's Assassination — Result ing Rigors — Baits for Sociability — How Ladies acted — Lectures by Old Friends — The Emigration Mania — Fortunate Collapse of Agreement — The Negro's Status — To Work, or Starve — Woman's Aid — Dropping the Curtain.

Chapter I. The Forehead Of The Storm

The cloud no bigger than a man's hand had risen. It became visible to all in Washington over the southern horizon. All around to East and West was but the dull, dingy line of the storm that was soon to burst in wild fury over that section, leaving only seared desolation in its wake. Already the timid and wary began to take in sail and think of a port; while the most reckless looked from the horizon to each other's faces, with restless and uneasy glances. In the days of 1860, as everybody knows, the society of Washing ton city was composed of two distinct circles, tangent at no one point. The larger, outer circle whirled around with crash and fury several months in each year ; then, spinning out its centrifugal force, flew into minute fragments and scattered to extreme ends of the land. The smaller one — the inner circle — revolved sedately in its accustomed grooves, moving no whit faster for the buzz of the monster that surrounded and half hid it for so long; and when that spun itself to pieces moved on as undisturbed as Werther's Charlotte.

The outer circle drew with it all the outside population, all the "dwellers in tents," from the busiest lobbyman to the laziest looker on. All the "hotel people" — those caravans that yearly poured unceasing into the not too comfortable caravanserai down town — stretched eager hands toward this circle; for, to them, it meant Washington. Having clutched an insecure grasp upon its rim, away they went with a fizz and a spin, dizzy and delighted — devil take the hindmost! Therein did the thousand lobbyists, who yearly came to roll logs, pull wires and juggle through bills, find their congenial prey. Who shall rise up and write the secret history of that wonderful committee and of the ways and means it used to prey impartially upon government and client? Who shall record the "deeds without a name," hatched out of eggs from the midnight terrapin; the strange secrets drawn out by the post-prandial corkscrew ?

Who shall justly calculate the influence the lobby and its workings had in hastening that inevitable, the war between the states? Into this outer circle whirled that smaller element which came to the Capital to spend money — not to make it. Diamonds flash, point lace flounces flaunt ! Who will stop that mighty whirligig to inspect whether the champagne is real, or the turtle is prime ? Alton s! le feu est fait! Camp-followers and hangers-on of Congress, many of its members from the West, claim agents from Kansas, husbandless married women from California and subterranean politicians from everywhere herein found elements as congenial as profitable. All stirred into the great olla podrida and helped to " Make the hell broth boil and bubble." The inner circle was the real society of Washington.

Half sub merged for half of each year by accumulating streams of strangers, it ever rose the same — fresh and unstained by deposit from the baser flood. Therein, beyond doubt, one found the most cultured coteries. the courtliest polish and the simplest elegance that the drawing-rooms of this continent could boast. The bench and the bar of the highest court lent their loftiest intellects and keenest wits. Careful selections were there from Congress of those who held senates on their lips and kept together the machinery of an expanding nation; and those "rising men," soon to replace, or to struggle with them, across the narrow Potomac near by. To this society, too, the foreign legations furnished a strong element. Bred in courts, familiar with the theories of all the world, these men must prove valuable and agreeable addi tion to any society into which they are thrown.

It is rather the fashion just now to inveigh against foreigners in society, to lay at their door many of the peccadilloes that have crept into our city life; but the diplomats are, with rare exceptions, men of birth, education and of proved ability in their own homes. Their ethics may be less strict than those which obtain about Plymouth Rock, but experience with them will prove that, however loose their own code, they carefully conform to the custom of others; that if they have any scars across their morals, they have also the tact and good taste to keep them decorously draped from sight. In the inner circle of Washington were those officers of the army and navy, selected for ability or service — or possibly "by grace of cousinship " — to hold posts near the government; and, with full allow ance for favoritism, some of these were men of culture, travel and attainment — most of them were gentlemen.

And the nucleus, as well as the amalgam of all these elements, was the resident families of old Washingtonians. These had lived there so long as to be able to win now the chaff and throw the refuse off. There has ever been much talk about the corruption of Washing ton, easy hints about Sodom, with a general sweep at the depravity of its social system. But it is plain these facile fault-finders knew no more of its inner circle — and for its resident society only is any city responsible — than they did of the court of the Grand Turk. Such critics had come to Washington, had made their " dicker," danced at the hotel hops, and been jostled on the Avenue. If they essayed an entrance into the charmed circle, they failed. Year after year, even the Titans of the lobby assailed the gates of that heaven refused them ; and year after year they fell back, baffled and grommelling, into the pit of that outer circle whence they came.

Yet every year, especially in the autumn and spring, behind that Chinese wall was a round of entertainments less costly than the crushes of the critic circle, but stamped with quiet elegance aped in vain by the non-elect. And when the whirl whirled out at last, with the departing Congress ; when the howling crowd had danced its mad carmagnole and its vulgar echoes had died into distance, then Wash ington society was itself again. Then the sociality of intercourse — that peculiar charm which made it so unique — became once more free and unrestrained. Passing from the reek of a hotel ball, or the stewing soiree of a Cabinet secretary into the quiet salon of a West End home, the very atmosphere was different, and comparison came of itself with that old Quartier Saint Germain, which kept undefiled from the pitch that smirched its Paris, through all the hideous dramas of the bonnet rouge.