New-York tribune., 1891-03-08

,vov emphasizes what | have sald ABOUT Nc
obsurd way children remember. and how hinsS
of Great moment are forgotten while absolute
,rIacs remain clear and distinct in their mlhos-'
of n walk home from church behind MISS ""il'
,vhosc father was the Senator from Can1orhla anu
a noted SeceSsionist. | was told by my niue COUSIN
,,ot sbc was great belc,n and that the young
officer walking with her had resigned. ana WIS
Going South to join the Southern army. as soon
as they had one. Isn't she perfectly graceful:
said the young girl. just see how she SWINGS
bcr boop over the puddcs!7 as with a tilt OF
her skirts, the pretty Miss Gwin cleared the muddy
,,Iacrs on the pavement, and both walked
admirngly behind hcr, feeling that she possessed
the chic and style which we both so chlldlshly
admired How funny the stylish costume OF uhtu
day would look now. Fancy very lu'N
LIGHT colorcd SILK gathered in numbcriess iol'S
al the waist, and extending to the ground oVeI
hoop Of enormous dimensions; waist cuV
in what we would consider now a simply Iu-
possible fashion, with shoulder-seams coming i'r
below the shoulder and holding the arms down
like a strap: with open, wide sleeves showing
very full pulfcd urdcr-slceves and broad turheu-
down collar of linen lace. which conlple"'
this ntrinsicay ugly dress OF the period. Inc
bonnet, which stuck almost on the pacK vi
the neck. was so small tnat it left the top oi tIc
head quite exposed to both sun and winter wlhdS
and as for the shoes What lady of today
would like to put on light, low congress CATERS
with black tips? And yet all this seemed IN
as good style then as one of Redlerns simple
and wcll-cut street gowns would to-day.
Shortly aftcrward came the Inauguration, which
has been described so often and 90 we'll that my
confused recollection would he superiiuous And
then came my first near view Of and introduction
I, Mr.. Lincoln. whom I remember at that time
rs Il very tall man. in long, black. frock co2o
and with rugged. kindly face, smiling down al
ne as my father said Mr President, my little
yirl would like 10 have the horror of shaking hands
with you,T and | ict his cordial grasp as his
great hand closed over mine. Mr.. Seward was
with him and Mr.. Cameron the former dld
not AXE much notice Of such a small, insignificant
being as myself, but Mr.. Cameron was very KIND
then and ever aftcrward. | lost my fear Of Mi
Seward completely later on, for he was charming
in his own house, and | well remember a visit
to him shortly afterward when he courteously and
kindly provided me with a quantity of pictorial
periodicals for my amusement before proceeding
with his talk with my father Mr. WcllcS Nh
Blair. Mr. Smith and Mr. Bates completed the
group of Mr.. L.ncons Mnistcrs-all strangers
then but each face becoming familiar in the days
10 come. IS usual, after the Inauguration then
was a ball. although | fancy that few felt like
hllarity at that time, with the country face t.
face with civil war. and society in absolute an
archy The few remaining old Southern leaders
stood pointcdlv aloof an1 the diplomatic corps
were Sympathzing III secret with their old allies
and friends Stll. the ball was held, and as a pic
urc Of the times here is a description Of a
dress worn the occasion: The
robe was of white illusion, dccollctc
with very full pulled sleeves reaching to the wrist
| 4 huge hoop-Skirt held out in still greater cir
cumcrcncc sin founccs embroidered in cherry silk.
Then there were n short, full fcstooncd oVcrSkirt
| oi cherry satin. loopcd up with white artificial
roses, and a long pointed waist OF the same edged
with q quilting OF white satin. In those DAYS the
" back hair and front hair were rs distinct rs
East ard West tie former being arranged in
coil or plait as suited the taste of the wcarer and
the latter worn in wavy pulls that drooped down
| and covered the ears. chaplet or crown OF
flowers completed this curious ball-drcss of 1851.
| which, however was as becoming rs the present
fashion of the hour ever is; and rccollect stand
ING entranced before two visions Of beauty who
| were ready 10 90 To the ball and whom was
permitted 10 in their glory.
While looking for house Mr.. Chase had taken
| a suite of rooms AT a ro0my old family hotcl az
| the corner Of Fourteenth and SITS, and one OF
my pleasant memories Of that time Is oi Mr
| Iloroti0 Briggs IA paymastcr in our Navy ana
his lovely wife who had their rooms opposit" ours
across the wide old-flshioncd hail. and Of their
books. who were friends. and Of their friends
,yho wrote the books. Here ! learned 10 know
| Hawthorne and that is what | fancy very few
persons had the prvc~r Of doing, for ol all
shy and sensitive men ! never saw his equal
| Here again my youth helped me. for he was
willing enough 10 make friends with a child. al
| 81. Z lao. tl,r y in
deed. all strangers Enthusiastic already about
the author of the wonderful magical tales ny
admiration was not lcsscncd by KNOWN per
,oually this Gentle. refined creature. witt his
| lar.c. soft, dark-vcrv dark-cycs. his SHOW
| white ml>tache and hair and his Noung-louklng.
| handsome face. He was iit ideal, | thought.
| for the man who had written the dearly loved
romanccs. Washington, with It's tlmult and eA-
! element, was peculiarly dstaotciul to this
| Gentle rccGsc. who came out OF his shell ouly It.
| receive his appointment rs Consul to Liverpool
| Some time alcrwarl-hcloic s1iling-hc again
| returned 10 Washington, and | suppose sheer
| sr4,. of duty made him attend one of the Cabinet
| receptions given at our house. lie seemed thor
oughiy wrctchcd in the crowd and looked
genuinely and atcrnsy pleased when he saw
tAc little glrI lie had made friends with fcw
weeks previously, while on hs visit to Mrs.
| l;rie-,; and, crossing at once to me- he stayed
! few minutes. and then left the reception with
| dare say dcyout tAan!,lulneso that the ordeal
Was over.
! ln the early part Of April we (my sister and l.
| went 10 Ncw-YOrk 10 visit some friends. The cap.
| tJl at that time was, - outward seeming un-
changed by the intense political feeling, and was
quietly pursuing the ordinary routine of every
day transactions; and We little realized that we
should iihi ii on our return huge sarri,oncG
camp and that actual war should have unfurlcd
| ncr banner between North and South. | shall
never forget my first impressions OF Ncw-l lorll
! Although the elders Of the family travelled east
ward almost yearly, had always been lett with