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

Front matter

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CHAPTER I. — The Forehead of the Storm n-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 Situation— Buchanan's Policy and the " Peace Congress " — Separation a Certainty— Preparations for the Hejira — Precautions for Lincoln's Inauguration— 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 Congress— Early Views of the Struggle — A Notable "Mess."

CHAPTER III.— Congress and Cabinet 30-35

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 Virginia'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. j

CHAPTER VI. — Boat Life Afloat and Aground 49

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.

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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 — Pleasure-lovers and Their Pleasures — A Victim of the Tiger — Two Moral Axioms. "^

CHAPTER VIII.— New Orleans, the Crescent City 59-6S

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 — Yellow 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 Cohlpanies — Judges of Wine — A Champion Diner.

CHAPTER IX.— A Change of Base 69-74

The Pensacola Army — Review by President Davis — Orders for Virginia— 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 75-831

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

CHAPTER XI.— On to Richmond S4-92

A Typical Southron — Sentiment in the Ranks — Glimpse of the new Capital — The Inflowing Caravans — Hotels and Boarding-houses — Cily and Surroundings — A Southern Poet — A Warning in Statuary — Hollywood 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 Responsibilities— His Personal Popularity — Social Feeling at the new Capital

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*' 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 111-121

The First War Bulletin — How Richmond received It — Practical Result of Bethel — Earnest Work in Government Bureaux — Thunder from a Clear Sky — Shadows follow Rich Mountain — Carthago delenda! — 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 — Strategic 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 — L^nseen 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 i47-r57

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 — Disappointing Solons.

CHAPTER XIX.— Days of Depression 158-165

Reverses on All Lines — Zollicoffer's Death — Mr. Benjamin, Secretary of War — Transportation Dangers — The Tennessee River Forts — iv Table of Contents.

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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 166-175

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 . . . 174-18S 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 Vindicated— 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 Veteran— Public Feeling — Williamsburg's Echo — The Army of Specters — Ready! — Drewry's Bluff — The Geese Fly South — Stern Resolve!

CHAPTER XXIII.— Around Richmond 198-206

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 McClellan — What "Might Have Been"— Richmond Under Ordeal— "The Battle Rainbow" — Sad Sequelce — Real Sisters of Mercy — Beautiful Self-sacrifice.

CHAPTER XXIV. — Echoes of Seven Days, 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 Unpopularity— To the Ohio and Back — Would-be Critics — Flashes illumine the Clouds — Kentucky Misrepresented.

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CHAPTER XXV.— The 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 People— Mr. Davis stands Firm — Johnston relieves Bragg — The Emancipation Proclamation — Magruder's Galveston Amphiboid — The Atlantic Seaboard — Popular Estimate of the Status — Hope for the New Year.

CHAPTER XXVL— The Failure OF Finance 223-229.

Was Cotton really King? — How it Might have been 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 XXVII.— 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 — Hoarding Supplies — Gambling — Richmond Faro-banks — Men met There — Death of Confederate Credit — The President and Secretary held to Account — Nothing but Mismanagement.

CHAPTER XXVIIL— 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 251-25S

Popular Grief for Jackson — Again to the River — Winchester and her Women — The People Rejoice at the Advance — Public Belief in its Result—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 Discontent— 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 1 vi Table of Contents.

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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, Abroad and at

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 — Murmurs 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 XXXII.— Press, Literature and Art 288-301

Newspapers North and South — Ability Differently Used — Reasons Therefor — Criticism of Affairs; its Effect — Magazines and their Clientele— Prose Writers aitte bellum — Rebel War Rhymes — Origin and Characteristics — The Northern "National Hymn" — Famous Poets and Their Work — Dirge Poetry and Prison Songs — 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 — Sequelse of Vicksburg and Gettysburg — Congress vs. President — Mr. Foote and his Following — Drain of Men and Material — Home Guards — The "Speculator Squad" — Dire Straits in Camp and Home — Carpet Blankets— 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 — Longstreet at Knoxville — Missionary Ridge — President's Views and People's

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— Again the Virginia Lines — Skirmish Depletion — Desertions — " Kir- Ijy-Smithdom."

CilAPTER 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 becomes 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 I — Cold Harbor Again — The "Open Door" Closed — Glance at Grant's Campaign — Cost of Reaching McClellan's Base — Sledge-Hammer Strategy — Solemn Joy in Richmond.

CHAPTER XXXVI. — "The Land of Darkness and the Shadow of

Comparison of Numbers — The Ratio of Loss — The Process of Attrition— Stuart's Last Fight — The River Approaches — Beauregard "bottles" Butler — Grant sits down Before Petersburg — "Swapping v.'ith 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 Received 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 Irv^j— Dies Illa! 347-359

The Lull at Petersburg — Strain on Army and People — North and South Waiting — Fears for Richmond — After Atlanta — Peace Propositions— Mr. Davis' Attitude — Mr. Stephens' Failure at Fortress Monroe— Hood's Fatal Move — Results of Franklin — Strange Gayeties in Richmond — From the Dance to the Grave — "Starvations" and Theatricals— Evacuation Rumors — Only Richmond Left — Joe Johnston Reinstated— 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 — Discipline Wins — At the Provost-Marshal's — A City of the Dead — Starvation//mj' 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 — Resulting 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.

FOUR YEARS IN REBEL CAPITALS.

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 i860, as everybody knows, the society of Washington 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 lookeron. All the 'Hiotel 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 ?

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 submerged 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 addition 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 allowance 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 winnow the chaff and throw the refuse off.

There has ever been much talk about the corruption of Washington, 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 Washington 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 bomiet rotige.

The influence of political place in this country has long spawned a social degradation. Where the gift is in the hands of a fixed power, its seeking is lowering enough; but when it is besought from the enlightened voter himself, " the scurvy politician " becomes a reality painfully frequent. Soliciting the ballot over a glass of green corn juice in the back room of a country grocery, or flattering the cara sposa of the farmhouse, with squalling brat upon his knee, is scarcely calculated to make the best of men more of '* an ornament to society." Constant contact with sharpers and constant effort to be sharper than they is equally as apt to blunt his sense of delicacy as it is to unfit one for higher responsibilities of official station. So it was not unnatural that that society of Washington, based v/holly on politics, was not found wholly clean. But under the seething surface — first visible to the casual glance — was a substratum as pure as it was solid and unyielding.

Habitues of twenty years remarked that, with all the giddy whirl of previous winters in the outer circle, none had approached in mad rapidity that of 1 860-61. The rush of aimless visiting, matinees and dinners, balls and suppers, followed each other without cessationdress and diamonds, equipage and cards, all cost m.ore than ever before. This might be the last of it, said an uneasy sense of the coming storm; and in the precedent sultriness, the thousands v.-ho had come to make money vied with the tens who came to spend it in mad distribution of the proceeds. Madame, who had made an immense investment of somebody's capital in diamonds and lace, must let the world see them. Mademoiselle must make a certain exhibit of shapely shoulders and of telling stride in the German; and time was shortening fast. And Knower, of the Third House, had put all the proceeds of engineering that last bill through, into gorgeous plate. It would never do to waste it, for Knower meant business; and this might be the end of the thing.

So the stream rushed on, catching the weak and timid ones upon its brink and plunging them into the whirling vortex. And still the rusty old wheels revolved, as creakily as ever, at the Capital. Blobb, of Oregon, made machine speeches to the sleepy House, but neither he, nor they, noted the darkening atmosphere without. Senator Jenks took his half-hourly ''nip" with laudable punctuality, thereafter rising eloquent to call Mr. President's attention to that little bill ; and all the while that huge engine, the lobby, steadily pumped away in the political basement, sending streams of hot corruption into every artery of the government.

Four Years in Redd Capitals. 15

Suddenly a sullen reverberation echoes over the Potomac from the South, The long-threatened deed is done at last. South Carolina has seceded, and the first link is rudely stricken from the chain.

There is a little start ; that is all. The Third House stays for a second its gold spoon; and, perhaps, a trifle of the turtle spills before reaching its mouth. Madame rearranges her parure and smoothes her ruffled lace ; while Mademoiselle pouts a little, then studies her card for the next waltzer. Senator Jenks takes his "nip" just a trifle more regularly; and Blobb, of Oregon, draws a longer breath before his next period. As for the lobby-pump, its piston grows red-hot and its valves fly wide open, with the work it does ; while thicker and more foul are the streams it sends abroad.

For awhile there is some little talk around Willard's about the " secesh;" and the old soldiers wear grave faces as they pass to and fro between the War Department and General Scott's headquarters. But to the outer circle, it is only a nine-day wonder; while the dancing and dining army men soon make light of the matter.

But the stone the surface closes smoothly over at the center makes large ripples at the edges. Faces that were long before now begin to lengthen; and thoughtful men wag solemn heads as they pass, or pause to take each other by the buttonhole. More frequent knots discuss the status in hotel lobbies and even in the passages of the departments ; careful non-partisans keep their lips tightly closed, and hot talk, pro or con, begins to groAV more popular.

One day I find, per card, that the Patagonian Ambassador dines me at seven. As it is not a state dinner I go, to find it even more stupi<i. At dessert the reserve wears off and all soon get deep in the *'Star of the West" episode.

" Looks mighty bad now, sir. Something must be done, sir, and soon, too," says Diggs, a hard-working M. C. from the North-west. "But, as yet, I don't see — what, exactly!"

"Will your government use force to supply Fort Sumter?" asks Count B. , of the Sardinian legation.

" If so, it might surely drive out those states so doubtful now, that they may not go to extremes," suggested the Prussian charge ad interim.

"Why, they'll be whipped back by the army and navy within ninety days from date," remarks a gentleman connected with pension brokerage.

"If part of the army and navy does not go to get whipped with them," growls an old major of the famed Aztec Club. And the scar across the nose, that he brought away from the Belen Gate, grows very uncomfortably purple.

"By Jove! I weally believes he means it! Weally!" whispers very young Savile Rowe, of H. B. M. legation. "Let's get wid of these politics. Dwop in at Knower's ; soiwee, you know 3" and Savile tucks his arm under mine.

Two blocks away we try to lose uncomfortable ideas in an atmosphere of spermaceti, hot broadcloth, jockey club and terrapin.

" Next quadwille, Miss Wose ?"

' ' Oh, yes, Mr. Rowe ; and — the third galop — let me see — the fifth waltz. And oh! isn't it nasty of those people in South Carolina! Why don^t they behave themselves ? Oh, dear ! what a lovely color Karmeen Sorser has to-night! Au revotrP' and Miss Rose Ruche glides off, h deux iemps^ on the arm of the Turkish charge.

As I stroll through the rooms, there is much glaring light and there are many nude necks. I am jostled by polking damsels and buttonholed by most approved bores. But, through the blare of the brass horns and over the steaming terrapin, the one subject rises again and again, refusing burial as persistently as Eugene Aram's old man.

" Try a glass pf this punch," Knower chirps cheerily. " Devilish good punch! Good glass, too. See the crest and the monogram blowed in. Put Kansas Coal Contriver's Company proceeds into that glass. But things are looking blue, sir, devilish blue ; and I don't see the way out at all. Fact is, I'm getting pretty down in the mouth ! " And the lobbyist put a bumper of punch in the same position. "People may talk, sir, but my head's as long as the next, and I don't see the way out. Washington's dead, sir ; dead as a hammer, if this secession goes on. Why, what'U become of our business if they move the Capital ? Kill us, sir ; kill us ! Lots of southern members leaving already" — and Knower's voice sunk to a whisper — "and would you believe it? I heard of nine resignations from the army to-day. Gad, sir ! had it from the best authority. That means business, I'm afraid." And little by little the conviction dawned on all classes that it did mean business — ugly, real business. What had been only mutterings a few weeks back grew into loud, defiant speech. Southern men, in and out of Congress, banded. under their leading spirits, boldly and emphatically declared what they meant to do. Never had excitement around the Capitol run half so high. Even the Kansas-Nebraska furore had failed to pack the Senate galleries so full of men and women, struggling for seats and sitting sometimes through the night. One after another the southern leaders made their valedictories — some calm and dignified, some hot and vindictive — and left the seats they had filled for years. One after another, known and honored names were stricken from the army and navy lists, by resignation. One after another, states met in convention and, by " ordinance of secession," declared themselves independent of the Federal Government. It was as though the train had been prepared and the action of South Carolina was but the lighting of the fuse. Within six weeks from Mr. Buchanan's New Year reception, six states had deliberately gone out of the Union.