New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-10-29
Il WOMAN'S VICTORIES.
Mrs. Pryor's Book About the Ciuit
Var.

prNrSascrxcEs OF PEACE AND WAR BY
Mrs. Roger A Pryor. l2nos pp s1A Ehe MAC
milan Company.
Mrs. Pryor's volume is a thoroughly inter
esfsnr contribution 60 the story Of what the
ssvll War meant % the Virginians- Her rerni-
nisoences are picturesque. pathetic. often
sfirrsng n they are expressive not only OF
szomRnIy Kindness. endurance and courage but OF
-vomaniy prejudice as we'll we need not wonder.
The miseries Of that period for Virginia women
were calculated 70 TX their vision upon their own
sunerings an1 surroundings.
A Eraphsc account Of llfe In Washington In the
EOs ans most entertainingly the earlier portion
az the book As the charming wife Of a success
ful young Journalist and Congressman. Mrs.
PRYOR knew everybody worth while" In the
washington OF Fillmore. Pierce and buchanan.
end she chats about her experiences in capt.
waiting way. Her pictures OF people are effective.
hey anecdotes amusing. Among the visitors TO
the White House Of whom she tells US were the
members OF the first japanese Embassy ever
sent TO this country. Its dignitaries were
stately wrinkled, impassive personages. who
drove through The streets looking neither to the
TsRht nor left They were much entertained BY
Egashir gton's notabilities. and would range
themselves" says the author. ION the seats pre-
pared FOR them and look on silently with half
Fhs,t eyes and expressionless faces The dancing
e.Ilrhted them. How much are the women
paidg ventured one and was amazed TO nnd
they danced for pleasure only. tiny. round
faced boy was always Of the party. We some
simes spoke 20 him. and he invariably answered
AN right until be was known as Little All
RiEht. and as he was the only gracious one OF
the whole party. ne became favorite-" Japan
has taken many a long step since those days.
The darkening OF the political sky In 1883
fs forcioly described BY Mrs Pryor-Writing
generally, o. course. from the Southern point
o. view. The social lines. she notes. were strict
~ drawn between North and South. Mrs
stephen A. Douglas. one Of the most popular
az washington hostesses. "cut" her husbands
opponents, and a scene IN her theatre box was.
a Is 70 be supposed. In some sort typical Mrs.
Pryor was with her. and the Presidents niece,
Miss Lane occupied adjoining box;
Mr.. Poreher Miles, member from South Carolina.
who had opposed Judge DOuglass domination ap-
Douglas turned and said: Sir you have made a
mistake. Your yist s intended tor neAt 9 9GSt
he permitted to make my respects for Mrs Pryor,
Ssncht Of course. Of the private opinions Of each
and was able 70 be the friend Of each. ms.
ii saVors think. OF rl bred iInpertiiInenee" y
ao supposed heE laoy. sac nj 1ltss: 81; , a.
EuEtiO-an ingenue.
Buchanan was wretched ola General Cass.
the Secretary OF State. sai1 Of him: ''The Prssi-
dent is pale with fear" He prayed much OF the
tlms--and the tide Of secession swept On The
author paints the situation then and later in
Virginia in a spirited fashion The wild en-
fhusiasm OF the Southern soldiers lives again
for us-and. aiasI 50 DO the struggles and pri-
stations undergone by the Southern women
One cannot read these stories OF CHEEKY patience
and unseIhsh toll without admiration. Mrs.
Pryor spent many OF the later days OF the war
n Petersburg and SAYS OF that time:
The famine moved on apaee. but SIS twin sis
ter fever never visited Us Never had petersburg
streets. Every particle OF animal or vegetable food
was consumed. and the streets were clean. Flocks
ing bread or crackers. Finally the pigeons van
lsaed haylng been themselves eaten RATS ana
the streets and began TO die Of hunger. Al times
eb Hn once y ss 6av Ss eo8siSered ' s5
abundant ration for each member OF the family.
PIGS bacon. -four everything. was stolen. and
even sitting hers were taken from the nest
Anon: many painful "reminiscences there IS
Sometimes one that Is pleasant TO record Wit
ness this
About o'clock IN the morning our exemen were
av0dsbie noise attracted the notice Of a federal
picket u the black darkness he called out:
az that fuss about over there?'
General Gordon was for a moment disconnected.
but rifeman answered in cheerful voice:
Eieepl We just gathering a little corn: you
know rations are mighty short over here"
There was q patch OF between the lines.
some stili hanging on the stalks After q few
E1oments there came back the kindly reply OF the
Yankee picket:
IAN right. johnny; go ahead ana get your corn
7 won't shoot YOU
General Gordon was about TO give the command
70 60 forward. when the rifleman showed some
coHnpuncti0ns OF conscience for having used de-
ception which might result n the picket's death,
By calling out loudly;
Look our for yourself now. TankI Were going
20 ehell the woods"
Such exhibitions OF true kindness and oomrade-
ghip were rot uncommon during the war.