Belles, beaux and brains of the 60's . George Eustis, whomarried philanthropist Corcorans only child; William PorcherMiles, the bachelor of the Lower House who designed thefirst Confederate flag and, better, married the charming MissBettie Bierne, and manyanother, not unloved evenwhen unhonored and were the componentsof Capital society in the win-ter of 1860-61, when dullclouds of doubt and suspensebegan to press low on thehorizon. From East andWest and North heavy,grumbling thunder rolled dis-tant, but distinct. Throughcumuli, black and threat-ening, red flashes threatenedan early
Belles, beaux and brains of the 60's . George Eustis, whomarried philanthropist Corcorans only child; William PorcherMiles, the bachelor of the Lower House who designed thefirst Confederate flag and, better, married the charming MissBettie Bierne, and manyanother, not unloved evenwhen unhonored and were the componentsof Capital society in the win-ter of 1860-61, when dullclouds of doubt and suspensebegan to press low on thehorizon. From East andWest and North heavy,grumbling thunder rolled dis-tant, but distinct. Throughcumuli, black and threat-ening, red flashes threatenedan early storm. Washingtonlooked at the skies to theNorth, paused, hesitated;then went on waltzing andlobbying again. In society, ^- ^- °^ ^^°^ ^^^ ^^^- •• ^- laundersit whirled around in the german; at the Capitol in Bun-combe and jobs; in both, with a speed dizzier than everbefore. Still the horizon darkened and a few, timid orshrewd, began to take in sail and peer ahead for a port. Eventhe more reckless began to look from the horizon. 38 BELLES, BEAUX AND BEAINS OF TEE SIXTIES to each others faces with unrest and suspicion. But two classes seemed ignorant of the signs: the peoplewho came to spend money and the sharper ones who cameto make it. The former had grasped at the outer circle,and having secured an insecure grip upon its rim away theywent with a fizz and a spin, giddy, delighted, devil may other class held those thousand who annually came toroll logs, pull wires and juggle through bills, in congenial andpaying traffic, stuffed with terrapin and washed down withdry champagne. Who shall dive into and write the secretsof that marvelous committee of ways but no means and ofits impartial preying upon government and client? ThisCaliban of governmental spawning was holding a very witchesSabbath in the closing days of 1860. On with the rush! Dinners, balls, suppers followed eachother as unchecked as John Gilpin. Dress, jewels and equi-page cost sums undreamed of heret
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