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  [Illustration: GENERAL ROBERT E. LEE ON "TRAVELLER."
   _From a photograph by Miley, Lexington, Va._]


REMINISCENCES OF PEACE AND WAR

by

MRS. ROGER A. PRYOR

Author of "The Mother of Washington and Her Times"

Revised And Enlarged Edition






New York
Grosset & Dunlap
Publishers

Copyright, 1904, 1905,
by the Macmillan Company.

Set up and electrotyped. Published October, 1904. Reprinted
December, 1904; March, 1905.

New edition, with additions, September, 1905; April, 1908.

Norwood Press
J. S. Cushing & Co.—Berwick & Smith Co.
Norwood, Mass., U.S.A.




     I DEDICATE THIS BOOK TO THE MEMORY OF
     My Son
     WILLIAM RICE PRYOR, M.D.
     WHO GAVE TO SUFFERING HUMANITY ALL THAT
     GOD HAD GIVEN HIM




Preface


It will be obvious to the reader that this book affects neither the
"dignity of history" nor the authority of political instruction. The
causes which precipitated the conflict between the sections and the
momentous events which attended the struggle have been recounted by
writers competent to the task. But descriptions of battles and civil
convulsions do not exhibit the full condition of the South in the
crisis. To complete the picture, social characteristics and incidents of
private life are indispensable lineaments. It occurs to the author that
a plain and unambitious narrative of her recollections of Washington
society during the calm which preceded the storm, and of Virginia under
the afflictions and sorrows of the fratricidal strife, will not be
without interest in the retrospect of that memorable era. The present
volume recalls that era in the aspect in which it appeared to a woman
rather than as it appeared to a statesman or a philosopher.

     ROGER A. PRYOR.




Contents


     CHAPTER I

                                                                  PAGE

     Washington in the Fifties—Literary Society during Fillmore's
     Administration—John P. Kennedy, G. P. R. James, Mrs. Gales,
     and Mrs. Seaton—Anna Cora Mowatt                                3


     CHAPTER II

     President Pierce's Inauguration—The New Cabinet—Mr. Marcy
     prescribes Court Dress with Varying Results—Jefferson
     Davis—Sam Houston—General Scott—Washington Irving—Adelina
     Patti and Mrs. Glasgow—Advice of an "Old Resident" and its
     Unfortunate Result                                             15


     CHAPTER III

     Mr. Buchanan and his Cabinet—Roger A. Pryor's Mission to
     Greece—The Court of Athens—The Maid of Athens—The Ball at the
     Hotel de Ville—Queen Victoria's Dress and Dancing—The Countess
     Guiccioli—Early Housekeeping in Washington                     38


     CHAPTER IV

     The President at Church—Levee at the White House—A Dinner
     Party at the White House—Miss Harriet Lane—Lord and Lady
     Napier—Ball in their Honor—Baron and Madame Stoëckle—Madame
     Bodisco—The First Japanese Embassy to the United States        47


     CHAPTER V

     Great Names on the Rolls of the Supreme Court, Senate,
     and House of Representatives—Pen Picture of Stephen A.
     Douglas—Incident at a Ball—Mrs. Douglas—Vanity Fair, "Caps,
     Gowns, Petticoats, and Petty Exhibitions"—_Décolleté_
     Bodices—A Society Dame's Opinion thereon                       66


     CHAPTER VI

     Beautiful Women in Washington during Mr. Buchanan's
     Administration—Influence of Southern Women in
     Society—Conversational Talent—Over the _Demi-tasse_ after
     Dinner—Over the Low Tea-table—Hon. John Y. Mason and the Lady
     who changed her Mind—The Evening Party—Brilliant Talkers and
     Good Suppers                                                   80


     CHAPTER VII

     The Thirty-sixth Congress—Stormy Scenes in the House of
     Representatives—Abusive and Insulting Language—Rupture of
     Social Relations—Visit from General Cass at Midnight—The
     Midnight Conference of Southern Leaders—Nominations for
     the Presidency—The Heated Campaign and the "Unusual Course"
     of Stephen A. Douglas—Author of the Memorable Words of Mr.
     Seward, "Irrepressible Conflict"                               93


     CHAPTER VIII

     Memorable Days in the History of the Country—A Torch-light
     Procession in Virginia—An Uninvited Listener to a Midnight
     Speech—Wedding of Miss Parker and Mr. B