Perleys Reminiscences, v. 1-2

Reminiscences, v. 1-2, by
Benjamin Perley Poore

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Title: Perley's Reminiscences, v. 1-2 of Sixty Years in the National
Metropolis
Author: Benjamin Perley Poore
Release Date: January 5, 2007 [EBook #20290]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PERLEY'S
REMINISCENCES, V. 1-2 ***

Produced by An Anonymous Volunteer

Transcriber's note:
The digraphs "ae" and "oe" are spelled out for clarity.

The chapter summaries in the Table of Contents are repeated in the
book at the start of each chapter. At the end of each chapter is a
facsimile autograph and a brief biography of the signer. The running
page titles are omitted.
Vol. I, Chap. XLIII: "President's Message or" changed to "President's
Message on"
Vol. II, Chap. IX: "Lamar" changed to "Lamon"
A tabulation of the 1884 Presidential vote totals has been added.
The typographical fist is represented by the right guillamet (»).
LoC catalog number: E179.P8
[Frontispiece: perley.jpg] Engr. by H. B. Hall's Sons, New York
[Signed] Faithfully yours, Ben: Perley Poore
PERLEY'S REMINISCENCES OF SIXTY YEARS IN THE
NATIONAL METROPOLIS
Illustrating the Wit, Humor, Genius, Eccentricities, Jealousies,
Ambitions and Intrigues of the Brilliant Statesmen, Ladies, Officers,
Diplomats, Lobbyists and other noted Celebrities of the World that
gather at the Centre of the Nation; describing imposing Inauguration
Ceremonies, Gala Day Festivities, Army Reviews, &c., &c., &c.
BY BEN: PERLEY POORE.
The Veteran Journalist, Clerk of the Senate Printing Records, Editor of
the Congressional Directory, and Author of Various Works.
Illustrated.
VOL. I. HUBBARD BROTHERS, PUBLISHERS, PHILADELPHIA.
Boston, Cincinnati, Kansas City; W. A. Houghton, New York; A. W.
Stolp, Chicago; A. W. Mills, Tecumseh, Mich.; E. Holdoway & Co., St.

Louis; L. S. Varney & Co., Minneapolis; A. L. Bancroft & Co., San
Francisco.
Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1886, by
BEN: PERLEY POORE, in the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at
Washington.
NOTICE TO BOOKSELLERS. This book is sold exclusively by
subscription, all agents being strictly enjoined by contract from selling
in any other way. Any evasion of this plan of sale will be a trespass
upon the copyright rights of the author. HUBBARD BROS.
PREFACE.
The public favor with which the journalistic writings of the subscriber
have been received prompted the publication of these volumes. Their
object is to give personal details concerning prominent men and women
in social and political life at the National Metropolis since he has
known it. He has especially endeavored to portray those who "in
Congress assembled" have enacted the laws, and those who have
interpreted and enforced the provisions under which the United States
has advanced, during the past sixty years, from comparative infancy
into the vigor of mature manhood, and has successfully defended its
own life against a vigorous attempt at its destruction.
In chronicling what has transpired within his personal recollection at
the National Metropolis, he has gathered what "waifs" he has found
floating on the sea of chat, in the whirlpools of gossip, or in the quiet
havens of conversation. Some of these may be personal --piquantly
personal, perhaps--but the mighty public has had an appetite for
gossipings about prominent men and measures ever since the time
when the old Athenians crowded to hear the plays of Aristophanes.
The subscriber is aware that some who write of prominent persons and
political events indulge too much in sycophantic flattery, while others
have their brains addled by brooding on some fancied wrong, or their
minds have lost their even poise by dwelling on insane reforms or

visionary projects. All this may have its use, but the subscriber has
preferred to look at things in a more cheerful way, to pluck roses rather
than nettles, and neither to throw filth nor to blow trumpets.
While the Republic has preserved with commendable pride the
histories of her statesmen and her martial defenders, it is well that the
memories of those of the gentler sex, who have from time to time taken
prominent part in shaping the destinies of the nation, should also be
remembered. This work will give, it is hoped, an idea of stirring events
in both political and social life, of the great men and the fascinating
women who have figured in Washington during the past six decades.
Those who were too well acquainted with these personal details to
think of recording them are fast passing away, and some account of
them cannot but interest younger generations, while it will not fail to
profit the older politicians,