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
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 thatgather at the Centre of the Nation; describing imposing InaugurationCeremonies, Gala Day Festivities, Army Reviews, &c., &c., &c.
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 beingstrictly enjoined by contract from selling in any other way. Anyevasion of this plan of sale will be a trespass upon the copyrightrights of the author. HUBBARD BROS.
The public favor with which the journalistic writings of thesubscriber have been received prompted the publication of thesevolumes. Their object is to give personal details concerningprominent men and women in social and political life at the NationalMetropolis since he has known it. He has especially endeavored toportray those who "in Congress assembled" have enacted the laws,and those who have interpreted and enforced the provisions underwhich the United States has advanced, during the past sixty years,from comparative infancy into the vigor of mature manhood, and hassuccessfully defended its own life against a vigorous attempt atits destruction.
In chronicling what has transpired within his personal recollectionat the National Metropolis, he has gathered what "waifs" he hasfound floating on the sea of chat, in the whirlpools of gossip, orin the quiet havens of conversation. Some of these may be personal—piquantly personal, perhaps—but the mighty public has had anappetite for gossipings about prominent men and measures ever sincethe time when the old Athenians crowded to hear the plays ofAristophanes.