The tragic era : the revolution after Lincoln

Preface

IF Hilaire Belloc is right in his opinion that ‘readable history is melodrama,’ the true story of the twelve tragic years that fol¬ lowed the death of Lincoln should be entertaining. They were years of revolutionary turmoil, with the elemental passions pre¬ dominant, and with broken bones and bloody noses among the fighting factionalists. The prevailing note was one of tragedy, though, as we shall see, there was an abundance of comedy, and not a little of farce. Never have American public men in responsi¬ ble positions, directing the destiny of the Nation, been so brutal, hypocritical, and corrupt. The Constitution was treated as a door¬ mat on which politicians and army officers wiped their feet after wading in the muck. Never has the Supreme Court been treated with such ineffable contempt, and never has that tribunal so often cringed before the clamor of the mob.

So appalling is the picture of these revolutionary years that even historians have preferred to overlook many essential things. Thus, Andrew Johnson, who fought the bravest battle for constitutional liberty and for the preservation of our institutions ever waged by an Executive, until recently was left in the pillory to which un¬ scrupulous gamblers for power consigned him, because the un¬ varnished truth that vindicates him makes so many statues in public squares and parks seem a bit grotesque. That Johnson was maligned by his enemies because he was seeking honestly to carry out the conciliatory and wise policy of Lincoln is now generally understood, but even now few realize how intensely Lincoln was hated by the Radicals at the time of his death.

A complete understanding of this period calls for a reappraisal of many public men. Some statesmen we have been taught to rever¬ ence will appear in these pages in sorry roles. Others, who played conspicuous parts, but have been denied the historical recognition due them, are introduced and shown in action. Thus the able lead¬ ers of the minority in Congress are given fuller treatment than has been fashionable, since they represented more Americans, North

VI

PREFACE and South, than the leaders of the Radical majority, and were nearer right on the issues of reconstruction. Thus, too, the brilliant and colorful leaders and spokesmen of the South are given their proper place in the dramatic struggle for the preservation of Southern civilization and the redemption of their people. I have sought to re-create the black and bloody drama of these years, to show the leaders of the fighting factions at close range, to picture the moving masses, both whites and blacks, in North and South, surging crazily under the influence of the poisonous propaganda on which they were fed.

That the Southern people literally were put to the torture is vaguely understood, but even historians have shrunk from the unhappy task of showing us the torture chambers. It is impossible to grasp the real significance of the revolutionary proceedings of the rugged conspirators working out the policies of Thaddeus Stevens without making many journeys among the Southern people, and seeing with our own eyes the indignities to which they were sub¬ jected. Through many unpublished contemporary family letters and diaries, I have tried to show the psychological effect upon them of the despotic policies of which they were the victims. Brutal men, inspired by personal ambition or party motives, as¬ sumed the pose of philanthropists and patriots, and thus deceived and misguided vast numbers of well-meaning people in the North.

In the effort to re-create the atmosphere and temper of the times, I have made free use of the newspapers of those times. In¬ valuable for this purpose has been my access to the unpublished diary of George W. Julian, which covers the entire period. Through him we are able to sit in at important conferences that hitherto have been closed to the historians.

Much attention has been given to the amusements and the so¬ cial background because of the unprecedented prominence of women throughout these struggles. Gay ribbons and furbelows and flirting fans were not far distant from the fighting. The wo¬ men ranged in culture and character from the incomparable Kate Chase Sprague to the dusky sisters of the mixed salon in Columbia, South Carolina. Never had women lobbyists used their sex in securing legislative favors for selfish groups so brazenly — or so cleverly. The tragedy of Mrs. Belknap is as significant of the

PREFACE vii

spirit of the times as the impeachment proceedings against John¬ son.

The story of this Revolution is one of desperate enterprises, by daring and unscrupulous men, some of whom had genius of a high order. In these no Americans can take pride. The evil that they did lives after them. They changed the course of history, and whether for ultimate good or bad is still on the lap of the gods. The story carries lessons that are well worth pondering.

Claude G. Rowers

I. ‘The King is Dead; Long Live the King’

Lincoln dies — At the Kirkwood House — Johnson in the streets — Takes the oath — Consternation in the South — Radicals see obstacle removed — Their at¬ titude toward Lincoln — Hopeful of Johnson — Doubtful of Grant — Sumner’s call on Johnson — A party caucus — ‘His death a godsend to our cause’ — Con¬ ference to oust Lincoln’s Cabinet — Ben Butler for Secretary of State — A Sunday conference with Johnson — Ben Butler arrives — ‘Must not administer on the es¬ tate of Lincoln’ — Sunday night with Stanton — Butler’s Radical war-cry — Johnson to visiting delegations — Lincoln’s funeral — Johnson’s routine — New faces — Working on Johnson — Sumner prefers him to Lincoln — Doubt on negro suffrage — The Democrats and Johnson — Master of the Back Stairs — Demand for negro suffrage — Phillips’s — Theodore Tilton’s — The North Carolina Procla¬ mation — Radicals turn on Johnson — Sumner shocked — Schurz goes South — Low estate of the Presidency — A bad summer for former Presidents — The Cooper Union meeting — Logan supports Johnson — Anti-negro feeling in North

— Race riots — General Sherman against suffrage — Radicals organize — Union League Club sends negro organizers South — Boston mass meeting — Julian tours Indiana against Johnson — Morton replies — Julian answers — ‘ Hang liberally ’

— Thad Stevens at Lancaster — His speech — ‘Confiscate’ — Johnson’s busy days — His receptions — His health — Negro suffrage gains — The President of Vassar — Johnson’s plain talk to negro committee — Phillips’s obscene comment.

II. Andrew Johnson: A Portrait

Henry Adams’s impressions — Charles Dickens’s — Charles Francis Adams’s — Johnson’s dress — His form and features — His father — An old bit of gossip — A bitter boyhood — His pride — Goes to Tennessee — Educates himself — His class consciousness — Social distinctions at Greeneville — His shop a Jacobin club — Enters politics for democracy — A Jeffersonian — A Jacksonian — Labor’s candi¬ date — In Congress — Constructive ability — His Homestead fight — Battles for the Union — Military Governor — Nominated for Vice-President as a Democrat

— His constitutional amendments — A social revolutionist — His views on slavery

— On Brown’s raid — ‘I shall not worship at his shrine’ — His views of war pur¬ poses— Like Lincoln — His religion — Fight against Know-Nothings — His drinking — His intoxication at inauguration — A moderate drinker — His oratory

— His courage — His honesty — His craftiness — Nursed no resentments — His tireless energy — His intellectual power — Tactlessness — Tenderness to family

— Susceptible to woman’s beauty — Personal purity — His two great passions.

III. With Chase Among the Ruins

Chase starts South — Desolate highways — Homes in ashes — Ruin in Charleston

— In Columbia — The call to charity — No money — Plantation destitution — The labor problem — Former slaves and masters — Turning negroes against old masters — The work of Northern demagogues — Freedmen refuse work — Forty acres and a mule — Following the army — Flock to towns — Religious frenzy — God’s chosen children — ‘ We’se de winnin’ culler’— Demanding the vote— Army of occupation — Playing on credulity of negroes — Debauching colored girls — Idle soldiers — Officers in best homes — Conflicts of civil and military authority

— Effect of negro soldiers — Acts of brutality — The spirit of Southern women —

X

A social tragedy afc Chapel Hill — Reports on the spirit of the South — Chase’s electioneering tour — Urges vote for negroes — Receives negro delegations — His Charleston meeting — A picturesque scene — Raises false hopes — Northern re¬ actions to Charleston speech — ‘Incendiary talk’ — Chase to Sea-Islanders — ‘Roll, Jordan, roll’ — In Savannah — Desolation — Chase talks politics to blacks

— Hears white protests on mixed schools — Scenes at Jacksonville — Talks suf¬ frage — Reviews negro parade in Mobile — At New Orleans — Confers with poli¬ ticians — Attends negro party in former home of the Soules — A burlesque scene

— Negro women have charms — Chase resents North Carolina Proclamation — Southern civilization in peril — Southern legislation on negroes — Radical reac¬ tion North — ‘Convert Mississippi into a frog pond’ — Professor Dunning’s opin¬ ion of the Black Codes — Thad Stevens meditates action.

IV, Thaddeus Stevens: A Portrait

In his Lancaster home — His dandified youth — Careless old age — His hunting days — Daring in the chase — Lusty swimmer — Severe countenance — Debili¬ tation and force — His bitterness — Wild gayety — His painful candor — A revo¬ lutionist — Like Marat — His childhood poverty — Talleyrand his father? — His mother — At Dartmouth — Early hatred of aristocracy — Against college fraternities — At Gettysburg — His hatred of Jackson — Contradictory character

— Leader of anti-Masons — The Buckshot War — Moves to Lancaster — Rela¬ tions with Whig machine — First period in Congress — Hatred of slavery — Re¬ tirement — Returns to Congress — Against Lincoln for nomination — War — Opposes Crittenden Resolution — ‘Who pleads the Constitution?’ — Would arm the slaves — The Danton of the War — Distrusts Lincoln — His character — Cynical of human nature — Despises hypocrisy — His bitter tongue — Illustra¬ tions of his invective — His oratory — The jollity of Marat — Compared with the French Revolutionists — His wit and humor — ‘Would not steal a red-hot stove’ — A man’s man — His reading — No social life — His gambling — Gam¬ bling stories — Views on religion — His business ventures — His honesty — Relations with Lydia Smith, mulatto — Her place in his household — Mistress or housekeeper? — Contemporary stories — The cemetery incident — Charge of ‘Lancaster Intelligencer’ — Views on social equality — No constructive ability

— His fight for public schools — Uncompromising — Greatest of congressional leaders.

V. ‘The War Goes On’

Colfax reaches Washington — A Radical serenade — Sounds keynote against Johnson — Stanton’s treachery begins — Sumner protests to Johnson — A party caucus — Stevens in command — Raymond fails to fight — The Committee of Fifteen — The opening fight — Revolutionary scene in House — Senate figures: Sumner, Ben Wade, Fessenden, Trumbull, Hendricks — House figures: Stevens Brooks, Voorhees, Henry Raymond — Tennessee representatives excluded — Stevens’s arrogance — His fling at Beecher — Insult to the President — His mes¬ sage — Sumner outraged — Grant reports South peaceful — Johnson moves with caution — Stevens opens the attack — Scenes during the delivery — Pictures Taney in hell — Raymond’s reply — Voorhees outlines Democrats’ policy — Bingham replies to Voorhees — The war goes on — Effect on Washington society

— Mrs. Tayloe — Kate Chase Sprague — Johnson’s receptions — Politics in society — French Minister suspected — His brilliant function — Society divides

— Ristori playing — Handel’s ‘Messiah’ — Julia Ward Howe — Statesmen and spiritualism — At Cora Daniels’s — Demand negro suffrage for District of Colum¬ bia — Scenes in the debate — Voorhees’s amendment — Stevens’s sneering reply

— Raymond surrenders — Stevens smiles — Wild Radical jubilation on floor — xi

Frederick Douglass calls on Johnson — Johnson's talk — Douglass’s retort — Continuing the Freedmen’s Bureau — An engine of party — Johnson consults Cabinet — Their reactions — Johnson’s veto — Trumbull replies — Veto sus¬ tained — Excitement — In front of Willard Hotel — Rage of Radicals — Beecher praises veto — Tilton reports on Beecher — Scene in Senate — General Sherman ‘goes with Johnson’ — Washington’s Birthday — Radicals pay tribute to Lincoln’s enemy — Street scenes — A Johnson mass meeting — Johnson serenaded — His fighting speech — Press reaction — Seward delighted — Raymond too — Gar¬ rison denounces Seward — Beecher reports an anti-Johnson lie — Stevens’s clever reply in House — He moves forward.

VI. The Final Break 107

Stevens forces the fighting — Plans a two-thirds majority — Unseats Voorhees —

‘That fatal two-thirds,’ says Stevens — The Civil Rights Bill — The debate — It passes — Stanton urges Johnson to sign — Johnson’s veto — Radicals unseat Senator Stockton — Shocking discourtesies — Stevens demands a Radical in Stockton’s seat — Excitement before vote on veto — Street and hotel scenes — Johnson in the fight — Mrs. Clay unable to see him • — Radicals postpone vote —

Ben Wade rejoices over a Senator’s sickness — Carrying the sick into the Senate

— Veto overridden — Radical celebration — Plan to monopolize Grant’s reception

— ‘The President of the United States’ — Effect on Radical guests — House over¬ rides veto — Johnson urged to dismiss Stanton — Stevens’s amendment to Four¬ teenth Amendment — His revolutionary speech — Blaine protests — And Garfield

— Stevens obdurate — Raymond speaks against it — Stevens’s cynical reply — Would ‘make a penitentiary of the South’ — Raymond again surrenders — Negro cheers in galleries — Stevens’s amendment killed in Senate — Fourteenth Amendment made in party caucus — Hendricks protests — Stevens accepts Senate action — His bitter speech — Johnson’s courageous action — New Freedmen’s Bureau Bill — Steedman-Fullerton report — Bill passes — Johnson’s powerful veto — The party whip applied — Veto overridden — Greed working behind the scenes — Money-making mania — John Sherman pessimistic — Jay Cooke — Bribery talk — Land grants — Johnson warns of moneyed aristocracy — The Northern Pacific lobby — Trend to Hamiltonian centralization — Agricultural depression — Farmers protest against the tariff — Republican insurgency — Personalities increase — Cabinet serenaded — Stanton’s careful speech — Tilton dissatisfied — Johnson rebukes Forney — He speaks at a fair — ‘ Dead dog in the White House’ — Cabinet breaks — Death of Preston King and Senator Lane — Johnson’s summer diversions — Stevens’s Military Reconstruction — Johnson’s friends plan National Convention protest — The Philadelphia Convention — Raymond in trouble — Wild scenes in party caucus — Reckless revolutionary talk

— Stanton caught — The Conventions.

VII. Patriots Mob a President 127

The Memphis riots — Terror in New Orleans — Partisan interpretations — John¬ son begins ‘swing around the circle’ — To speak for his policies — Washington ovation sends him off — Vain attempt to ignore him at Philadelphia — Ovation there — Scene at Union League Club — Scenes of Philadelphia speech — At Newark — The New York triumph — Street scenes — Banquet at Delmonico’s — Johnson’s patriotic speech — Midnight crowds — Drives in Central Park — Races with Grant — At Albany — Rome — Buffalo — Introduced by Fillmore — Wearisome journey to Cleveland — Scenes in train — Grant in baggage coach — Johnson worn — Vast throngs in cloudy Cleveland — Shouts and thunder of artillery — Street scenes — Plans to mob him — ‘Cleveland Herald’s’ circulars —

XU

Drunken hecklers paid — Johnson’s home thrusts at hecklers ■ — Ovation on mor¬ row — The Norwalk mob — Chicago — The St. Louis mob — Decent reception at Terre Haute — The Indianapolis outrage — ‘ Indianapolis Journal ’ apologizes — The spirit there — General Custer denounces mob at New Market — The Pitts¬ burgh mob — Grant orders mob home there — Lies about the trip — Lowell’s contribution — Stevens’s satiric speech at Lancaster — The campaign — Politics in the South — Carpetbaggers and demagogues working on negroes — The Four¬ teenth Amendment — Denounced over South — The reason — ‘Outrage mills’ — The ‘bloody shirt’ — ‘Public Ledger’s’ canard — Morton’s ‘bloody shirt’ speech — Zack Chandler’s — Roscoe Conkling’s — Wendell Phillips demands impeach¬ ment — Ben Butler joins in — Raymond retires — Beecher surrenders — Is at¬ tacked by Cox — Nast’s cartoons — Elizabeth Cady Stanton attacks Radicals — Seymour’s campaign speech — Radicals win — Celebration in Cooke’s bank — England thinks the republic overturned.

VIII. The Revolution Hurries on

Radical conferences — Stevens feeble, but determined — Congress hailed as the Government — The civic procession — The scenes in streets — Stevens’s affront to the President — Radicals meet marchers on East Portico — The banquet at night — The revolutionary scene — Busts and pictures — Johnson with Ristori that day — Stormy party caucus — Like meeting of the Jacobins — Tonguelashing the President — Stevens feels ‘too conservative’ — Raymond insulted — Stevens lashes him — ‘Put him out’ — Stevens’s rooms crowded — Confers with carpetbaggers — Military government or negro suffrage — Suffrage voted in District — Johnson’s veto — Stanton again hostile — If in the District, why not in the South? — The Washington atmosphere — Jobless men — Suspicions in so¬ ciety — Johnson’s receptions and levees — Grant’s receptions — Charles Sumner’s marriage — Mrs. Sumner — Gossip — Separation — Vinnie Ream’s studio — Joe Jefferson playing — And Forrest — The Milligan decision — Stevens de¬ nounces the Court — Submits his Military Bill — ‘I avow the party purpose’ — Raymond protests — Blaine and Bingham would fix time limit — Stevens attacks them — And prevails — ‘ Heaven rules as yet ’ — Senate accepts Blaine-Bingham amendment — Stevens enraged — His motive — Promises a confiscation bill — The Tenure-of-Office Act — Hendricks attacks it — Johnson consults Cabinet on two bills — Stanton advises veto of Tenure-of-Office Act — Helps prepare it — Johnson’s weariness and depression — Masterful vetoes — Passed over veto — ‘ Impeachment our only remedy ’ — Caucus on impeachment — An impeachment resolution — Johnson charged with Lincoln’s assassination — A disgraceful scene

— The investigation a farce — Character of Ashley — Blaine doubts impeach¬ ment demand — Stevens replies — Adjournment — Democrats carry Connecticut

— Stevens uneasy at Lancaster — Rebukes Henry Wilson’s conciliation talk — Plans confiscation — Interview with Southern editor — Johnson’s failing health — Grant harassed by politicians — Johnson’s journey to Raleigh — Had a drink at Chapel Hill — Putting Military Bill in operation — Stanbery’s interpretation — General Sheridan’s insolent message — Stevens urges quorum for extra session — Labor on rampage — Johnson’s Boston trip — Thad Stevens’s lost interview with ‘New York Herald’ — How secured — Causes sensation — Extra session — Stevens’s debility — Butler on murder charge — Congress acts on Military Bill — Serenade for Stevens — Johnson’s veto — Passed over veto — The Conover scan¬ dal — Impeachment talk — Stevens urges action — Johnson acts on Stanton — His defiance — ‘Grant is going over’ — Agreement with Grant — Sheridan re¬ moved — Disciplining of Grant begins — Attacks on his presidential candidacy — Ben Butler’3 detectives — Abuse of Mrs. Lincoln — Democrats gain heavily — Stevens loses Lancaster * — Celebration at Washington — The Cookes depressed.

Xlll

IX. The Great American Farce 171

Stevens tottering — Johnson’s reception — Attends Jackson dinner — Plans court appeal in Stanton case — Grant breaks his word — Surrenders office to Stanton — Johnson’s statement — The Johnson-Grant correspondence — Grant’s poor show¬ ing — Stevens’s comment — Grant joins the revolutionists — Character of Stan¬ ton — Senate gets notice of his removal — Scene in Senate — Declares removal illegal — Crowds in streets — Johnson appoints Thomas — Stanton guarded in his office — Talk of civil war — Rush to the Capitol — Scene in House — Stevens’s manner and appearance — Offers impeachment resolution — The scene at night — Bitter debate — Scenes on Sunday — A snowy Monday — Scene in House — Stevens closes debate — ‘At grips with death’ — Impeachment by party vote —

Scene that night at White House — Scenes in committee preparing articles — Pro¬ fanity of Stevens and Bingham — Their quarrels — Reactions — Johnson attends Chase reception — He chooses lawyers — The infamy of Jere Black — Base use of Black’s action — Demand for tickets — Thad Stevens at home — Is carried to his seat — ‘What will I do when you boys are dead?’ — Is carried to Senate — His ghastly appearance — Scene in Senate — Date for trial fixed — Stevens thought dead — His lyrical speech — His home pictured — Johnson hears from friends — Stanton barricaded — Johnson’s sizzling veto — Butler’s speech — Clemenceau’s criticism — Senate scenes the first week — Curtis speaks — Testimony for de¬ fense — Suppressing material evidence — Evarts rebukes Senate — He confers with General Schofield, who accepts nomination for Stanton’s place — Events during the trial — Dickens — Maggie Mitchell — Fanny Kemble — Dan Rice’s Circus — Johnson’s calmness and dignity — Holds receptions — Attends funeral of negro steward — Wade arranging his Cabinet — Grosbeck’s great speech — Stevens’s pathetic effort — Deathlike face — Evarts’s brilliant speech — Stanbery’s — Bad news for impeachers — Fessenden — Attempts to bully him — Grant canvasses for votes — Detectives follow Senators — The persecution of Vinnie Ream — Gambling on the result — Bingham’s dull speech and staged demonstration — Five days of madness — Ben Butler ready to buy votes — In¬ timidation — The G. A.R. — M. E. Church Conference — Johnson in touch — Night conference with Grimes — Senate behind closed doors — Hysteria at the Willard — Betting on results — Grimes for acquittal — A sad afternoon — Night scenes at Capitol — The terror stage — Persecuting Miss Ream — Abuse of Fes¬ senden and Trumbull — The lash for Henderson — Grant canvasses Frelinghuysen

— Church influence and Willey — Chase’s dinner — Watched by spies — Sunday scenes — A negro sermon — The fateful morning — The night before — Dan Sickles and Miss Ream — Intimidation of Ross — The galleries — The scene below — Howard on a stretcher — Grimes carried in — The roll-call — Stevens black with rage — Rush to the White House — The grounds that night — John¬ son serenaded — The Butler ‘investigation’ — Greeley’s shameless comments — Revenge on Vinnie Ream.

X. Carpetbaggers and a Protest 198

Union League emissaries in South — Consolidating negro vote The Union League Club — Inciting blacks against native whites — Organizing on plantations

— Freedmen’s Bureau agents’ part — Incendiary speakers — Low types — Preaching social equality for votes — Hunnicutt of Virginia — Advises stealing — Negroes better than Irishmen — Brownlow of Tennessee — Freedmen taught arrogance — Dangers to whites — Women on plantations — Riots in Virginia In New Orleans — Use of the church — Northern politicians on speaking tours — Henry Wilson — ‘Pig Iron’ Kelley — His inflammatory Mobile speech — Union League forms secret negro clubs — It gets reports on progress — Psychology of negro organizing — Intimidating doubtful negroes — Negro women The

XIV organizing in Texas — Alabama — Florida — North Carolina — Negroes armed

— A political catechism for the blacks — Mrs. Stowe disgusted — Organizing Republican Party in South — The conventions and their personnel — Longstreet joins Republicans — Lee declines — The factional fight in Virginia — The Union League as arbitrator — Hunnicutt wins — Florida carpetbag leaders — Joe Brown of Georgia — Effect of his apostasy — Praised by Greeley — Depression and hopelessness in South — Benjamin H. Hill steps forth — His portrait — His call to arms — The Davis Hall speech — His ‘Notes on the Situation’ — The South encouraged — Registration under the sword — Military outrages — Military satraps feed party press — Circulating Forney’s paper at public expense — Per¬ sonnel of constitutional conventions — Humorous incidents — Stealing begins — Organizing against ratification — The result — Carpetbaggers take possession.

XI. A Passing Phase 220

Stevens gags at treatment of Vinnie Ream — Forces restoration of her studio — Buchanan’s death — His relations with Stevens — Gestures of reconciliation — House refuses vote of respect — Stevens’s distress — Refused permission to offer resolution — - Flickering flame — Stevens on the bond question — Last speech —

Too feeble to return to Lancaster — Respect of his enemies — His last days — Deathbed scenes — Guarded by colored Zouaves — Taken to Capitol — To the station — Scene en route — At Lancaster — His will — His epitaph — Grant doubts about nomination — Republican charges against him — Phillips’s sneer — Theodore Tilton’s — Satisfies the Radicals — Nominated — The platform —

Joe Brown’s Convention speech — Democrats divided on money — The five-twenty bonds — Johnson’s hopes — Chase’s strength in Democratic Convention

— Canvassing the prospects — Pendleton’s popularity — Hendricks’s strength —

New York’s position — Convention scenes — Street orators — Vance’s fling — Seymour’s nomination — Effect on Johnson — On Chase — A weird campaign —

Grant and Seymour compared — No enthusiasm — Seymour’s organizing plan — Buying Washington correspondents — Slush funds — Jay Cooke the Republican angel — Nast’s cartoons — ‘Bloody Shirt’ — ‘What Answer?’ and political use of the novel — - Anna Dickinson — ‘The World’s’ comments — The ‘outrage mill’ at work — Republican demonstration in Philadelphia — The Democratic in New York — Whigs join Southern Democrats — Painful process — John Quincy Adams II — His great speeches — Hot fight in Georgia — The Bush Arbor meeting — Ben Hill’s speech — Frank Blair’s letter — Grant elected — Johnson’s children’s party — His New Year reception — Morton attends — Also Ben But¬ ler — The latter’s explanation — The brilliant last reception — White House scenes the last night — Johnson does not ride with Grant — Grant’s inaugural

— Cabinet speculation — Mystery — Press praises independence of politicians

— The result — Stewart — Borie — The Cabinet — Press comments — Julian’s

— Henry Adams’s — The case of Stewart — Schurz amazed — Impossible ap¬ pointments — Embarrassment of Fish and Hoar — Appointing Tame ducks’ — Ashley rewarded — Nepotism — On gift-taking — Johnson’s journey home.

XII. Washington : The Social Background 242

Physical Washington — Marks of war — Mired on F Street — Unpaved streets — Street cars — Street vendors — Dearth of houses — Rich move in — Tourists arrive — Street scenes — Favorite drives — Bar-rooms — Gambling-houses —

John Chamberlin’s — He takes the British Legation — His dinners — His gam¬ bling-rooms — Midnight lunches for players — John Welcher’s restaurant — The host — Headquarters of statesmen and lobbyists — Pretty women — History made there — Sam Ward’s restaurant — Its tone — Host fit companion for Sheridan and Moore — Wormley’s Hotel — The Willard — Hotel hops — Mrs.

John B. Henderson’s receptions — Zack Chandler sets dizzy pace — Miss Chand¬ ler Her marriage — New social tone — Much vulgarity — Receptions an ‘ epidemic Crashing the gates — Expenses — Walt Whitman — Ruined by ‘Leaves of Grass’ His mode of living — His friend John Burroughs socially cut also Mark Twain’s social season — Julia Ward Howe — Gail Hamil¬ ton Mrs. Southworth — Anna Dickinson — Vinnie Ream — Forney’s salon — Shepherd’s parties — ‘As soon enter a house of prostitution’ — Peggy Eaton back Jessie Fremont Benton — Mrs. John Tyler — The Decatur house — The Beale girls — Henry Adams’s idea of society — Exclusives and the mob — Mrs. Blaine’s ‘ odds and ends ’ — Snobbery — The pretty wife of an old Senator — The social swirl — A luncheon — Reception nights — Street scenes — Scenes within — Flirtations and huge fans — Long trains — Mrs. Schurz shocked — ■ Kate Chase Sprague — Her brilliance and beauty — Her father’s devotion Belle of the town at twenty — Deep in politics — Her marriage — Social leader at twenty-four — Her gorgeous gowns and rich ornaments — Outshines her adornment — Her homes — Her dinners — Her first baby a national event — The grand lady — One of her receptions — Portrait of her — Secret of her charm — Mrs. Belknap the first — Her triumph — Death — Second Mrs. Belknap — Dashing Kentucky belle — Gossip — Her Parisian season — Her extravagance — Two natures — Her receptions — Her gowns — Her equipage — A Worth gown — Description — Mrs. Williams — Appearance and charm — Her ambition — Snobbery — Blunder — Mrs. Hamilton Fish — Her regal carriage — Social mentor of Mrs. Grant — Grand manner — Her home — Lady Thornton — Mme. de Noailles — Her cleverness — Mme. Potesdad’s beauty — Mme. Flores, the exquisite Ecuadorian — Mme. Garda — Her brush with Mrs. Fish — Social bril¬ liance — Appearance — Minerva, not Venus — Talks with Grant — Her thirty thousand dollars in plate — Her novel — Mme. Catacazy — Description — Her early scandal — Her home — Her gambling — Receives Grand Duke Alexis — Supper on the lawn.