The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-02-04
DIPLOMACY AND ITS SECRETS
THE POWER or BEdUTTFUL WOMEN IN
GOVERNMENT CIRCLES.
n Bashins widow and her Attractive Daush-
ter In Washington city In Wsr Times
Whence Jemcrs Da via q OF his Information


Pom n. T,n,,
For number Of years previous to the war
Of the rebellion there dwcli in Washington City
woman who in addition 10 the advantages "
an excellent education. possessed charming
manner. and the means by which she was
enabled to maintain most excellent social posi-
ton. Whence tho moans came was not known
No act Of Improperly Of rd or deed was
ever imputed to her tui she was received
wherever she chose 10 present herself. with all
courtesy. aud in turn her hos pitality was always
cordially accepted. She wa originally from
one Of the Southern States. was widow. or
passed n such and had most attractive
daughter who, like herself. moved IN the host
society Of the capital cspcrially that circle 81 II
which was moro dis,inctlvcly represented iy
the Diplomatic corps. a distinguished attnchc
Of the British Legation was, in int. somewhat
marked IN his attentions 70 IN" daughfer-her-
ecif married woman There were those who
desiring To- look beneath the surface Of things.
put TINS nnd tht ,oErihci ana 'oncelNcd thr
notion that tho diplomatic representatives Of
Russia could tell great deaf. il they chose. rs
10 whence came the income that enabled two
such charming ladies To grace so effectively the
gay nssemblagcs whore they were eyer present
The cloud that burs, in Jury n 1861 brought
wonderful changes 20 the social life Of the cnpi-
Cal The drum and the buRlc replaced the vio-
lin and harp and the enaulct outshone the gilt
ter Of diplomatic lace. The secrets of State be-
The gay attachc Of Britain was replaced by
sn uxorious officer Of the Adluiant- GcncIrnls
iftHhilllt anu ~ NleliNulrh'h 'b'ih'.
istcr OF The new regime became tne recipient 81
the Establishments and smiles Of the iair-haircd
daughter.
Often has tho writer when serving under
arms in defence Of tho national capital. met the
dlstingnlsh.l Ministof sti"liilns ,nr t 'h u
camps with the lair ana fascinating icnlal' on
his arm as well az ut the social gatherings held
at the Minister'S housr. where Madam was
always present while. with the aid otthe mOdiSfe.
she added now charms to her vouptuous per,
son. seldom. however. absent from the side OF
the eminent host; In fact. in the absence OF
lpkittma hostess she nluNpt the part
herself. ana did II To peric"ii"n, WIN grace ANA
sef-possession unappt9a'hahl' mere WIS.
have been forced 10 hide it, head in shame had
H. breathed word OF male" based upon what
NIL the world could see and oould not criticise.
Grave events were however, hnt'hing IN the
womb OF time ana among these wa G a pian To-
strike thr lobcllon az ~ nrhrt. cut OH me very
possSc gthe ao no agsrc re-, foo, ,no,
rival in it, proportions the spanish Armada
md to descend upon q e coast NJ rebellion and
sweep away from II all the power II gained ny
The way Of the sea. or conr-" the plans. III"
detuiis. tho force and especially the d"stinallnn
Of this formidable organization was nee,ssarN
whole -u','esa lay in the invoabilny of tho-r
who Were changed with this knuwledg" 80 -n-
cred was this trust regarded that the wrnnr.
who. at his own request. Wa- assigned 70 not
unimporant command IN the expedition re-
Trained from all ntrrrogaiorio- ~ To- IT, d'sti- .
nation. an! 'n r'nlty suppressed every natural
desire To- br informed 81 On" o,Ne'tv" point l"-
cause ne r ENfl'l NNDii MI Nl'il-' ~ u ~ h-i ~
sacred that Il SHOULD b' ronud,l ~ advance
only to tho-, 90 whom 10 was a. 'lutrlv and inn
peratiyriy necessary that y should T." known.
II was a Cabinet sccf,t. impaired under seal 10
the commanders of the expedition to be re-
venlrd only as the moment ui sailing.
Twenty thousand soldiers 5000 sailors. AMI
10 vessels constituted this formidable iurc". ON
The eve Of IT, departure. hui h'inrc IN" troops
had embarked. ITS de-. nailon WIS impaired o.
the writcr-not hy The President, with whom hc
was in constant contact; not boy u Cabinet MIN
lister. SOM or whom he saw nearly every dnF
nnt 81 la ID 4
hut the Information came through the ia-rl
eating southern friend II tn Secretary. nni
Jefferson nAvi- was male aware OF II at the
same time
Nevcrthel'as the writer sun Kept ms own