Chapter XIX: A Buttermilk Poet 43

XX. Removal to Virginia--Impressions of Life There--The
Contradiction of the Critics in Their Creative
Incredulity 45

XXI. The Virginian Life 48

XXII. The Virginian Attitude Toward Money--Parson J----'s
Checks--The Charm of Leisureliness 49

XXIII. The Courtesy of the Virginians--Sex and
Education--Reading Habits--Virginia Women's Voices 55

XXIV. The Story of the West Wing--A Challenge to the
Ghosts--The Yellow-Gray Light--And Breakfast 60

XXV. Authors in Richmond--G. P. R. James, John Esten Cooke,
Mrs. Mowatt Ritchie, John R. Thompson, etc.--John Esten
Cooke, Gentleman--How Jeb Stuart Made Him a Major 66

XXVI. The Old Life in the Old Dominion and the New--An
Old Fogy's Doubts and Questionings 72

XXVII. Under Jeb Stuart's Command--The Legend of the
Mamelukes--The Life of the Cavaliers--Tristram
Shandy Does Bible Duty--The Delights of the War
Game and the Inspiration of It 76

XXVIII. Fitz Lee and an Adventure--A Friendly Old Foe 81

XXIX. Pestilence 86

XXX. Left Behind--A Gratuitous Law Practice Under
Difficulties--The Story of Tom Collins--A Death-Bed
Repentance and Its Prompt Recall 87

XXXI. Sharp-Shooter Service--Mortar Service at
Petersburg--The Outcome of a Strange Story 93

XXXII. The Beginning of Newspaper Life--Theodore Tilton
and Charles F. Briggs 99

XXXIII. Theodore Tilton 107

XXXIV. Further Reminiscences of Tilton 111

XXXV. The Tilton-Beecher Controversy--A Story as Yet Untold 115

XXXVI. My First Libel Suit 116

XXXVII. Libel Suit Experiences--The Queerest of Libel
Suits--John Y. McKane's Case 119

XXXVIII. Early Newspaper Experiences--Two Interviews with
President Grant--Grant's Method 123

XXXIX. Charlton T. Lewis 129

XL. Hearth and Home--Mary Mapes Dodge--Frank R.
Stockton--A Whimsical View of Plagiary 131

XLI. Some Plagiarists I Have Known--A Peculiar Case of
Plagiary--A Borrower from Stedman 139

XLII. The "Hoosier Schoolmaster's" Influence--Hearth and
Home Friendships and Literary Acquaintance--My First
Book--Mr. Howells and "A Rebel's Recollections"--My
First After-Dinner Speech--Mr. Howells, Mark Twain,
and Mr. Sanborn to the Rescue 145