Iron County register., 1893-10-26
CHAPTER V.

BALTIMORE WAR PARTY.
A brilliant and representative gather
ing, but not a large one, had assembled
in the handsomely-decorated parlors of
Mrs. Gilmor Gray.
That fair and gracious hostess-still
among the most attractive of the Mon
umental city's society leaders-was as
sisted in entertainment of distinguished
guests by two brilliant daughters,
noted bellies in that city, among whose
women beauty and refinement are the
rule.
To both Of these the Misses Westches-
tcr-for the fair matron had solaced a
sometime widowhood at the earnest
pleading of Mr.. Gilmor Gray, a noted
club bachelor in supposed-to-be-imper-
vious armor - added travel, accom-
plishment and high culture of rare mu-
sical gifts. Miss Bessie, small, bru-
nette and piquante, was a balladist Sec
ond to none in that musical center; and
her Interpretation of German songs,
especially, had repute scarce attained
by the perfect mastery of her Erard
piano, that showed under the strong,
precise hands of her sister, blonde, i'm
perious, stately, and Miss Westchester
by grace of eighteen months lapse.
About these handsome rooms COM
fortably moved company rarely dis
tinguished, even at q day when the
strong current of national events bore
on it the strongest, most cultured and
best-known men aud women of the
land. And close vicinage to the nation
al capital added to some Baltimore re-
unions the glitter of uniforms, military
as we'll as diplomatic. and the glamour
of great names. -, .a.,.,-
Indeed, during the war time, Balti-
more society was unique beyond any in
America; and a broad, deep stream of
sentiment-picketed on one side by de-
fiant, outspolen feeling, on the other by
prudence, sagacity, tact; and ceaseless
watchfulness-fiowed through the social
city, as dangerous and difficult to pass
as the near-fowing Potomac.
But, if ''the despot's heel'' was really
pressing on Maryland's shore, it GER
at her capital of society and of COM
merce.
For-stronghold of southern sympa-
thizers, the ''rebel nest" as Washington
held her to be-most of Baltimore's lead
ing people had tact sufficient to keep
their tongues still, however active they
may have been otherwise in aid to strug-
Cling friend or relative beyond the bor-
der, however much Of disgust may, in
many instances, have lurked beneath
the smile. Never protesting loyalty"
as the word was then mistranslated,
these were wise enough to repress all
blatant hint of its opposite, well real
izing that no good could possibly result
therefrom, while one chance word might
mar all future possibility Of usefulness,
even while resulting in immediate hurt
or danger.
If not profound society peace, there
reignet. at least social truce, sensitive,
unformulated, liable to rupture on slight
occasion; for it might have been OF the
social situation then that was written:
Though sc conquer US, men OF the north. know
ye not
What fierce. sullen hatred turks under the
scare
How loyal was Venice to Hapsburg, wot.-
How dearly the Pole loves his father the
czar."
Yet under more than one roof which
covered a family of the best old stock,
every heart beating in perfect unison
with the struggling southrons, were re-
ceived men and women who widely diff
fered in every public matter, but were
wholly congenial in every social one.
And that tactful grace which has ever
been the chief charm of Baltimore so
ciety deft1y rounded dangerous and
treacherous headlands of opinion, to
glide safely into those neutral waters
of simple social contact.
Exceptions there were, even in such
households, where the fair Marylander
had thought her ear profaned by
courteous address from the Yankee, her
hand polluted by his social touch! Such
openly paraded their sympathies and
sang aloud the praises Of their dear