Belles, beaux and brains of the 60's . Theyproved very attractive to the better posed and more distin-guished visitors, and weremost useful in letting thePresident and his wife devotemore attention to the plainerpeople. A military band was alwaysin attendance, generally dis-pensing popular music, butsometimes classic. Cabinetministers, congressmen,heads of bureaus and de- partments, new generals and ^wBP / ^^^^^r old admirals, fresh-faced ^^ - young recruits and distinc- tively foreign types from thecoast South, all mingled to-gether. There was more variety than in the East Roomlevee at Washin
Belles, beaux and brains of the 60's . Theyproved very attractive to the better posed and more distin-guished visitors, and weremost useful in letting thePresident and his wife devotemore attention to the plainerpeople. A military band was alwaysin attendance, generally dis-pensing popular music, butsometimes classic. Cabinetministers, congressmen,heads of bureaus and de- partments, new generals and ^wBP / ^^^^^r old admirals, fresh-faced ^^ - young recruits and distinc- tively foreign types from thecoast South, all mingled to-gether. There was more variety than in the East Roomlevee at Washington, and more action and eagerness. Wewere then not making history very rapidly, but many of thosepresent later filled whole pages. Here was seen the red beard of Ambrose P. Hill; Beaure-gard would sometimes glide through the rooms with hisstaff. Dashing Pierce Young attended and gallants fromMaryland, soft-voiced Carolinians and sturdy estrays fromKentucky and Missouri, mingled with the home set and thedainty debutantes and JOHN CHEVES HASKELL BELLES, BEAUX AND BRAINS OF THE SIXTIES 197 These assemblages were great amalgamaters, and broughttogether people who had never met elsewhere. No doubtmany moves in politics—not always friendly to the headof the house—were begun or discussed there; and that cam-paigns of a tenderer nature were also carried on, goes withoutsaying. Mrs. Davis received every comer with pleasant, if notwholly genial, welcome. She never differentiated, and allwere made to feel that they were present by right and noton sufferance. Here, as in all social matters, Mrs. Davisfound able assistance in her young sister. Miss Howell, agreat favorite with the official set, and she relieved the dul-ness of many a group. The President himself unbent more at these levees—though they assuredly bored him—than anywhere else. Hehad that marvelous memory which locates instantly a mannot seen for years, and his familiar inquiries so pleased thevisito
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